ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA: Prime Minister Keith Mitchell’s dollar diplomacy had Grenadians talking and Taiwanese diplomats fuming here Monday. The Embassy of the Republic of China expresses deepest "concern and regrets about the trip led by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell to Communist China," the Taiwanese embassy said in an official statement. It was its first comment since Mitchell left at the head of an eight-man delegation for the controversial visit, given an additional taste of intrigue because the government waited until the last moment to make the announcement. Prime Minister Mitchell went straight from a parliamentary sitting to the airport, but failed to mention the visit in his ministerial report as is traditional. The visit was always destined to be coated in controversy, given Grenada’s exceedingly close relations to rival Taiwan in the last 15 years, and the fact that the Asian nation had become the island’s biggest aid donor. “It’s a case you feed the alligator and it wants more. That is what Mitchell has displayed in just his latest manifestation of how an ungrateful man he can be by nature,” the opposition spokesman for foreign affairs, Peter David said Monday. The issue dominated the local news and the popular ‘To the Point’ talk programme on the Grenada Broadcasting Network where people shared different views on the issue. Former Attorney General and lawyer Lloyd Noel described the Grenada action as “political prostitution.” ““I can tell you that a number of persons I have spoken to last night and today were just as shocked as I am,” he told the CARIBUPDATE NEWS SERVICE late Monday. He said there is no doubt that Mitchell is trying to play the countries against each other for big bucks, but argued that “even though it is diplomatic matters, people must act with dignity.” “This action taken by the Prime Minister and his delegation is very unfriendly, which hampers the relations between Grenada and the Republic of China on Taiwan,” the embassy said in its statement. “If the Government of Grenada establishes diplomatic relations with Communist China it will harm the diplomatic relationship with Taiwan which will not be in the best interest for Grenada on a long term basis,” it said. Government officials were refusing official comment on the storm, and Director of Information Selwin Noel has not responded to a CARIBUPDATE request for an interview with a member of the delegation. Prime Minister Mitchell has reportedly decided to turn to mainland China because he was dissatisfied with the aid levels coming from Taiwan, in the aftermath of the storm – though based on its promises, was likely to be the leading aid donor. The theory Mitchell sold to his cabinet colleagues is that there might be some initial talk about his moves but “when the money start to flow”, people will soon forget the furore. The Grenadian Prime Minister had grown restless about the level of aid coming to Grenada in the wake of Hurricane Ivan, and increasing grumblings among all sectors of the population. Prime Minister Mitchell even complained aloud to the Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon during a recently visit that he was particularly dissatisfied with the direct government aid Taiwan and Canada had given. He strongly hinted then that he might consider turning to Beijing. “Grenada can decide with whom it wants relations, but it must do so with some decency,” David said. “If the Prime Minister was dissatisfied with Taiwan’s aid level, and if he thought it was an affront to the island, he should have politely say so, and reject it on that principle. Not grab it today and the next day run off to its rival,” he said. “The trip is nothing but a desperate attempt by Mitchell top get his hand on hard cash,” trade unionist Chester Humphrey said. He said foreign governments and agencies have been finding creative ways not to send storm aid direct to the government because of concerns over mismanagement and corruption. According to Humphrey’s theory, the Prime Minister decided to play the China card in the hope of getting the cash he covets to dish political favors that have not come amidst increasing fretting by even some of his own supporters. Reprinted from Caribupdate.com