KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Oct 7, CMC – Taiwan has denied allegations that fishing vessels from the Asian country is engaged in illegal fishing in the waters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Taiwan’s ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Baushuan Ger, is also denying that fishing vessels from his country that fly the Vincentian flag “ are either poaching in Vincentian waters or evading tax”.
He said that it is “very sad that a few people in this country have kept spreading false accusations to that effect.”
“As a diplomat, it is my duty to set the records straight,” Ger said, noting that like vessels from other countries, the Taiwanese fishing vessels are registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the High Seas Fishing Act 2001.
“Once lawfully registered, these Taiwanese fishing vessels should pay only license fees and security bond or deposit according to the High Seas Fishing Regulations 2003. That is to say, these St. Vincent and the Grenadines registered fishing vessels fish only on high seas that belong to no country. That is the very reason they don’t pay tax,” Ger said.