As the Mandarin interpreter for David King Hsiu, the former ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica to China, it would be inappropriate to discuss the case until the judge gives out his final judgment and opinion of the case.
WITH SOLICITORS from Harneys representing Plaintiff, Paul Chaisty and Conyers Dill and Pearman representing David King Hsiu, and Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan representing Roosevelt Skerrit, commercial litigation case in British Virgin Islands concluded.
At the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, British Virgin Islands, three parties, Reginald Armour, QC from Harneys (Harney Westwood and Riegels) representing plaintiff, Sino-Union (Caribbean) Holding Limited (Felix Chen), Paul Chaisty, QC and Conyers Dill and Pearman representing one of the defendants, Shangri-la International Development Holding Limited (David King Hsiu, the former ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica to China), and Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan representing another defendant, the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (Roosevelt Skerrit, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica), concluded the case by giving out closing arguments on October 22, 2009.
As the Mandarin interpreter for David King Hsiu, the former ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica to China, one of the witnesses of the case, it would be inappropriate to discuss the case until the judge gives out his final judgment and opinion of the case. However, as one of the a few people who understood Mandarin and English and who observed some of the court proceedings, it is necessary to point out certain observations.
While Reginald Armour, QC from Harneys and Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan made great efforts to argue in court for their clients, Paul Chaisty, QC, with his photographic memory and impeccable arguments, certainly maximised the chances of his client to win the case. A member of the Chancery Bar Association, Northern Chancery Bar Association, Northern and North Eastern Circuit and BVI Bar, Paul Chaisty is a tough fighter whom you certainly want in your corner in a difficult dispute, according to Chambers, UK 2009.
He is known as ‘a real fighter who is quick and commercially astute’ and whose practice has a strong commercial flavour and whose ‘forceful and effective cross-examination style’ sets him apart from the pack of chancery litigators, according to Chambers UK 2008. Paul Chaisty is tenacious, organised and very committed and aggressive. Throughout the case, the impression that Paul Chaisty left for a bystander or a neutral party would be to try to get him on the same side of a commercial litigation if possible and to try to settle the case as early as possible if he is on the other side of the case (a possible mistake made by the other parties of this case).
David King Hsiu, the former ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica to China, was extremely frustrated at the fact that very few people recognised him for the economic accomplishments he achieved while he was the ambassador to China, as well as the fact that the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica did not admit that there were conditions of the share transfer from Shangri-la International Development Holding Limited to the government of Dominica.
"In my report to the Prime Minister, I stated that once we established a diplomatic relationship with China there would be a completion of a 10,000 person stadium and a 60 kilometer road, a school, a hospital, financial aid for students to study in china… and I was happy as I succeeded in doing the things I set out to do." Indeed, David King Hsiu was the person who helped the Commonwealth of Dominica to establish diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China. He is the same person who brought much financial benefits to the people of Dominica. However, according to him, ‘very few people knew about it’.
"It was very difficult to work as the ambassador of Dominica to China. I did not even receive any compensation for the first a few years," David King Hsiu says. "However, I worked very hard for the people of Dominica in securing investments from China. The Commonwealth of Dominica can develop its education and tourism industry and China can be a very good partner. When Chinese students come to study in Dominica, they will not only spend for their education, but also on their lodgings and other things as well. This will help to bring other benefits and to develop other industries in Dominica."
Although David King Hsiu disagrees with some of the testimonies of Roosevelt Skerrit, the Prime Minister of Dominica, he still believes in Skerrit in many aspects. He still hopes the best for the people of Dominica.
The decision of the case will come out in two or three weeks.
