Embassy of Taiwan donates - St. Lucia News Now

January 31st 2023

Embassy of Taiwan donates

by Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment

NEEDY FAMILIES TO BENEFIT FROM OVER US$100K IN CHARITABLE GOODS.

Several marginalized and less fortunate households in Saint Lucia have begun benefiting from close to US $100 thousand dollars, in items donated from the Taiwanese Embassy to the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment.

The handover ceremony, which took place on January 26, 2023 at the Gros-Islet Human Resource Development Centre, included shoes, toys, speakers, face-masks, and sanitary wipes, among others.

Expressing gratitude for the donation, Deputy Permanent Secretary Irene Gaspard said the special effects items that will be distributed to needy families by the Community Services Unit of the Ministry, will help improve the living conditions of indigent households across the island.

Taiwanese Ambassador to Saint Lucia H.E Peter Chen, said his government was again delighted to play a lead role in helping to change lives for the better, here in Saint Lucia.

“As Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre has stated, Saint Lucia continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and so the Government of Taiwan is here to extend our utmost support to the economic stability of Saint Lucia. Among these 850 parcels of donations, there are not only anti-pandemic necessities but also items like nursery bags, children’s T-shirts, toys, clothes etc. and as Taiwan is still in the lunar New Year period, this donation definitely represents a New Year’s gift.”

Seizing every opportunity to collaborate and work with other sectors, donors, funding agencies and governments in meeting its mandate of poverty alleviation, Equity Minister Hon. Joachim Henry said it was with ease that his ministry collaborated with Taiwanese officials. The handover ceremony, he said, spoke volumes in deepening faith in the notion that life can be made easier, with the intervention of others.

“We are not a very rich country, in fact we are considered to be one of the poor countries and as government takes care of the hospitals, schools and pay teachers, nurses, doctors and police and fire officers etc. that’s not enough for one to survive, one needs food and you also need to be happy. Not everything we may be able to give you everything that you need and therefore friends come by to help us and to serve us, as we serve you.”

The Ministry’s Social Transformation Officers have already commenced distribution of the items to vulnerable households island wide.