Taiwan Makes $2.2m Donation To Gov’t.
THE diplomatic relationship between Saint Lucia and Taiwan took on new meaning last week after Taiwan’s Ambassador made a donation towards sporting development in St. Lucia.
At Wednesday’s handing over ceremony, a donation of $2.2 million was made towards the lighting of four sporting facilities’ Babonneau, Canaries, Dennery South and La Fargue.
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, benefactors of the donation, Parliamentary Representative for Anse La Raye/ Canaries Dominic Fedee and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Dr Anthony George, not only expressed sincere gratitude for the donation, but also revealed plans for the future of local sports and sports personnel.
Speaking in the Cabinet Room at the Office of the Prime Minister, Chastanet made an announcement that is likely to raise the hopes of young sportsmen and sportswomen vying to nurture their skills to international levels.
The PM explained plans to erect a sporting academy which will be equipped with a proper gym, a sports psychologist, sports therapist and sports nutritionist. The school will also feature a dormitory so that athletes from around the island will no longer be excluded or marginalized and will be granted the opportunity to be among the island’s top athletes.
Chastanet called this initiative, as well as a number of smaller ones, including the placement of dedicated sports coaches at primary and secondary schools, his government’s contribution to the Taiwanese donation.
He said; “Any money spent in sports is not a cost but an investment. This contribution and specifically the lighting of four additional playing fields in St. Lucia will go a long way in helping to support the long term goals we have for sports in our country.”
Chastanet added; “At present, too many young people are not given the opportunity of tertiary level education and we believe that there is a tremendous opportunity to get many more scholarships for our young St. Lucians. We also believe that sports is a huge platform that could not only create that opportunity for scholarships but also instil tremendous values in young people.”
The PM stated that whilst this effort is being made on the government’s part, participants themselves need to make a concerted effort in order to be the best.
Dominic Fedee expressed relief that his constituency was finally going to receive the care and attention that it has been deprived of for many years.
Fedee said: “I am extremely delighted today as the Member of Parliament for Anse la Raye/Canaries constituency I think that in many ways has been forgotten, and really has received a small amount of the development pie, if I should put it that way. So this is a tremendous signal from the government and the Embassy of Taiwan. It brings a lot of hope to the people of Anse la Raye and in this instance, Canaries, for the lighting and for showing the sports members in the constituency that their development and the development of their sporting prowess is of much significance to the government’s development programme.”
He added; “I am very proud that we can now approach sport development within the constituency and the village of Canaries in a very structured manner because this playing field is the beginning of a process. And I’m a strong believer that if we have structured academies, then we could harness the talent. It would be an injustice to this investment and to our own aspirations if it doesn’t accompany a very structured and very serious development programme. And I am proud that our government has outlined this in its manifesto for the development of sports all over St. Lucia. It is our plan and our goal to ensure that we look at sports more seriously and we give sports the right role and its rightful place as a tool that can contribute more towards the development of our country.”
Fedee said not only will such focus on this particular sector produce more national stars, but there is also a strong correlation between star athletes and the attention that they draw from international organisations that will be beneficial to the island’s brand
The Youth and Sports PS, Dr. George, could not contain his delight over the investment saying that it is a much needed and welcomed aid to the ministry’s pursuit of sporting excellence.
Dr. George said the investment affirms the fundamental principles and values of his department and that of geographical equity, creating opportunities for the empowerment of the island’s young people through sports.
He continued: “One would think that the lighting of sporting facilities is a very small thing but it is so significant in the pursuit of excellence in sports in St. Lucia. I have been an avid athlete and footballer growing up in the community of Marchand and living in the George Charles Boulevard. I remember coming from school and trying to extract every ounce of sunshine whilst playing soccer on the Marchand playing field…What a day it was when I first kicked a ball at the Mindoo Phillip Park under the lights. It was glorious! It was a vision that I couldn’t imagine.”
The ongoing investment by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the St. Lucia Government, he said, continues to inspire sportspersons to excel and to achieve greater goals of personal wellbeing and national development.
Before presenting the hefty cheque, Ambassador Ray Mou said a donation towards field lights is a significant signal for the rest of the relationship between the two nations.
He said it is very important to increase the capacity of the playing fields for multiple uses at different times which will in turn create more opportunities that can keep the youth in St. Lucia engaged through sports.
The Taiwanese Embassy made a similar donation in 2014 in the sum of $2.6 million when four sport lighting facilities were completed under this project, including Marchand Ground, Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort, Anse La Raye Playing Field and the La Ressource Playing Field in Dennery North.
