Leader of the Opposition Hon. Stephenson King and the United Workers Party joins with thousands of Saint Lucians in bidding farewell to Taiwanese Ambassador Tom Chou. During his tour of duty from April 30th, 2007 to the present, Ambassador Chou with the support of the Government and people of Taiwan has contributed immensely in providing livelihood opportunities and improving the living standards of many.
The generosity, warmth and caring spirit with which he approached his duties as Ambassador earned him the admiration and love of Saint Lucians. A tribute to his efforts was aptly captured in the January 23rd, 2010 issue of the STAR newspaper, when he was adorned with the accolade of Man of the Year for 2009.
During the five years of Ambassador’s Chou tenure he was instrumental in securing technical, material and financial support for hundreds of projects in the areas of Agriculture, Education and Technology, Health, Eco Tourism, Youth & Sports, Business and Entrepreneurial Development and Community/Social Development among others (Ref. Listing of Some Projects Undertaken through Taiwanese Support attached). Under Ambassador Chou’s supervision, the Taiwanese approach of direct benefit projects avoided wastage and tardiness due to Governmental
bureaucracy and ensured that maximum benefits were derived by the beneficiaries of these projects and grassroots people at the community level.
The Leader of the Opposition and the United Workers Party are certainly proud of the decision made in 2007 to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. We can now point to a great legacy of achievements through the cooperation initiatives between our two Governments. This legacy of unprecedented assistance suggests what for many Saint Lucians is an obvious decision for the Labour Party Administration to continue diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The decision of the current Government should therefore be guided by what is in the best interest of our nation and the sentiments of the electorate.
The Leader of the Opposition and the United Workers Party wish to publicly thank Ambassador Tom Chou and the Government and people of Taiwan on behalf of the people of Saint Lucia for the phenomenal assistance which they have given so generously to our nation over the past five years. We speak for Saint Lucians in saying that Ambassador Tom Chou will long be remembered as a friend of St Lucia. We extend best wishes for good health and strength to the Ambassador and his family as he moves on to new endeavours in service to fellow man.
The Leader of the Opposition hosted a special luncheon over the past weekend at which time Ambassador Tom Chou was showered with appreciation and honoured for his immeasurable contribution to Saint Lucia. The Party is currently finalising arrangements to have a special documentary in tribute to Ambassador Chou televised on local television networks later this week at a date to be announced.
Long live Ambassador Tom Chou and the Government and people of Taiwan.
—UWP Secretariat
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