Four police officers from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) have completed a 32-hour Mandarin course held in Vieux Fort last year. They are Noelita Smith, Alexia Noel, Carlene Charles, and Sherniqua Narvel Mathurin.
The Mandarin course was hosted by Ms. Yu-Chin Peng, Mandarin teacher from the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia. It was her first time teaching the course to police officers in Saint Lucia.
In her remarks at a brief certificate ceremony held in the Chesterfield conference room at Police Headquarters on Bridge Street, Castries, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, congratulated the four outstanding graduands who, she said, completed the course with dedication and excellence, referring to them as pioneers in embracing the challenge of learning Mandarin.
“I am impressed by your commitment to attending two sessions of two-hour intensive courses for 8 weeks consecutively, a total of 32 hours last year,” she said. “I can well understand that it is not an easy task to find a balance between your professional duties and the struggle of learning the new language. Your strong determination and sense of discipline are truly admirable.”
Ambassador Su added that she was pleased that the Mandarin course will be hosted at Police Headquarters for the third consecutive year, commencing on Monday, February 16, 2026, and will be facilitated by Mr. Andres Chi, Mandarin teacher at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia. She applauded the courage and enthusiasm of the new cohort of 10 police officers who will commence their 8-week adventure of Course #1 of 2026 by immersing themselves in the foreign culture.
Ambassador Su thanked Mr. Verne Garde, Commissioner of Police, whom, she said, shared his vision of capacity-building for the police officers during their very first meeting last year.
“He insists on equipping the officers with tools for communication and to be better engaged in an increasingly interconnected world,” she said. “Thank you, Commissioner, for giving us this opportunity to strengthen our bond with you through knowledge, collaboration, and cultural exchange.”
With one cohort completing the Mandarin course and another cohort set to commence theirs, Ambassador Su said it was fitting to recognize not only their academic achievement, but also pay tribute to their commitment to continuous learning and service to Saint Lucia.
Dr. Mashama K. Sealy, Assistant Commissioner of Police for Corporate Services and Strategic Operations, said the Mandarin course represents a meaningful step in strengthening cultural understanding, cooperation and mutual respect between institutions and the Taiwan Embassy.
“Language is the bridge that connects people, ideas and opportunities, and Mandarin is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world which opens doors to global engagement, diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchange,” she stated.
Dr. Sealy said the Taiwan Embassy’s commitment to capacity building through education and language training is not only highly valued, but speaks to the strength of the relationship between Saint Lucia and Taiwan. She commended Ambassador Su’s leadership and encouragement in making the Mandarin course possible.
Dr. Sealy explained that learning Mandarin requires dedication, curiosity and perseverance. She encouraged the police officers to fully engage in the course, ask questions, practice often, and experience the journey.
One of the course participants, WPC 216 Carlene Charles, admitted that taking the Mandarin course had its challenges from day one. She recalled participants receiving printed handouts captioned “Chinese Pronunciations and Chinese Characters” with little lines above letters and strokes that appeared less like writing and more like abstract art with rows.
“The language did not sound like English or Kwéyòl, requiring a completely new way of listening, understanding and speaking,” she explained. “What we first heard as unfamiliar sounds slowly became recognizable words, even if our tones are still negotiating. Through dedicated instruction, it became an enriching experience.”
Nevertheless, WPC Charles noted that learning the tones and different words and phrases not only forced them outside their comfort zone, but also showed them the power of patience and persistence. She added that the course reminded them that being a police officer does not limit what they can achieve.
“This course broadened our perspective and values of foreign languages,” she stated. “It has even inspired some of us to continue learning the language. We strongly believe that studying Mandarin can expand capabilities as a police officer and reinforce the value of continuous learning to strengthen the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Yu-Chin Peng, Mandarin teacher at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, described the course participants as being very enthusiastic, active and energetic, noting that their efforts also inspired her.
“Learning Mandarin is not an easy task,” Ms. Peng said. “I believe they have invested a lot of time and effort into it and have done a very great job. I hope that through this course they have gained a better understanding for Taiwan and its culture. I was very glad having you in my class and hope that in the future you can apply what you learned in the course.”