St Lucia Committee Completes Review of Foreign Policy on China, Taiwan

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Foreign Policy Review committee in St Lucia, headed by former Prime Minister Dr Vaughn Lewis, has concluded its research and deliberation, the government announced Thursday.

The committee had sought to review St Lucia’s foreign relations in the context of an “ever-changing global environment.”

It had been established earlier this year, largely with the apparent intent of examining the country’s relationship with Taiwan. Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony had signaled during the 2011 political campaign that, if elected, his St Lucia Labour Party might sever ties with Taiwan in favour of China.

St Lucia, under Anthony, had previously broken ties with Taiwan in 1997. Stephenson King, the current Opposition Leader, had returned to relations with Taiwan in 2007 as Prime Minister.

The government said it would be meeting to “ventilate the various sections of the report” and will thereafter make a formal announcement on how to move forward, according to Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste.

In June, Anthony said that the government would make a decision as soon as it was presented and studied.