SIX Saint Lucians who each spent two weeks in Taiwan over the past year attending workshops shared their experiences this week at a special ceremony held at Union Orchid Gardens.
On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the six workshop participants shared with those in attendance what workshop they participated in, their cultural experiences while in Taiwan, and how the connections and value creations their stay in Taiwan can be replicated in Saint Lucia.
Those who participated in the 2024 Taiwan Alumni Workshop Programme were Mr. Nazib Williams, Mr. Cletus Dwane Charles, Mr. Martin Powlette, Mr. Godwin Frederick (Electric Vehicle Maintenance Technology Training), Mrs. Roycelyn Janine St. Hill Howell (SME Digital Transformation Strategies), Ms. Merlika Elva Modeste (Ecotourism), and Mr. Linus St. Juste (AI in Smart Healthcare).
During their testimonials, the workshop participants described visiting various Taiwanese institutions, the warm and friendly hospitality of the Taiwanese people, the rich cultural and culinary experiences, and how some of what they learned can be used to improve efficiency in Saint Lucia.
H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said last Wednesday’s event was an important platform for participants to share their experiences in Taiwan, learn from each other, and envision future cooperation between Taiwan and Saint Lucia. He added that, over the years, Taiwan and Saint Lucia have fostered a solid and constructive partnership, with capacity building and human resource programmes remaining a priority for both countries.
“From 2023 to 2024, more than 60 participants from the public and private sectors attended various workshops in Taiwan,” said Ambassador Chen. “At this moment, there are some public officials still in Taiwan attending workshops. These workshops covered topics on high-tech issues, social and economic development, and providing professional skills. In addition, Taiwan continues to provide scholarship opportunities to Saint Lucia. As we speak, 35 Saint Lucian scholarship recipients for the year 2024 have arrived in Taiwan and kicked off their journey of education this year.”
Ambassador Chen noted that the presentations made by the workshop participants are not only reflections of their adventure, but also testament to the growth and partnership that exist between Taiwan and Saint Lucia, adding that similar gatherings for Taiwan alumni in the future for more networking and collaboration will be organized.
“As Hon. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and his Cabinet recognise the human resource as the driving force of national development, their support continues to spark more Taiwan’s capacity building programmes that benefit more Saint Lucian citizens,” Ambassador Chen stated. “I would like to express my gratitude to Hon. Minister Moses Jn. Baptiste, PS and DPS from various departments here. Your presence signifies the joint commitment in capacity building. Also, my special thanks to Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Public Service for your continuous facilitation.”
Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste, Minister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, recalled that Taiwan has partnered with Saint Lucia in many areas over the years, citing the COVID-19 era as a crucial period when Taiwan’s generosity contributed to saving lives in Saint Lucia. He also thanked the Government of Taiwan for collaborating with the Government of Saint Lucia on other health-related initiatives, including the “Public Health Bilateral Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Metabolic Chronic Diseases”, which aims to reduce modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as insufficient physical activity and unhealthy diets through the creation of health-promoting environments.
“The programmes that are being supported by the Government of Taiwan are helping us reach the base organizations throughout Saint Lucia,” Hon. Jn. Baptiste said.
Hon. Jn. Baptiste added: “I really want to thank Taiwan for all of their work and all of the assistance we’re getting with our healthcare programmes. We’re going to devote more resources.”
Mrs. Sophia Alfay-Henry, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, urged the workshop participants to use the knowledge they gained in Taiwan to make a greater contribution in their respective fields.
“In a world where the pace of change and the evolution of technology are accelerating at lightning speed, the importance of upskilling and retooling our workforce cannot be overstated,” Mrs. Alfay-Henry explained. “This is especially true for us as public servants tasked with the critical responsibility of serving our communities effectively, implementing life-changing Government policies, and driving national progress to shape our collective future.”
Mrs. Alfay-Henry said she was grateful that two officials from the Ministry of Commerce’s Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) had the opportunity to visit Taiwan this year for upskilling training in SME Digital Transformation Strategies and Ecotourism.
“As if by design, both areas of study are in complete alignment with our current transformative yet sustainable agenda targeting our MSMEs within the Ministry of Commerce.” She said.
Also in attendance at last Wednesday’s ceremony were Mr. Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, Mrs. Selena Chang, Deputy Counselor at the Taiwan Embassy; Mr. Louis Tsou, Project Manager, Taiwan Technical Mission; Ms. Nancy Nicholas, Director of Political and Economic Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, among others.