By Floyd French
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) -Taiwan Ambassador to the Federation, His Excellency John K Liu, in photograph at left, said that an article entitled “ Taiwan : Aiding Dictatorship,” which appears in the March 8 edition of the Democrat newspaper, is “groundless, irresponsible and regrettable.” The Ambassador’s comments came on Mar. 13 at a press briefing at Republic of China ( Taiwan ) Embassy, Taylors Range , Basseterre .
The article in the Democrat questions the possible conflict of interest after the Taiwan Embassy rented a property owned by the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas. The article termed the rental agreement as “ Taiwan ‘s undiplomatic conduct in its relationship with Denzil Douglas.”
The article also claims that Taiwanese investment has been used to support an unpopular government. “Taiwan encourages corruption in government ministers with their vast sums of money. They fund all our useless and unused projects and the ministers siphon off their share through tenders to their own businesses,” the article states.
In response, Ambassador Liu outlined a number of areas in which the Government and people of Taiwan have given assistance to the Government and people of St. Kitts-Nevis. He reaffirmed Taiwan ‘s relationship with the Government and people of the Federation.
“We are proud of our collaboration with the island, and we appreciate the friendship from the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis in assisting Taiwan to have a voice in the international community,” he added.
Ambassador Liu insisted that the rental of the Prime Minister’s property at Five-Ways did not present any conflict of interest. “It is purely a commercial lease, at no time was the Prime Minister included in any negotiations for the leasing of the premises.
“We pay rent in accordance with the fair market value. There is absolutely no secret arrangement between the Embassy and the Prime Minister,” he said.
The Ambassador said that his previous residence, an apartment in Frigate Bay, had been burgled four times during his first year of service in the Federation. He also said that the apartment did not suit the living condition for an ambassador.
While Ambassador Liu resisted commenting on specific issues in the article, he urged the people of the Federation to support his right to live in a dignified manner. “I would like to ask the people, the public to let the Ambassador to stay, as a human being, in the house, to sleep in the house in peace, please,” he said.
Questions about public office integrity and transparency over the Prime Minister renting his property at Adams Hill to the Taiwan Embassy were voiced at the Prime Minister’s monthly press conference on Feb. 27, roughly one week prior to the Democrat article.
The Prime Minister at the time of the press conference rebuffed the Democrat journalist who asked him to confirm the rental of his property by the Embassy, and whether it posed any conflict of interest.
