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Public Service Minister Welcomes Taiwan’s First Female Ambassador to Saint Lucia

Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte (right) welcomes Her Excellency Nicole Y.C. Su (left)
Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte (right) welcomes Her Excellency Nicole Y.C. Su (left)

On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, the Honourable Minister for the Public Service, Labour and Gender Affairs, Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte, warmly welcomed Her Excellency Nicole Y.C. Su, the newly appointed Taiwanese Ambassador to Saint Lucia, during a courtesy visit. Ambassador Su holds the distinction of being the first female Taiwan ambassador to Saint Lucia.

Minister Poyotte used the occasion to brief Ambassador Su on her ministerial portfolio and highlighted several key ongoing initiatives. She expressed her gratitude for the extensive support provided by the Government of Taiwan, particularly in the areas of gender and ICT. Among the ministry’s notable achievements are the establishment of Saint Lucia’s historic Minimum and Equal Wages Commission as well as the passage of the 2022 Domestic Violence Bill, widely regarded as one of the most progressive in the region.

Dr. Poyotte voiced confidence in Ambassador Su’s ability to build on the strong foundation laid by her predecessor, Ambassador Peter Chia-Yen Chen. The Minister emphasized Taiwan’s significant contributions to the Community Development Programme (CDP) and extended an invitation to Ambassador Su to visit Saint Lucia’s communities to witness firsthand the transformative impact of Taiwan’s support.

“The CDP has created a transformational landscape in Saint Lucia,” Minister Poyotte stated. “With direct support from the Government of Taiwan, ministers of government can implement projects that address the needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities, and we are very grateful for this.”

Ambassador Su, who brings extensive diplomatic experience from postings in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Geneva, the Netherlands, and Europe, expressed her appreciation to the Government of Saint Lucia. She reaffirmed her commitment to collaboration and underscored the value of ongoing partnerships.

“I thank you so much for the briefing; it helps me to better understand the substantial workload of your ministry,” Ambassador Su said. “I am pleased that my government’s collaboration with you touches all levels of the country. Your ministry serves as a critical nexus connecting people to people. I’m particularly proud of the ICT projects, which have been very fruitful, and I’m excited about the upcoming opening of two centres, with another on the way. Together, we can continue to strengthen and develop gender equality, women’s empowerment, labour, and other areas.”

During the discussion, Minister Poyotte also addressed the pressing issue of deviant behavior among young men, emphasizing the need to rebuild family structures and provide greater support for young men and boys.  She called on the Department of Gender Affairs to intensify efforts in tackling this challenge.

“Many of our young boys are left without proper guidance and support, and this is an area Saint Lucia must urgently address,” the Minister stressed. “From my experience overseeing the Ministry of Home Affairs, I observed that the prison population included approximately 580 inmates, of whom only 14 were women. This disparity highlights the critical need to focus on the development and guidance of our young men”, Dr. Albert-Poyotte added.

Her Excellency Nicole Y.C. Su’s visit marks a new chapter in the enduring partnership between Taiwan and Saint Lucia, with a shared commitment to advancing community development, gender equality, and public service transformation.

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