Although Washington officials deny it, a behind-the-scenes struggle for the hearts and minds of the people in the small Eastern Caribbean states is underway following a visit by a number of their leaders to the Libyan leader a month ago.
Following the visit the announcement of a Libyan proposal to buy bananas from the islands was rejected by island leaders. Accepted was a program of access to Libya’s $2 billion development fund and $21.5 million in loans and grants.
Participating in the visit to Qaddafi were Prime Ministers Pierre Charles (Dominica), Keith Mitchell (Grenada) and Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG). Other heads of government, like Prime Ministers Lester Bird (Antigua & Barbuda), Denzil Douglas (St. Kitts & Nevis) and Kenny Anthony (St. Lucia) backed out or sent representatives...
A Washington expert on the Caribbean-Libyan connection said that the U.S. “isn’t going to pay much attention to it.” He indicates that Washington “has a tacit agreement with Qaddafi that he can do whatever he wants in Africa, the Caribbean or elsewhere, as long as he stays out of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.”
December 1, 2001
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Whatever happened to the Monroe Doctrine?
I wonder if Libya's development fund includes any mosque-building?
