THE Taiwanese government has committed to fund a vital security surveillance system for the Parliament building.
His Excellency, Ambassador Peter Chia-Yen Chen of the Republic of China (Taiwan), yesterday presented a cheque to the government for the installation of close-circuit television cameras across the compound to significantly bolster its security network.
This funding will comprehensively cover all expenses related to the procurement and installation of the surveillance system.
President of the Senate, Alvina Reynolds, expressed the government’s deep appreciation to the Taiwanese Embassy for their robust support in this critical endeavor. She also praised the Department of Infrastructure for their expertise and contribution in assessing the costs for this important security project.
Ambassador Chen emphasized that, “The health and safety of employees in their workplace is a fundamental responsibility shared across both public and private sectors.” He highlighted that just a few months prior, the Pan American Agency had also contributed to renovations of the parliamentary building.
“Today, I am proud to support the installation of a security camera system in the Parliament Office. This initiative guarantees that staff can operate in a secure environment and empowers members of parliament to effectively safeguard the rights of the people,” Ambassador Chen said.
Speaker of the House, Claudius Francis, acknowledged that while this initiative might seem like “a simple solution,” it is imperative to remember that “this is the people’s house, this is the people’s parliament, and we must explore every avenue to secure it.”
He pointed out that instead of imposing barricades, such as fences, “the people must always have access to this house.”
Francis conveyed that after thorough discussions with the Taiwanese representatives, “we arrived at the consensus of implementing cameras.”
He stressed that while physical barriers might provide a more preventative approach, it’s crucial to strike a balance between the security of parliament and the rights of the citizens of Saint Lucia.