The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) was aware of reports of a renewed row between the ambassador to St Lucia and the Caribbean country’s opposition party, deputy ministry spokesman James Chang (章計平) said yesterday.
A Radio Jamaica news report said the opposition Labor Party was demanding Ambassador Tom Chou (周台竹) be expelled immediately for repeatedly meddling in the nation’s domestic affairs.
The latest feud was sparked by the location of a Taiwan-funded learning center in the Castries east constituency headquarters of a ruling party politician. There has also been repeated criticism of Taiwan’s motives in funding projects in various constituencies.
Opposition leader Kenny Anthony said opposition members of parliament (MPs) were planning a press conference next week to renew calls for the ambassador to go, the radio report said.
“[Chou] has caused enough embarrassment, not only to well thinking St Lucians, but his behavior is completely unacceptable,” Anthony was quoted as saying.
The report said Chou has acknowledged his errors in the latest controversy, including the location of the learning center.
“The embassy regrets that its goodwill has been misinterpreted because of the erroneous decision by the project organizer about the location of the learning center,” Chou was quoted as saying.
He said the learning center was created to serve all St Lucians and that the embassy did not discriminate against any constituencies.
The embassy had consulted St Lucian Prime Minister Stephenson King regarding the center and was looking to relocate it to a more central location in the constituency instead of in an office of a ruling party official, Chang said.
“Our goal has always been to push bilateral projects that benefit all of the citizens of St Lucia. Having the computer learning center in a place accessible to the most people would be the ideal situation,” said Chang, who promised that the embassy would improve its communications with both the ruling and the opposition parties.
This is not the first time that the Labor Party has demanded Chou be replaced. In January last year, it urged Kingston to request then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to recall Chou.
“Ambassador Chou has compromised the integrity of our country and abused the privileges extended to him. He has become a political activist for the ruling United Workers Party,” the Labor Party said at the time.
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