CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Opposition Leader Dr Kenny Anthony yesterday called on Prime Minister Stephenson King to launch an investigation into whether government ministers received money during the recent state visit by Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian.

Police Commissioner Briton John Broughton said he had received cash in appreciation of the services rendered by the police during the president's visit.

Could not confirm

But Broughton said that he had returned the funds he received to the Taiwanese officials. However, he said he could not confirm whether other police officers received or returned any money.

But the Opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) said that the officers were paid US$1,000.

Shui-bian's visit to St. Lucia earlier this month was characterised by some of the tightest security ever seen here, with both uniform and plainclothes police officers on duty.

Anthony told reporters that he was aware that some police officers had received money for their duties and had kept quiet in the hope that the government would have dealt with the situation.

'Red envelopes'

"One important issue is exactly what is the Commissioner going to do. Is he going to conduct an investigation to determine whether police officers did receive 'red envelopes' and if so what did they do with the red envelopes.

"The Prime Minister too would need to carry out an investigation to determine whether there were officials in the government who received red envelopes and who are they are, and whether the Taiwanese also make red envelopes available to ministers of government following the Presidential visit," he added.

The Opposition Leader said the matter needed to be investigated as there were issues there that lurk to cause the country deep concern.

Taiwanese Ambassador Tom Chou has described the whole matter as a "storm in a tea cup", noting that presenting token sums of money in red envelopes to the military and police during a Presidential visit is culturally acceptable in Taiwan.

But Anthony said that Taiwan has no business exporting its cultural practices here and the Taiwanese have been here long enough to understand what is acceptable locally.