External Affairs: Restoring Partnerships & Exploring Opportunities

Issue 16 | 24 Nov, 2018

Building Resilience

OUR SAINT LUCIA www.govt.lc

Bi-monthly Progress Report from the Government of Saint Lucia

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Restoring Partnerships, Exploring Opportunities

DIPLOMACY CONNECTIONS PROTOCOL

FRIENDSHIPS

CONTENTS

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6 Foreign Policy in National Development

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Prime Minister leads the way in International Relations

7 The Role of Protocol Team

Let’s talk to a Chevening Scholar

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Taiwan and Saint Lucia establish deeper ties

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Outreach to the Diaspora gets more support

Restoring our International Relations

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n this issue of Our Saint Lucia we focus on the Department of External Affairs and Saint Lucia’s International relations.

Since assuming office this Government has adopted foreign policy postures, consistent with the island’s development objectives, while preserving the dignity and good name of Saint Lucia. The Government has also been strategic in maintaining

and redefining relations with traditional partners while attracting new ones.

(CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The Government has also assured that Saint Lucia maintains its status on the world stage, by giving a voice to its citizens on regional and international organizations like the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Community

Nowhere is that voice louder than what has been coming from Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Minister with responsibility for External Affairs Sarah Flood Beaubrun as they champion the right of Saint Lucia to be seen and heard in the international arena.

Know Saint Lucia’s Representation NEW YORK/UNITED NATIONS H.E. Mr. Cosmos Richardson Ambassador Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the United Nations UNESCO H.E. Glibert Chagoury Ambassador Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to UNESCO Paris, France CUBA H.E. Dr. Malachia Fontenelle Ambassador Embassy of Saint Lucia in the Republic of Cuba Embajada de Santa Lucia UNITED KINGDOM H.E. Guy Mayers

High Commissioner High Commission of Saint Lucia London, UK UNITED STATES & OAS H.E. Anton Edmunds Ambassador Embassy of Saint Lucia to the United States and OAS Washington D.C. USA Republic of China (TAIWAN) H.E. Edwin Laurent Ambassador Embassy of Saint Lucia Taipei World Trade Centre Taiwan R.O.C

CARICOM & OECS H.E. Ms. Elma Gene Isaac Ambassador Department of External Affairs CANADA Mrs. Cheryl Francis Consul General Consulate General of Saint Lucia Toronto, ON Canada MARTINIQUE Joanna Salton Consul General Consulate General de Ste Lucia Fort de France Martinique

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03 have meetings with various persons and so we take the plane and sometimes the schedule can be very hectic.

Creating Synergies with Dual Roles

“Similarly the dinners, lunches cocktails are also work related because it is a part of what we do. We usually have to interact with various officials at these and I can assure you a lot of negotiations take place at the lunch tables or in the reception hall because you are continuing or starting, in some cases, engagements with partners and prospective partners. But overall there is a lot that goes on within the department daily as it relates to negotiations, agreements, advice, documentation and so on.

“And so I like to explain the department this way every foreign affairs ministry or department, is the face of the country to the rest of the world and so it is the first point of contact. Similarly when we want to reach out to other countries, their foreign affairs departments are our first point of contact.

Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to CARICOM Elma Gene Isaac greets Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at the UN.

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er Excellency Elma Gene Isaac has been able to create a synergy between her two roles as she serves as the Ambassa-

dor to CARICOM and the OECS and also the Permanent Secretary at the Department of External Affairs. We spoke to the Ambassador about the synergies that exist.

Ambassador “As Ambassador it means that I represent Saint Lucia to those organizations, both CARICOM and the OECS and I also bring back to Saint Lucia the work that these organizations are doing to ensure that we play an integral part of everything relating to CARICOM and the OECS. All ambassadors with full power at this level can represent ministers and sometimes prime ministers at meetings if they are unavailable.

ters as well as our eight overseas missions. I also support the policy work that is primarily the remit of the minister. So on this side, we seek the advice of our foreign officers who do the research, they do all of the background work and then we prepare draft policy proposals for consideration by the Minister and then the policy ultimately will go to Cabinet for endorsement.

“Some people see us as just travel, cocktails and lunches but let me put this into context. To go to work you take the bus or you drive, similarly as part of our work we have to travel to interface and

“every foreign affairs ministry or department, is the face of the country to the rest of the world”

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“I sit on the committee of ambassadors at CARICOM and we look at critical policy issues as well as administrative matters. The work we do at the OECS and CARICOM has significant impact on what happens locally, if synergies are right. We work with the rest of the world on matters such as trade, climate change and we adopt common positions in the areas of foreign affairs where we work jointly on who we would support. We also have joint action on education and health and so if we are working in the way we ought to, you will find a significant amount of dovetailing of national and regional policies and implementation.”

Permanent Secretary “As PS I have the administrative function, where I am to manage the administration of the headquar-

Ambassador Isaac with PM Chastanet in Jamaica for Saint Lucia signing with ECTEL.

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Foreign Embassies and High Commissions in Saint Lucia ARGENTINE REPUBLIC Mr. Nicholas Abad Charge’ d’Affaires Embassy of the Argentine Republic First Floor, MARDINI Building Rodney Bay, Gros Islet REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL Charge’ d’Affaires Embassy of the Federative 4th Floor, Mardini Building Rodney Bay Gros Islet Saint Lucia REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) H.E. Douglas C. T Shen Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Reduit Beach Avenue

Rodney Bay Gros Islet CUBA H.E. Jorge Francisco Soberon Luis Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Cuba Rodney Bay Gros Islet FRANCE H.E. Philippe Ardanaz Ambassador Embassy of France to the OECS Member States Vigie Castries Saint Lucia MEXICO H.E. Oscar Arturo Esparza Vargas Ambassador Embassy of the United Mexican

States Vigie Castries MOROCCO H.E. Abderrahim Kadmir Ambassador Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco Level 4 Bay Walk Mall Rodney Bay Gros-Islet VENEZUELA H.E. Lieff Liubliana Escalona Barrueta Ambassador Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Vigie Castries

UNITED KINGDOM Stephen McCready Resident British Commissioner British High Commission 2nd Floor Francis Compton Building Castries LIBYA Mr. Hisham Tayeb Charge d'Affaires Embassy of Libya Rodney Heights Gros Islet OECS Dr. Didacus Jules Director General Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Secretariat Morne Fortune Castries

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Historic Escazu Agreement signed by Saint Lucia

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he plight of the average citizen who may be impacted negatively by developments that impact the environment and is denied access to relevant information, highlights the need

for the Escazú Agreement. Described as an historic treaty which will guarantee environmental rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, this “Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters”, or LAC P10, presents three fundamental rights for sound environmental governance: access to information, access to public participation and access to justice.

Twelve countries, including Saint Lucia committed on September 27, 2018 by signing the Agreement, enough to ensure that it will move forward and be brought into force once ratified. Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala and Argentina were the first signatories, with more expected, as the Agreement is open for signature for the other 21 countries in the region until 2020.

Saint Lucia has now put itself safely at the vanguard of sustainable development with equality at its core, by signing the agreement at the Treaty event held at the Kuwaiti Boat, United Nations General Assembly Building in New York.

France Continues Long History of Mutual Cooperation

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n September 30, 2016 Saint Lucia and France signed the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement in Criminal Matters and the Extradition Agreement. The signatories

were Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Hon. Allen Chastanet and the Ambassador of France Mr. Eric de la Moussaye.

The Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters aims to develop cooperation between France and Saint Lucia for the purposes of preventing and combating crime, in respect of their constitutional principles respectively.

The Agreement provides that France and Saint Lucia grant legal assistance in key areas such as appearance of witnesses, searches, seizures and forfeitures.

On October 10, 2018, a ceremony of exchange of the French and Saint Lucian Instruments of Approval was held at the Department of External Affairs. There, His Excellency Philippe Ardanaz, Ambassador of France to

the OECS Member States and Barbados, in Saint Lucia, handed over the two instruments of approval of these agreements on behalf of the Government of the French Republic to Honourable Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, Saint Lucia’s Minister in the Department of External Affairs.

Morocco and Saint Lucia continue to build on Friendship

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n November 11th 2017, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Chairman, Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet, met with Morocco’s Prime Minister, Honourable Saad-Eddine El Othmani to discuss deepening diplomatic and economic relations with Saint Lucia and the OECS. The two leaders spoke of the establishment of an OECS Embassy and the signing of financial treaties. Investment in the Caribbean was also high on the agenda, with special attention paid to Agriculture, Agro-processing, Tourism and the exchange of expertise.

Morocco has come to the assistance of Saint Lucia and the Caribbean in the areas of Agricultural inputs and academic scholarships.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco was established in Saint Lucia in

March 2014 and covers all OECS Member States, as well as Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas.

Within the framework of the implementing of the development program existing between Morocco and OECS countries, the Moroccan Academy for Diplomatic Studies (AMED) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, is hosting the International Training Session in Diplomacy for the benefit of fifteen Diplomats from the Caribbean region.

The group of Diplomats from the following OECS countries and Barbados, are represented by two Diplomats each: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint-Kitts and Nevis, Saint-Lucia and Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines.

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The Role of Foreign Policy in National Development Q & A with External Affairs Minister

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on. Sarah Flood Beaubrun, Minister with Responsibility for External Affairs, spoke to us about Saint Lucia’s Foreign policy as well as matters related to the department.

Q: What are some of the guidelines, precepts and principles which drive Saint Lucia's Foreign Policy?

A: “Foreign Policy is essential in enabling our Government to attain its overall development and national objectives. The most important principle therefore is that it must be founded on the pursuit of the national interest. As we implement our policies, we seek to bring changes that are favourable to Saint Lucia, in the international political and economic environment we face. Securing change requires our active engagement in international rule making organisations; building and strengthening strategic alliances and harnessing the potential of the Saint Lucia Diaspora.

“We recognize that full accountability (from the staff and ultimately to the electorate is essential) in implementing our policies is critical and our operations must be result oriented and cost effective.

Minister Flood-Beaurbun greets SVG PM Ralph Gonsalves at CARICOM meeting in 2016.

“Specifically, we seek to ensure that, among other things, our international engagement:

Q: As Minister, were there any areas within the Ministry of External Affairs that you saw needed strengthening or changing and how are you pursuing those, if any?

• Helps advance our economic development through supporting and promoting investment, trade, tourism, economic and social transfers, skills and know-how transfers.

• Ensures that we adequately fulfil our regional and international obligations and realise the full benefits from the international agreements to which we are party.

• Ensures that, along with other small island states, we secure international support for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change; disaster mitigation and management; and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

A: “We need a modern, efficient and effective Ministry that helps Government secure the international benefits that we need to achieve our national objectives. Weaknesses in the Ministry have long since been recognized but regrettably the needed reforms have not taken place. We have conducted reviews of both the Protocol and Political and Economic Departments and recommendations are now being implemented.

Among these recommendations is a structured approached to training and development of staff; and to ensure their strategic deployment, in ways that best advance our national interests in the international sphere.”

Q: What is being done to change the perception of Saint Lucia's overseas missions/consulates and ambassadors from being seen as just a position of glamour and expense on the public purse to one where the public understands and appreciates their roles?

Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour of SVG and Hon. Sarah Flood-Beaubrun.

Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan meets with Saint Lucian Foreign Minister Sarah Flood Beaubrun, on the margins of the 47th OAS General Assembly.

A: “We are refocusing the programme of work of the embassies and consulates to ensure that they can contribute more directly to the attainment of our economic development goals, including improvements in trade, commerce, promotion of the Citizenship by Investment Programme, Invest Saint Lucia initiatives, Tourism Authority initiatives.

“Additionally we are equipping missions with the tools and information necessary for them to promote /champion ‘international’ issues which are of special significance to Saint Lucia such as climate change, sustainable development, de-risking, graduation and access to ODA. We have also pursued a more structured orientation of Heads of Mission, the promotion of the Diaspora policy and regular meetings of Heads of Mission among other things.

“Finally we have begun work on establishing a Diplomatic Academy within our Ministry. This will allow us to provide opportunities for training and development of staff in a more structured way, utilising the knowledge of more and experienced staff within the department, as well as former diplomats and experts locally, regionally, and internationally.”

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PROTOCOL AND CONSULAR DIVISION: The Faces Behind Our Diplomatic Relations

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o some their jobs may be seen as glamorous - attending state functions, meeting and greeting visiting dignitaries when they arrive at our ports and maybe from time to time travelling overseas on state visits. However if you ask Bernadette George-Martial, who is a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of External Affairs, the task of her team is a lot more than meets the eye.

George-Martial has the responsibility for the Protocol and Consular Division within the Department of External Affairs, working with a small team to get it right.

“The Protocol and Consular Division is responsible for all state protocol, to be followed by Government and it governs the relations with foreign governments and the diplomatic corps. It assists with all the guidelines of diplomacy in dealing with foreign governments,” George-Martial explains.

Her department provides all of the technical guidance and assistance to the Governor General, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and other Government officials on matters of diplomatic protocol and practices. It also supports strategies to foster positive international relations.

“We do a lot, contrary to popular belief,” the head of the Protocol and Consular department says.

“If I may break it down, we prepare plans and programs for all visits by heads of Governments and foreign dignitaries, ambassadors, high commissioners and other officials. So this would include preparing schedules with foreign diplomats seeking an audience with the Governor General, the Prime Minister or other Government officials,” she says.

Further, “we organize official visits of local and foreign dignitaries and delegations, facilitating meetings, travel schedules, reviewing protocol-related documentation, assisting with visa information if necessary and authorizing protocol and port courtesies, to ensure the safe, seamless and successful execution of visits.”

The Protocol and Consular division also works with foreign ambassadors presenting credentials and letters of introduction to the Gover-

They are the staff behind our most successful official visits, pictured here during the recent visit of former US President Bill Clinton.

nor General or the Prime Minister.

“We are also responsible for the logistics of all State functions and receptions given by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, Minister of External Affairs or any other ministry. “Additionally our department is part of the planning process for Independence activities and all Heads of Government meetings held here,” Bernadette George-Martial says.

What is not widely known is that the Protocol and Consular Department is also responsible for the arrangements for the island’s heads of state, ministers and other officials travelling on official state business.

According to George-Martial, the Department handles the transition process for Saint Lucian ambassadors and consulates serving overseas.

“For Ambassadors and heads of Foreign Missions in Saint Lucia we collaborate with several entities. The police for their overall safety and security, the licensing department as well as the Customs department for the necessary waivers,” George-Martial says.

“Something else that many people do not know is that we work with returning nationals and part of our mandate is to assist with repatriation of persons who of their own will would like to return home, those who may be stranded in an overseas territory or persons who have died. We do the same for foreign nationals who are stranded here or who have died,” she revealed.

As if that was not enough, the department is often called upon to assist and offer advice to other agencies and non- profit organizations, for events involving officials as well as for international sporting or cultural events held here.

“On top of all of this we have offered some training to various departments on matters of protocol so that there is a better understanding of not just what we do but protocol on the whole. And one of the first things that I explain is that protocol does not mean that anyone is more important than anyone else. What it means is that by virtue of your position or the office that you represent, you are afforded certain courtesies and that Saint Lucia is party to international conventions guiding such.”

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Prime Minister Allen Chastanet Leads the Way in Deepening Saint Lucia’s Foreign Relations

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ince assuming office in 2016, Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet has stressed the need for the island to strengthen its ties with some of our traditional allies, while forging new relations with others.

Since then, the Prime Minister has met with several heads of state as part of the vision for building a new Saint Lucia. He has however underscored his intention to report to the nation regularly, whenever he represents the interest of the country overseas, seeking new investments, signing and ratifying new treaties and agreements, beneficial to Saint Lucia’s development.

Following are some of the highlights of efforts to deepen our ties.

TAIWAN

One of the Prime Minister’s first major trips overseas took him to Asia in 2016. Mr. Chastanet paid a courtesy visit to the Republic of China on (Taiwan), for preliminary meetings with government officials to lay the groundwork for an official state visit later.

On November 10 2017, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Mrs. Chastanet with military honors, and then met with the prime minister for talks.

During that visit, the two countries concluded an agreement between Taiwan and Saint Lucia on mutual assistance in judicial and financial matters to combat financial crimes.

Also the first-ever case of cooperative investment by firms in Taiwan and Saint Lucia was formally launched, bringing more job opportunities to Saint Lucia.

The delegation visited the Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, the world-renowned Institute for Information Industry and met with Saint Lucian students in Taiwan and representatives from the Embassy of Saint Lucia. They also engaged potential investors interested in tapping into Saint Lucia’s business potentials and strategic location.

GERMANY

Prime Minister Chastanet travelled to Bonn, Germany, in November of 2017 where he participated in the very important 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and a delegation of Saint Lucian officials visited Taiwan again in October 2018 to attend Taiwan’s commemoration of its 107th National Day, on October 10.

PM Chastanet and Sustainable Devlp. Min. Dr Gale Rigobert along with Hon. Herod Stanislas (Background) in Germany for COP23.

MEXICO

Saint Lucia and Taiwan have deepened relations and are collaborating on new projects.

In October 2017 Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, accompanied by a delegation, travelled to Mexico for an official visit geared towards further strengthening the ties of friendship between the two countries. This was the first official visit of a Prime Minister of Saint Lucia to Mexico. The meeting brought to conclusion projects being implemented in Saint Lucia by Mexico, including the construction of a water system in Dennery North as well as the many capacity building, technical and scientific and educational cooperation projects currently being implemented.

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Two binational cooperation documents were also signed during the visit.

At the meeting the two leaders discussed: • How to achieve greater bilateral cooperation.

• Trade between Mexico and Saint Lucia • An MOU on matters of common interest between the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Growth, Employment Creation, Foreign Affairs and Public Service of St. Lucia.

Saint Lucia’s delegation in Mexico where cooperation in several areas were discussed.

ESTONIA

In May of 2018, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet embarked on another historic visit, this time to Estonia where digital interactions between governments and citizens formed part of the discussion at the Tallinn e-Governance Conference 2018.

The Prime Minister met with President of the Republic of Estonia, Her Excellency Kersti Kaljulaid, on Tuesday May 29th 2018.

Estonia has long been a Digital Global leader and is seen as a prototype country when it comes to implementing successful e-Government.

The Prime Minister was especially interested in Estonia’s transformation into becoming a leader in e-Government and in implementing digital Governance.

Estonia agreed to assist Saint Lucia in setting up e-Government.

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Heads of Government Meetings

In April of this year Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister along with other regional heads of State met with United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the situation regarding the Windrush generation, following a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

With Andrew Holness of Jamaica The Windrush generation for a bilateral meeting. refers to those arriving in the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries. Saint Lucia High Commission office in Britain has since been actively reaching out to Saint Lucian interest in this matter.

At the regional level, the Prime Minister has been actively participating in CARICOM meetings and has consistently decried the slow pace at which some relevant agreements are followed through.

The Prime Minister has also been a champion of the OECS, which he sees as important to building resilience among small island states. He picked up the torch of the OECS Chairmanship in June of 2017-2018, with an energetic and passionate approach toward the strengthening of functional cooperation among Member States in the face of regional and global economic challenges.

UN General Assembly

The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia addressed the General Debate at the 72nd and 73rd Session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and 2018.

Delivering address at United Nations General Assembly

DIASPORA

Prime Minister Chastanet has actively engaged members of the Diaspora and has consistently urged them to participate in the development of Saint Lucia. Engagements and town hall meetings have been held in Canada, the UK, and New York.

Meeting one on one with Saint Lucians in New York

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Enhancing National Awareness on The International Human Rights System

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he Department of External Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted a two-day training workshop on the International Human Rights System on 3rd and 4th April 2018.

The International Human Rights System was developed and strengthened through the work of the United Nations, and as a Member State of the United Nations, Saint Lucia's active participation within this system is paramount.

The aim of the workshop was to enhance national awareness among both public and private agencies in Saint Lucia, regarding the International Human Rights System, and further inform of the role that agencies and their constituents play within this system.

The workshop took place at the Financial Centre located in Ganter’s Bay Castries.

United Kingdom Chevening Scholarships

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he Chevening Scholarship program is one of the most prestigious offered by the UK with Saint Lucia now boasting several Chevening alumni, among them Minister of Tourism, Culture, Creative Industry, Information and Broadcasting Hon. Dominic Fedee.

The Chevening global scholarship program offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study at any University in the UK. Scholarships are awarded to outstanding professionals to pursue a one-year master’s degree in any subject.

Three Saint Lucians, Alisha Ally, Kendall Elva and Louise Victor, recently returned home, following the completion of the one-year post graduate Chevening program 2017-2018.

At their official welcome home, Steve McCready, Resident British High Commissioner in Saint Lucia stated: “Every year the Eastern Caribbean region gets a set application; usually it’s around 16 to 18. Because there are so few places in the Caribbean, demand is really high. The fact that Saint Lucia has three returning scholars this year says something about the high quality of applications that come from here each year. The understanding is that they are such high quality that they will come back and make a really valuable contribution.”

Our Saint Lucia spoke with one of the returning students, Louise Victor who pursued a master's in International Public Relations and Global Communications Management at Cardiff University.

Q: Tell us about your experience?

A: It was really enlightening and maybe a sort of culture shock at first being in Cardiff. Nothing like London where you will come across much more cultural and ethnic diversity, but overall it was a great experience.

Q: Why did you choose your particular field of study?

A: As a former Marketing and Communications executive at Digicel, a major part of what I did was communication. Being someone who has been involved in community and national organizations I also developed a passion for the discipline, and so the next natural step was for me to further this field within a global context.

Q: How do you intend to apply what you have learnt here in Saint Lucia?

Louise Victor takes a selfie with fellow Chevening Scholars.

A: My research and dissertation is titled; “Beyond Tourism - A sustainable development approach for Saint Lucia through Nation Branding.”

One of the reasons I chose this theme was that during my participation in the Miss Universe pageant I realized that it was not about an individual but about a country and a brand. And so I believe for the future development of a nation like ours, while tourism and all the other things are important, the citizens as brand custodians-who our people are, what they represent, must be a part of that development. And so I am hoping that I can participate in this new vision.

Q: What advice do you have for future students?

A: To know exactly what you want to do, not just what you want to study but in what ways you can contribute to nation building which is one of the requirements of the scholarship. * Saint Lucia Chevening Scholarship winners for 2018 are Kenisha Jeffrey, a Fire Officer of eleven years and Mrs. Lavorne Verdant-Desir who has been involved in the development of youth for over twenty years.

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One on One with Ambassador Shen Saint Lucia and Taiwan’s growing brotherhood

Taiwan recently launched GINET which enables Saint Lucians to access free wifi around the island. Ambassador cuts the ribbon with Minister King and Minister Fedee.

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The Republic of China (Taiwan) has had a long and fruitful relationship with Saint Lucia, with diplomatic ties having been established in 1984 and continuing until 1997. Saint Lucia re-established diplomatic relations with The Republic of China (Taiwan) in 2007.

In 2015, Saint Lucia opened its embassy in Taipei, which is now headed by Ambassador H.E. Edwin Laurent. The present Ambassador of The Republic of China (Taiwan) to Saint Lucia (since March 2017) is Ambassador Douglas Cheng- Tsung Shen.

Ambassador Shen spoke with Our Saint Lucia about the strengthening of relations between the two nations, which he says has grown from just a partnership to a true friendship or “a brotherhood,” as he describes it.

“I am very delighted that over the past two years we have been able to deepen and strengthen our relationship thanks to the vision of the Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet and his team,” Shen says.

Ambassador Shen went on to speak on areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Education: “Since 2008 more than 130 students from Saint Lucia have received scholarships to study in Taiwan.

Hewannorra Airport Redevelopment Project: “Taiwan has already agreed to facilitate a US$100 million, very low rate loan to Saint Lucia for the International Airport project and we are looking forward to this commencing very soon.”

“We also have the annual trade show every November, which this year will see eight Taiwanese companies showcasing their products. These companies will not only be looking for a market here, but some are also looking to enter into joint ventures with Saint Lucians.

Road Rehabilitation Project: “We have also approved a US$50 million dollar loan for an island-wide road rehabilitation project. This project is expected to give Saint Lucia a more modern road network, alleviating some of the traffic problems as well as giving the people easier access to various communities.”

ICT: “Taiwan has assisted the Government of Saint Lucia in enhancing government’s efficiency and national competitiveness with a National ICT Center and e-government systems. Earlier this year we launched the GiNet Project, with 63 free WiFi spots all over the island. What we are hoping to do is transform Saint Lucia into a ‘smart’ island through IT and this will help enhance business as well as education opportunities.”

Agriculture: “This is one area that I believe Taiwan has offered the most assistance. Just this week we signed a new agreement for an agricultural project which will run for three years and will cost about US$5 million.

Saint Lucia will be focusing on seven crops that are currently being imported and the idea is that if we can produce these crops, we can supply not just the supermarkets but the hotels.”

“Recently we also launched a short term program in hospitality studies and we were able to welcome six young Saint Lucians to Taiwan for this training, from November 2018 to January 2019.”

Health Care: “Every year Taiwan sends a number of volunteer doctors to serve at St. Jude’s Hospital. We also receive a number of doctors from Saint Lucia in Taiwan for training opportunities. This is one area where we would like to do more and we have been in discussion with the Minister of Health Senator Hon. Mary Isaac following her visit to Taiwan recently.”

Trade Partnership: “In 2017 Taiwan welcomed a high level trade delegation from Saint Lucia led by Hon. Bradley Felix the Minister for Commerce. The group also included some business persons and entrepreneurs who got a chance to be exposed to our technology and some were able to establish business agreements ties as well.”

“Overall I think we are on the right path. I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of Saint Lucia and Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet for his encouragement and for his expressions at this year’s UN General Assembly when he called on members to allow Taiwan to participate in the WHO.”

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Government Steps Up Outreach to Diaspora

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he Saint Lucian Diaspora consists of non-resident nationals and persons of Saint Lucian origin residing overseas.

Under a previous UWP administration, then Prime Minister Stephenson King insisted on the formulation of a Diaspora Policy for Saint Lucia. “Citizens of Saint Lucia abroad are critically important to the development of the island nation, and its government is not going to overlook them,” King said back in 2010, pledging both political and financial commitments to working closer with Saint Lucians across the Diaspora.

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Since assuming office in 2016, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has also pledged for the creation of stronger linkages between Saint Lucia and the Diaspora. To this end, the Government of Saint Lucia has appointed a new Ambassador whose focus is Diaspora Affairs.

Dr. Jocelyne Clarke-Fletcher will lead the charge of the office, to articulate the island’s diaspora policy, communicate with non-resident Saint Lucians in different countries, and to assist them in coming home - creating linkages for investment.

Dr. Fletcher worked previously for the Government of Montserrat as Chief Human Resources Manager and also worked for many years as a lecturer at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the University of the West Indies. A human resource management specialist, her cadre of work also includes several posts with the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

Diaspora conference in the UK featuring Hon Sarah Flood-Beaubrun.

Our Saint Lucia spoke with Dr. Fletcher who said that she was elated at being selected for this new role as she too was once a member of the Diaspora with a good grasp of the issues.

“First we need to create and examine a data base as to the various associations we have overseas

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet during a presentation by Saint Lucian young people in the United States

“We need to let our Saint Lucians know that no matter where they are, that they are important and that they can play a role in the development of their country.”

connecting to the Union of Saint Lucian Overseas Associations (USLOA),” stated Dr. Fletcher. “I also believe that it is important for us to begin to carry out studies to quantify the remittances of the Diaspora as I know that it is very significant and plays a role in the economy of Saint Lucia.”

The Ambassador responsible for Diaspora Affairs believes in the need for more engagements with the Diaspora and the many associations that exists including California, Washington, Houston, Atlanta, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Canada, Miami, London, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

“We need to let our Saint Lucians know that no matter where they are, that they are important and that they can play a role in the development of their country,” Dr. Fletcher says. “And so we need to work with USLOA to encourage associations to contribute to their data base so we can have a clear idea of who is where and what skill sets they may have or areas in which they may wish to contribute,” she went on to say.

“So this is part of what this job is about, to tap into that brilliant untapped resource that we have out there. That’s the vision of this government.”

She is also hoping that in 2019 the Diaspora can be a major part of Saint Lucia’s 40th Independence Anniversary Celebrations both overseas and here at home.

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Cuban Ambassador reflects on time in “Beautiful Saint Lucia”

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PM Allen Chastanet, Minister Hon Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, Cuban Ambassador Jorge Francisco Soberon Luis, and Minister Hon Lenard Montoute.

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ood-byes are never easy, especially when you have fallen in love with a country that you believe is just as beautiful and rich in culture as your own home. Those were the sentiments of Jorge Soberon, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Saint Lucia.

Our Saint Lucia spoke to the ambassador this week, and he revealed that his tenure in Saint Lucia has come to an end and that he will be leaving in December. He, however, indicated his gratefulness to have served in such a beautiful country.

“I am very happy to have had the opportunity to represent Cuba in Saint Lucia,” the Ambassador started by saying. “This is indeed a very beautiful country and the people are magnificent, very friendly and it is also very rewarding to know that with the comprehensive relationships that we have between Cuba and Saint Lucia, we can continue to bring many benefits to the people of both countries.”

During his time here, the Cuban ambassador says that he was happy to see that several programs started by Cuba many years ago, were continuing and that new ones were being implemented.

“We have been working on different programs that bring services to the people, making the most of the limited resources that we have, but at the same time achieving very important results. We

have also worked towards identifying new opportunities for fruitful exchanges and I can say today that we have done that and accordingly we have agreed to exchange not only in the areas of health care, infrastructure and sports, but we have new agreements in the areas of education and agriculture,” Ambassador Soberon says.

“We also believe that we can come together on issues such as climate change at the regional and international level. The fact that we have similar challenges, the fact that we are developing, the fact that we are in the Caribbean, we can stand together on these issues,” the outgoing Ambassador says. He also informed, that Cuba has also been working NEMO as it relates to natural disasters with a view to finding solutions to better prepare.

Cuba, Soberon says, continued to play a major role in the health care service in Saint Lucia, not only training doctors and medical practitioners but also in having Cuban doctors serve in Saint Lucia.

Each year too, Cuba’s scholarship plan offers several scholarships to Saint Lucians to travel to Cuba to further their education. This year, thirteen more scholarships were awarded for studies in Medicine, Dentistry and Post-Graduate Medical studies.

Ambassador Soberon believes that Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, truly understands the mission and

stands with Cuba in the international arena.

“We have had very constructive and fruitful discussions and this has led to a very good relationship,” he says. “I would like to wish the Hon. Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and the People of Saint Lucia much success. I am leaving here with a very positive impression of Saint Lucia, realizing that we share a lot of our common Caribbean culture, but at the same time I understand that there is a lot of potential for more development of our relationships because our region needs to work together to face our challenges. And so we are grateful for Saint Lucia’s support for Cuba, and Saint Lucia can count on the full support and assistance from Cuba as we stand tall together giving the people the better lives they deserve as we face the future.”

Saint Lucia will mark its 40th Independence Anniversary in 2019, and the diplomatic relationship between Cuba and Saint Lucia will also be marking its 40th year in 2019, August 23 to be exact.

Fun Facts • Favourite sport is swimming which he enjoys as a hobby and got to do while in Saint Lucia • Enjoys Cuban music but while in Saint Lucia was exposed to Soca and Zouk which he enjoys.

• What he enjoyed most about Saint Lucia besides the people - the food, especially accras, green fig and saltfish, the variety of fresh local fish.

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24 Nov 2018

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MINISTERS ON THE MOVE Minister Honourable Ezechiel Joseph and Ambassador Shen at signing Ceremony of the Action Plan on Implementing the Project of Enhancing the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector

Hon. Gale Rigobert and Ambassador Soberon at the signing of Education Cooperation Agreement with Government of Cuba.

Hon. Guy Joseph looks on at the development of the DSH Horse Racing Track in Vieux Fort

The men of the Cabinet give a thumbs up to mark International Men’s Day!

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Connect With Us Allen Chastanet -www.facebook.com/allenmchastanet

OďŹƒce of the Prime Minister

www.facebook.com/opmsaintlucia www.instagram.com/opmsaintlucia

Government of Saint Lucia

Lenard "Spider" Montoute -www.facebook.com/lenardspidermontoute

Ezechiel Joseph -www.facebook.com/ezechieljoseph758

Sarah Flood Beaubrun -www.facebook.com/sarahoodbeaubrun758

Guy Joseph -www.facebook.com/guyejoseph

Stephenson King -www.facebook.com/stephensonking

Mary Isaac -www.facebook.com/maryisaacslu

Fortuna Belrose -www.facebook.com/fortunabelrose758

Dominic Fedee -www.facebook.com/dominic.fedee

Herod Stanislas -www.facebook.com/herodstanislas

Bradly Felix -www.facebook.com/bradlyfelix758

Dr Gale T C Rigobert -www.facebook.com/drgalerigobert758

Edmund Estephane -www.facebook.com/edmundestephane758