Published 6 November 2022
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St Kitts and Nevis News Source
ST KITTS AND NEVIS PRIME MINISTER DR. TERRANCE DREW HEADS A 10-MEMBER DELEGATION in his first visit to Taiwan since he swept the August 5th polls.
The four-day stay is expected to help strengthen the 39-year-old diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“I am very pleased to lead this high-level delegation to Taiwan to engage in discussion with high level government officials and representatives from the private sector,” Drew said on his debut visit.
The Caribbean delegation will engage in several high-level meetings with their Taipei counterparts in a bid to strengthen and deepen diplomatic ties between the two countries forged some 39 years ago when Basseterre gained independence from Britain.
“We stand today on the solid platform of diplomatic engagement which has resulted in practical and tangible solutions for many of the challenges we face as one of the smallest nations in the world. We are proud of our record of strident and continuous support for Taiwan particularly in our advocacy for increased inclusion in international forums,” Dr Drew said.
He reminded of his country’s continued push for a stronger international voce for Taipei because he is sure it can help solve some pressing global issues.
Taiwan was the first country to establish relations with the newly-independent Caribbean Island.
“We are convinced that Taiwan can make a contribution to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems related to health care, economics, agriculture, industry, culture, climate change development in general,” he said.
As a newly-elected Caribbean leader with only three-months experience, Drew wants to be acquainted with the country which was the first to establish diplomatic relations with the twin-island federation.
“This is also a familiarisation visit for me as I am a new head of government after attaining political office on August 6, 2022. I am here to learn as much as I can from the Taiwanese experience in building economy and exchange relaying to corporation thereby strengthening the bonds of friendship which we have worked so assiduously to build,” he explained.
While on his four-day stay, the visiting delegation is expected to get a glimpse of the Taipei Travel Fair; visit the National Performing Arts Centre; witness a Military Parade and hold bilateral with President Tsai ing-wen, and Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu.
They will also be guests at a State Banquet; examine the operations of the National Health Insurance Administration and the Veterans General Hospital, and tour the Syntex Industrial Park with students and other nationals.
The government delegation comprises “a blend of new and experienced parliamentarians and government officials,” Drew told his hosts.
Comprising the team are: former Prime Minister and now Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas; Opposition Leader. Mark Brantley; MP, Alexis Jeffers, Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Isalean Phillip, Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds, Samuel Berridge, and Hazel Jeffers.
