FORMER Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Hubert Emmanuel, has been named Saint Lucia’s first Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Confirmation of Emmanuel’s appointment comes just over four months after Saint Lucia opened its embassy in Taiwan, further cementing relations between the two countries that have shared diplomatic relations for many years.
While Emmanuel’s selection to the top post has been speculated in the news for weeks now, the Ministry of External Affairs has been tight-lipped about his imminent appointment.
During a June 19 press conference convened at the Ministry of External Affairs, Minister Alva Baptiste, however, did indicate that “our staffing for the embassy will come from the Ministry of External Affairs.” That press briefing was chaired by Emmanuel.
However, speculation was put to rest last Tuesday evening at a reception hosted by the Taiwanese Embassy here at Sandals Grande. In his remarks, newly-appointed Taiwanese Ambassador to Saint Lucia, Ray Mou, identified Emmanuel as Saint Lucia’s first Ambassador to Taiwan.
Emmanuel, who was among the many guests at that reception, declined an interview with The VOICE, saying that since his appointment had not yet been made official, he would defer the interview to a later date.
The VOICE has learned that a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs was supposed to have been disseminated last Friday concerning Emmanuel’s appointment. However, that was not done.
During his George Odlum Memorial lecture delivered last week Tuesday, retired diplomat, Earl Huntley, said whoever was appointed to fill the ambassadorial post in Taiwan needed to have the requisite skills to be able to attract business to the island.
Huntley, who served as Permanent Secretary in the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community, has nearly 30 years’ experience working in diplomacy and international relations. He believes opening the embassy in Taipei without having an ambassador there was a slip-up.
“You don’t open an embassy without an ambassador,” Huntley said during the question and answer segment. “I was a little taken aback when I heard we had an embassy but hadn’t appointed an ambassador. You have to appoint somebody, whether it’s a Charge d’Affairs or a clerk. It’s an ambassador that makes the embassy, not the fact that we say we have a building. So I think that was a misstep on our part.”
The VOICE made several attempts to the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday concerning Emmanuel’s appointment. However, we got no responses.
The cart led the horse but correction should be well received. Now let’s learn from our mistakes so we don’t repeat them. Let’s move on in the interest of the people of our nation.
As a Saint Lucia national resident in Asia, let me say this is a welcomed and timely development. Congratulations Ambassador. May God bless your term.