Robertson S. Henry. Sports and Cultural Contributor
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 06, 2013; KINGSTOWN, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Taiwanese Foreign Minister His Excellency David Y. L. Lin concluded a two-day visit to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines last Saturday, which have been described by local government officials as “very fruitful and successful.”
On Friday morning, he met with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Minister of Foreign Affairs Honourable Dr. Douglas Slater, who thanked his Taiwanese counterpart for the assistance received over the past years of mutual cooperation between the two countries, evidenced by the many projects funded by the Asian country.
Taiwanese foreign minister (left) arriving at the Prime Minister’s office
Minister Slater spoke of the Argyle International Airport project currently ongoing and the Taiwanese funded terminal building which he says is on schedule for completion. He also praised the availability of scholarships to Vincentian students, for education is the cornerstone of building a successful economy.
Dr Douglas Slater (left) meeting his Taiwanese counterpart
Taiwanese Minister Lin expressed his pleasure at the benefits the Caribbean nation is enjoying from the assistance received from his Government.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines foreign affairs minister Dr Douglas Slater
Later that morning he held talks with Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who noted, “We live in a troublesome part of the world, while Taiwan was in a dangerous part of the world.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister David Y. L Lin
Dr. Gonsalves also pointed out that in the construction of the Argyle International Airport, the single biggest project ever undertaken by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; there have been a coming together of many nationalities in the process.
Meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Slater
Nations such as Cuba, Venezuela and Taiwan are amongst the number of countries contributing to the successful completion of the project. However what the Vincentian Prime Minister noted as one of the most striking features of human cooperation is that an engineer from mainland China is supervising a major piece of equipment, and assisting him with translation is a Vincentian female student who learnt Mandarin in Taiwan as one of the many students who received a scholarship.
Foreign Minister Lin being presented with a piece of Vincentian culture
Dr. Gonsalves added praise to the many packages of assistance received from Taiwan and informed the nation via the media covering the Taiwanese Minister’s visit that he would keep them fully apprised of whatever agreements reached.
Exchange of pleasantries between the two ministers
Following a courtesy call on Governor-General His Excellency Sir Frederick Ballantyne, followed by a visit to the Botanical Gardens, the Taiwanese Foreign Minister visited the National Library Complex, funded by the Government and People of Taiwan.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves (left) and his Excellency David Lin in discussion
Education Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Honourable Gurlyn Miguel spoke glowingly of the role Taiwan has and continues to play in the island education revolution. She pointed out that the Government had long recognized that to develop a country one needs an educated nation and so universal secondary school education was introduced.
Minister Lin and minister Miguel pose with one of the library’s staff
Assisting in the education revolution is Taiwan through the many scholarships made available and in the construction of the National Library Complex, which Minister Miguel sees as a cornerstone in the building of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Posing for a photo outside the national library complex
A visit to Fort Charlotte on the hills overlooking the entrance to Kingstown harbor saw the Taiwanese Minister receiving an educational synopsis of the history of the Black Carib people.
Education minister Gurlyn Miguel (right) and the national library administrator welcome Minister Lin
He viewed paintings depicting the history of the colonisation of the island, the destruction of the island’s heritage by the colonial powers in a bid to destroy all forms of resistance by the indigenous peoples, and the efforts by the Black Caribs to govern themselves.
Minister Lin receiving a historical synopsis at Fort Charlotte
Later that evening he was treated to a gala reception at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence, before he retired to bed, later to awake to the final day’s schedule.
viewing a pictorial display of the Black Carib’s history
On Saturday, the Taiwanese Minister visited the Orange Hill Farm, a major agricultural project on the island’s Windward coast. There he received a report from the Taiwanese technical personnel, met the facility’s workers, and toured the farm.
Walking through the grounds of Fort Charlotte
He expressed his appreciation for the work being done especially now that the facility is under the management of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with critical input by the Taiwanese technicians.
Minister Lin (seated centre front row) receiving a report at Orange Hill farm
In fact it was pointed out by one of the Taiwanese technicians that there have been no problems associated with the facility since it has been under local management, and production is still at a very high level.
Meeting the farm workers
His visit to the tissue-culture laboratory was most revealing as demands have forced the lab to extend operating hours into Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; not just due to local demand but regionally.
Posing along with his ambassadors and a worker with a product of the farm
A visit to the Rabacca Bridge, which contributed to a reduction in travel time and improvement in comfort for Vincentians, followed, and then to the Argyle International Airport site.
Examining pepper plants
There he received a report from the construction engineers on the terminal building, followed by a visit to the site. He expressed satisfaction with the project and according to one member of his touring party, “What the Minister has seen has made him quite happy and I am sure his report will speak highly of the work being done here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the benefits the people enjoy.”
Seeing first hand the tissue culture lab in operations
His Excellency David Y. L. Lin departed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines later that day, Saturday for home, armed with the knowledge that the assistance granted to the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is being put to very good use.
Viewing the airport terminal building under construction
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