Well over 1.000 less privileged children across Saint Lucia will have a brighter than expected Christmas, thanks to an ongoing partnership between the government of Saint Lucia and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
On Thursday, in a brief ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Vigie, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), James Chang, presented 1,200 toys to Prime Minister Dr.Kenny Anthony, on behalf of the Government and people of Saint Lucia.
The toys were donated by the Care 2 Help Charitable Association (CHCA), a non-governmental organisation in New Jersey, USA.
The toys will be distributed to Members of Parliament for onward disbursement to underprivileged children in their respective constituencies. This is the 11th year that this initiative has been taken by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Ambassador Chang said that since the programme got underway, over 7,000 toys have been presented to the children of Saint Lucia.
Said Mr. Chang: “Christmas is a time of giving and sharing, where family and friends come together like we are doing now. It is a joyous thing to know and to see children with their gifts around Christmas time. Thinking that not all children are this fortunate, the CHCA, together with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Saint Lucia has taken up the challenge to give to as many children as possible.”
Dr. Anthony expressed his deepest thanks to the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as well as CHCA for their ongoing generosity to the children of Saint Lucia.
Reflecting on what he says is his favourite time of year, Dr. Anthony said: “I want to thank you, Ambassador, for your efforts, I want to thank again CHCA for remembering us and remembering our children at this time of year”.
He added: “I think of what happened to Saint Lucia last year on the eve of Christmas, how many of our children suffered as a direct result of those floods, particularly the children in Bexon, the children in Vieux Fort, Laborie, Soufriere, Choiseul and to some extent Anse La Raye. They were denied a Christmas, they were denied the opportunity to celebrate, because of the events of that trough”.