Hon Fraser urges rethink on Chinese visa policy
As such, government is being called on to rescind the decision.
The most recent call comes from Third District Representative, Honourable Julian Fraser RA, who called the move akin to ‘the boiling frog effect.’
Boiling Frog Effect
He was at the time speaking during the September 20, 2018, sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA).
“Signing a contract with China is like ascribing to the boiling frog effect, a fable describing a frog being boiled alive slowly. If you drop a frog suddenly into boiling water it will jump out. But if you put that same frog in a vessel of water and start heating the water gradually, it will adjust its body temperature accordingly, until it reaches a stage beyond its capacity and dies foolishly.”
According to Hon Fraser, what might seem like a good deal may be a façade.
“Nothing in this world comes for nothing…And I would appeal to the Premier to rethink that whole notion of lifting that visa requirement for the Chinese,” he said.
Africa Experience
The Third District Representative in his remarks on the issue recalled that “we have recently removed the requirement for Chinese to come here to this territory without a visa… We have also talked before Madam Speaker, about extending the privilege to the Chinese to work in this territory through the use of their funds for projects.”
The Opposition Member was adamant, “I think it’s the 21st Century and we should all have our eyes opened when dealing with China, China is not what it appears to be.”
Calling for restraint, Hon Fraser reminded of Africa and its experience with China saying, “it is what it is and until we understand what it is,” there is the likelihood, “we would get duped like every country in Africa is being duped right now”
Singapore & Greece
According to Hon Fraser, the Chinese are going to travel to the Territory, with or without visa restrictions.
“They are going to come; their numbers are not in the billions for no reason…They must travel… And the few that’s going to come here Madam Speaker, those are not the ones who you have to get a visa restriction lifted to get here.”
Referencing the projects earmarked to be undertaken under the Recovery Development Agency (RDA), Hon Fraser said, Government needs to pay keen attention as to where the half billion dollars would be coming from.
“We got to be mindful of where this money is coming from and what we are taking it for.”
“The point I am making Madam Speaker is, we have to wake up, and if we don’t wake up we would have sold the birth right of our children and their children’s children to another entity, who will enslave them for the rest of their lives.”
The seasoned legislator used the occasion, to also take a swipe at plans afoot by Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), to introduce mandarin in schools and pointed to a ‘racist’ Chinese commercial.
Recolonizing Africa
“I know that everyone in this house have seen it, with a Chinese commercial showing an African being ducked into a washing machine extensively, to clean him so that his colour of his skin could be changed,” Hon Fraser remarked.
He said it is “pathetic” how China is recolonizing Africa, by appealing to the ignorance and selfish interest of its Leaders, with attractive deals with great outlook, but are dangerous in reality.
Referencing other experiences of countries with China, Hon Fraser said, “Singapore bluntly told China, we don’t need your 25-year tenure loan at 0.5 percent”
He also pointed to the experiences of Greece and others.
The decision to implement the visa free policy for Chinese nationals was announced on Thursday, June 21, 2018, by the Honourable, Dr. D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance.
15 Responses to “Hon Fraser urges rethink on Chinese visa policy ”
Sensing this void, China, flushed with cash, moves in to exploit it, offering low or no interest loans and other assistance. However, with this assistance, the resource-poor developing and emerging countries have to agree to use Chinese labour, material, equipment........etc on construction projects, eased immigration rules for Chinese citizens, support Chinese interest items at the UN and other world bodies. The VI must do its due diligence and trust but verify. Chinese assistance comes with a cost.
Moreover, Africa is a resource-rich continent yet it has many poor countries. Despite the rich resources, many African countries are poor because many lacked the economic mechanisms and skills to develop either a strong primary or secondary economies. Often, the resources are mined and exported;little to no manufacturing is developed using the resources to employ locals, improve standard of living, enhance quality of life and increased per capita income.
Over the ages, many resource-rich African countries were exploited by developed countries, ie, UK, France, Portugal …….etc of their resources for the benefit of their economies and citizens at the expense of residents of these African countries. China may be just the latest to exploit these resource-rich countries. Consequently, it is way past time for Africa and its people to wake up and unite for the public good of Africa and Africans.
I have first hand experience with what they did to Costa Rica, Ghana, Namibia and a few other places. DONT DO IT!
And that’s a bad thing?
Visa waivers are a good idea for tourism. Getting a visa is too much hassle. It puts visa required notational off visiting.