The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has made available grant funding to the Government of Saint Lucia to fund three bilateral cooperation projects.
The multi-faceted grant will cover the rehabilitation of human resource development centres (HRDCs), assist with developing a National Disability Policy, and fund projects under the Constituency Development Programme (CDP).
On Monday, January 22, 2024, H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, officially handed over the check to Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy & Minister for Justice and National Security, at a ceremony held in the Cabinet Room.
“As a steadfast partner of Saint Lucia, Taiwan recognizes the pivotal role that the CDP plays in addressing the socioeconomic challenges faced by communities, and we are proud to be an integral part of this ongoing vital program in collaboration with the Saint Lucian Government,” Ambassador stated at the handover ceremony. “Likewise, as Taiwan and Saint Lucia share the values of human rights and equality, we are also very happy to support Hon. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and his administration’s social justice and community development strategy, where the projects of national disability policy and the rehabilitation of Human Resource Centers are highlighted on the agenda.”
Ambassador Chen said he was pleased to witness firsthand the positive impacts that the CDP has had on people’s daily lives while he accompanied the Parliamentary Representatives and officials from the Ministry of Economic Development on visits to numerous CDP sites last year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pierre thanked the Government of Taiwan for supporting the three projects, and pledged Government’s resolve to ensure that the funds are distributed equitably and used responsibly for the three projects. He encouraged citizens to make greater use of HRDCs in the communities.
“HRDCs are very important to communities, and I hope this year we can use these HRDCs in a way that’s sustainable and in a way that benefits the people of the constituencies a lot more,” said Hon. Pierre.