H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, paid a courtesy visit to the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) Aquaponics Facility in Vieux Fort on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.
During the short visit, Ambassador Chen met with students and staff of the Vieux Fort Special Education Centre, NCPD members, and the Training Manager of the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC).
Mr. Merphilus James, President of the NCPD, accompanied Ambassador Chen on the brief tour of the new facility, and highlighted the significance of the Taiwanese Government’s provision of technical assistance to the project.
“During the visit, it was a great delight for us to demonstrate to His Excellency Chen how we utilized that technical assistance and put it into practical implementation,” James said. “That was a joy for me.”
Funding for the aquaponics facility came from the GEF Small Grants Programme, Massy Stores St. Lucia, Lucelec, Republic Bank’s “Power to Make a Difference” programme, The 2020 Prime Minister’s Independence Ball Fund, Cabot Saint Lucia Inc., and the NCPD. The Taiwan Technical Mission provided technical assistance via a three-day aquaponics workshop held in March this year.
Ambassador Peter Chen was delighted to know that Mr. James has well utilized the knowledge and skills learned in the training workshop held by TTM, and is encouraged by his enthusiasm and spirit of action to make the best use of all resources that he received.
The NCPD’s partner agency, the NSDC, allowed the former to build the aquaponics facility on its Hewanorra Orchard compound where members benefit from the training facilities and infrastructure already in place at the NSDC.
James said the use of aquaponics offers a viable and attractive opportunity for persons with disabilities to play an active role in achieving food security and reducing poverty and hunger. Since aquaponics involves a soil-less environment, he said farming becomes a comfortable experience for persons with disabilities.
“In these sheltered environments, people with disabilities can truly excel at food production,” said James. “Most systems are automated, there is no weeding, and no pesticides are involved. We’re teaching people how to manage an ecosystem – fish, bacteria, plants – and state-of-the-art technology. So there’s a horticultural aspect to it. It’s very therapeutic being in such an environment.”
Four people with disabilities are involved in production of lettuce at the facility presently, said James. The produce is sold to Coconut Bay Resort & Spa, which has offered a premium price.
James expressed the NCPD’s deepest appreciation to all donors who made this all possible. He also stated the staff and students of the Vieux Fort Special Education Centre are extremely enthusiastic about an after-school training programme with them which will commence in early 2024.