PRESS RELEASE – A HIGH-POWERED delegation from St. Lucia was in Taiwan to celebrate with the government and people of Taiwan for that country’s 106th National Day, which was observed on October 10.
St. Lucia’s delegation comprised President of the Senate, Andy Daniel, and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Leonne Theodore-John, and arrived in Taiwan on Sunday, October 8 and was expected to depart yesterday, Friday.
Last Monday, apart from meeting with St. Lucian students at a reception hosted by the Embassy of St Lucia in Taiwan, the delegation paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Su Jia-Chyuan, President of the Legislative Yuan, where a wide range of issues were discussed on the operating procedures of the Legislative Yuan (the equivalent of the Parliament).
His Excellency Su Jai-Chyuan, in his address, thanked the government and people of St. Lucia for their friendship and support for Taiwan over the years. He further committed to doing all in his power from the legislative branch of government to ensure further assistance to St. Lucia in the areas most needed.
In their responses, both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Assembly thanked His Excellency Su Jai-Chyuan on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan for their continued contribution to the economic development of St. Lucia. They specifically mentioned the areas of agriculture, education, healthcare and ICT.
The delegation joined dignitaries and other delegates from around the world for the National Day Address, Parade and other activities on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Control Yuan (the agency which oversees all the levels of governance), where discussions were held on the functioning of that agency and its importance in a young democracy like Taiwan.
The delegation then paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Her Excellency Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, who thanked the delegation for their presence and participation in the 106th National Day celebrations.
President Tsai Ing-wen spoke of the deep appreciation of the Taiwanese people for the friendship and support of the government and people of St. Lucia. She noted the recent address to the United Nations by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet in which he voiced support for Taiwan.
The President stated that her government was happy to assist with the economic development of St. Lucia and its people. She noted the recent success of the Banana Black Sigatoka Management and Eradication programme, undertaken by the Banana Research Institute of Taiwan, which resulted in St. Lucia being the only English-speaking island in the Caribbean to continue banana exports to the United Kingdom. Also noted was the scholarship programme whereby young St. Lucians who studied in Taiwan return home to contribute in various fields.
The President further pledged the commitment of her government to increasing the number of scholarship opportunities in the areas St. Lucia needs most. Both Daniel and Theodore-John thanked President Tsai Ing-wen for the tremendous contribution of the government and people of Taiwan to St. Lucia over the years.
On Thursday, at the invitation of the President of the Legislative Yuan, the delegation traveled to Pingtung County in the extreme south of Taiwan where they visited agricultural farms and institutions, including the Banana Research Institute of Taiwan, Pingtung University (among the top five scientific research institutions in Asia) and other local government institutions.
The delegation was accompanied by Hubert Emmanuel, St. Lucia’s Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan), to the various meetings and events.
The delegation departed Taiwan on Friday (yesterday) morning.