by JC Jan
“The way China is dishing out loans in the Caribbean should worry every right-thinking soul in the area,” said a man who was arguing in St George’s town, Grenada, with other passersby at a newspaper stand following a headline that China has given another loan to Grenada.
I was passing by when I heard him say that, but the full weight of the man’s assertion rested like a burden on my shoulders, when later that evening, I stumbled on another report saying that China has given loans to many African countries to the tune of hundreds of billions of US dollars. Indeed, this kind of gesture should worry the hell out of every living soul, not just in Caribbean countries but Africa as well.
Marco Rubio, in his lamentation about the way China is spreading money in the Caribbean said he is “very concerned.” On the surface, it looks like a normal intervention from a superpower nation, but a philosophical look would readily indicate that there is something sinister to this kind-heartedness. Recalling how Africa fell to the earlier colonial escapades by Europe, it is safe, therefore, to say that we in Grenada are about to start, if not started, a journey of ‘economic-re-colonisation’ if our leaders do not remove the monkey’s hand from the Chinese pot of soup before it becomes a real human hand.
A man whose mother was killed by a red animal does not withstand the sight of an anthill. One of Africa’s postcolonial problems is her leaders’ inability to look backwards in order to move forward.
It is common knowledge that Africa had systems of government that many empires and kingdoms in Africa ran before they were colonised. It is also common knowledge that they lost their traditional ways of life especially in the area of leadership after independence and had to adopt the administrative systems of their former colonisers.
One truth we should not stop telling ourselves is that these alien systems of government have continually made it impossible for Africa or the Caribbean countries to grow as it should. One does not neglect the ways of their fathers and expect to be traditionally, culturally and economically successful.
Not only African leaders, but this new system of government has also made it possible for Caribbean leaders to be bereft of innovative ideas. They fail to look within and use available and trusted cultural materials, ideas and frameworks to make their individual nations workable, the reason why we keep depending on expatriates for everything, including funds to run our borrowed, unbefitting and expensive systems of government that are grossly inefficient.
For sure, there is no benefiting bilateral trade agreement that comes with these heavy, irredeemable loans. At best, we could bend down and clearly see the emancipationist trait in the newfound “love” China has suddenly developed.
As it is in Nigeria, so it is in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and many other African nations whose leaders are using these loans for self-enrichment. Go to these nations, there is practically nothing that has been made workable with these loans, something that could yield returns and ensure that China gets their monies back.
What we are rather seeing are doors opened for Chinese nationals in every of these nations’ important business zones and we are up against the ever competing for Chinese people who have practically overrun Africa with their presence, exporting raw materials (openly and clandestinely) to their nation which is in turn used to make products that are of lesser standards and are reintroduced into these African nations as alternatives.
So many people are crying foul in Africa because they believe, and correctly too, that their home government entered into a selfish deal with the Chinese government and shortchanged them. Care needs to be taken by the Grenadian government in all their dealings with Chinese money so that Grenada will not join Africa in their foul crying.
In this new-found economic love, transparency is more than critical because China may have a history of shrouding the terms and conditions of their grants to smaller countries in secrecy. Unlike China for instance, on 7 January 2020, HE Yolanda Smith “signed documents for the second Resilience and Blue Growth Development Policy Financing on behalf of Grenada.” These documents will make it possible for Grenada to receive about US$20 million in loans. What is interesting is that the terms of this loan are the public domain, not in a state of secrecy.
More importantly, in dealing with Chinese money, let our government ensure that debt sustainability analysis is carried out without any of the details hidden. This kind of truthful analysis and assessment will help the government to come up with a healthy borrowing strategy that will ensure a comfortable repayment, and also create massive sustainable employment for many.
It is no longer news that these grants go hand in hand with Chinese companies and their workers. A reasonable reduction of Chinese workers will no doubt create more employment opportunities for our youths.
A proper look into the Chinese loan/grants to countries like Bangladesh, Venezuela, Cuba, Ukraine, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, may grant us a clue to how China operates, and sometimes, a clue to some of their key interests.
One thing is certain, we are required to pay back these loans. Another thing is even more critically certain, we may not be able to pay back because of the huge and accumulated interests on them. Given that Grenada is a consuming country, there is every tendency that our government will not seize asking for more loans. The end result is that a time would come when we may have to cede some part of Grenada to them to run and recoup their monies.
Beijing may sooner or later have the best part of our Island of Spice. Unless Grenada is dealing with a “born-again” China, that guarantees jobs for the local workers, charitably share contacts with the local companies, and most importantly, declares a state of celare nihil, these multiple loans may sooner or later require restructuring, renegotiation and reconstruction. By then, China may let out the hidden appetite for Grenada public sector assets. The signs are there.
The trojan horse. Nothing is free.
Please allow me to add my tow cents in regards to this matter, as a Grenadian living abroad by always try to keep informed as to the country status, its a real pleasure to hear of all the different opinions on this article. I would like to respect every ones opinion , but I also think that we are missing the bigger picture . I was born in Grenada as am sure many of you have , whenever i return to visit it gives me great pleasure along with some concerns as to the state of the country . As nation and a people we have been struggling way too long , our ancestors , mothers and fathers , sisters and brothers , we have seen poverty for too long , our children however deserves a better life , a better education, but most off all a better standard of living . As a struggling nation we need help and lots of it , i wonder how we would feel if the united was doing thing financially, would we be as critical or would we turn our head the other way. We should be thankful but also mindful that someone is willing to assist , it is the government responsibility to lead its people, therefore we should be more critical of state leaders and representatives for any and all outcome of monetary failure. China didn’t illegally enter our country , they were invited with open arms ,china as also provided many of housing assistance to needy individuals in need of a better living condition. I am not taking sides here but lets give some credit where it due, as a people we sometimes need to think outside the box and think about the future of the country and its younger generation ,by giving them some hope that there may be brighter tomorrow. we cannot do this by ourselves , our leaders made bold statements a year or two ago ,telling the people of how oil rich we are ,as to this date we have not held them accountable for these misleading statements , however of this was true statement it will e certainly be a blessing for our nation ,then we would not have to depend on this much capital assistance from foreign countries, i long for the day to our tri island state be connected by bridges and expressways ,imagine being able to drive to all states in a few hours ,what a blessing and an economic adventure that would be .
If u allow the Chinese to b diplomatic in order to take over u grenadians will not have a say in what u do try what they are trying in China see what the out come will be
Pleas learn something about China first, Chinese is a open country, all the Western countries had gang up formed a 8 countries army to attack China , they toke what they want including Hong Kong.
The current Chinese government form after Japanese surrender, they are Communist believe in Soviet Union as their big brother , Soviet come in wanted the hole country, Chinese say no, they leave . Chinese gone inweto twenty hoplest years, until the 70, at that time the British Hong Kong getting a lot better, a new generation growth up , well educated , it helped China wake up as well.
We need friends all around the world, we been being isolated for centuries.
I am a Chinese Canadian , I am happy to be a Canadian . I am also happy to see China slowly become a country like Canada, good and caring country.
I never been to Grenada, I have good friends from St Kitt although it is far away from Granada, I remember the US army landing and
Many others new about the island.
I believe the current Chinese Government have a obigation and feeling to help all other small countries to build themselves up and strong to be self supporting, people will have a better life.
For Chinese when we need help no body come.
When I visited Grenada last year I was shocked by the level of Chinese Foreign infiltration. Then when I visited my homeland of Barbados a few days later I was immediately struck by the way the labourers who came to build Kensington Oval many years ago have remained and have increased by large numbers on the island. I have Chinese friends and admire their hard work and dedication to their culture. However my belief though is that as Caribbean nations we need to be wise and realise these actions are not by chance and are deliberately planned and sucessfully executed.
I really don’t know what to say.
Very nice and through comments and
Scary things to think about.
The main esus is a small island like Grenada and no good resources on hands it must find a way or someone
To assist in thier expenses and building the feuture of the island.
I don’t want say anything about government and management because
I don’t know what source of income and
How much the government getting..
But the reialty says… Whatch Wher you
Put your step before you start..
I love my Grenada and I don’t want learn Chinese… Thank you JC Jon.
And I wish that every body will suggest
A salusion before they add a problem to the problem… Thanks for reading.
Stage iv metastatic cancer!!! Let’s wait for the funeral service where we can all eulogize GRENADA
Its scary to watch as China is possibly sweet talking there way into the lives of Grenada, please be mindful of a wolf in sheep’s clothing