His Excellency Dr. Robert Lewis presented his letters of credence to President Dr. Tsai Ing-Wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on May 5, 2022. This presentation followed that with Taiwan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr Joseph Wu on April 20.
Dr. Lewis, an educator by profession who previously served as Saint Lucia’s Minister for Education, is Saint Lucia’s third Ambassador to Taiwan. In his address to President Tsai, Dr. Lewis remarked on how the two countries are connected through shared democratic ideals and regard for the rule of law, and through the “warmth, friendship and great hospitality” of their people.
He recounted the fateful exchange while he was a graduate student at the University of Cambridge 25 years ago with then doctoral student Dr. Wei-Ping Lin of National Taiwan University. Unbeknownst to him, it was Professor Lin’s fervent introduction of Taiwan and the friendship that ensued which unknowingly set the trajectory for his three subsequent visits to Taiwan and his present posting as Ambassador.
Dr. Lewis further commented on Saint Lucia’s relationship with Taiwan which has over the past two decades improved the nation’s socio-economic development: “When an ally helps to secure and boost your food production and food security, they are ensuring that your people are fed and survive. Taiwan remains steadfast in ensuring that the health and welfare of our people continue to be a priority. The Government and people of Saint Lucia say Thank you.”
Ambassador Lewis expressed his eagerness to learn more about Taiwan and its people, and to build on the bonds set by his predecessors “to secure for our children a better and safer world in which they can enjoy the fruits of democracy.”
In an official exchange of gifts, Ambassador Lewis presented President Dr. Tsai Ing-wen with a commissioned painting by Tyrel Philgence, a first year Saint Lucian scholarship student currently studying Mandarin Chinese at Ming Chuan University.