In 1981 St. Vincent and the Grenadines became one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, and in 1983 the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) opened in Kingstown. The issue of Taiwan and China has always been tumultuous, and the Caricom countries are divided in their loyalties. It appears they have pretty much agreed to disagree over the matter; some have been wooed by China’s “big money” while others, such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have remained steadfast in their support of Taiwan. In return, the Taiwanese have contributed to the growth of St. Vincent through scholarships, agricultural projects and structural improvements, and last year we opened our own Embassy in Taipei.
The Taiwanese Embassy throws a party each year to mark the date of the Wach’ang Uprising of 1911 that overthrew the Chinese Emperor and established a Republican form of government. This Anniversary celebration (also called “double-ten”) is held on October 10th, and for several years we received an invitation. Mac disliked attending parties on the mainland, especially formal government affairs, but I went to several over the years. The Taiwanese party was in October, one of the slowest business months for the Pizzeria, so I happily packed my one and only taffeta cocktail dress each year and headed across the channel alone.
I enjoyed the Taiwanese parties. It was fun to rub shoulders with the country’s politicans and other Vincentian dignitaries, many of whom I only saw in bathing suits at De Reef or similar casual garb at the Pizzeria. The annual cocktail party was a formal event, and although black tie was unheard of men DID have to wear suits, and the women looked elegant in their finest gowns. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres were passed on silver trays as the guests chatted in clusters, it was all very proper and civilized.
The Taiwanese Ambassador was a soft-spoken, polite man who made a point of greeting each of his guests at some point during the evening. We stood at attention as the national anthems were played, then listened as the Ambassador gave a progress report on that year’s projects. The Taiwanese were particularly active in the agricultural sector back then, they contributed in other areas but I was always interested in what they were able to accomplish with the country’s natural resources.
One year the project was all about the growing of asparagus. It was a two-year program, and any Vincentian who attended for those two years would be given an acre of land on completion of the course. Wow, the results were amazing! Many Rasta farmers left their ganja crops to study under the Taiwanese, and their studies paid off. The slender asparagus was the best I have ever eaten, and for two years it was a popular pizza topping. Unfortunately, after that two-year training period the asparagus students used their free acre of land to grow something other than asparagus. The crops remained green but I couldn’t put what they were growing on top of my pizzas! Anyway, that was the year I was presented with asparagus at the Taiwanese Independence celebration, the bundles were tied with silk ribbons and given to each lady as she was leaving the party.
The Taiwanese also grew the most amazing orchids, and for a while they were the rage of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Son Mitchell had a special room for orchids in his new house at Mount Pleasant, and Mac had several plants growing along a wall at our house. I didn’t know much about orchids but the blossoms were absolutely beautiful. The Taiwanese had introduced the orchids to St. Vincent, and that was the year each lady was presented with a lovely orchid plant adorned with a silk ribbon as she left the Independence celebration.
The Taiwanese also began a pig-farming project on the mainland, and that was the year, yup, that was the year I stood in my taffeta gown and received a lump of pork from the Taiwanese Ambassador as I left the Independence celebration. The asparagus tied with a silken ribbon had been elegant, the orchid adorned with a silken ribbon had been exotic. A lump of pork in a plastic bag? They say you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear but I think a silken ribbon would have made the gift more attractive!