Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2015 (SKNIS): The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) demonstrated its commitment to partner with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis on Friday November 20, 2015, in the donation of a cheque provided for the purpose of purchasing six vehicles to be used by the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Security.
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, during the brief handing over ceremony expressed gratitude to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), for the contribution, noting that he wanted “to record the Government’s appreciation for the ongoing support and the extensive cooperation that we have been experiencing between our two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relationships in September of 1983.”
Prime Minister Harris revealed that “Police and law enforcement make heavy demands in terms of the need for transportation on an ongoing basis,” adding that “indeed the efficiency and efficacy of their work relates in large measure, to the availability of reliable transport.”
Speaking specifically in regard to the donation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Harris said “these are of course welcome and we welcome all assistance and we can give commitment that we will ensure their use will be long and that we will take good care of these vehicles.”
His Excellency George Gow Wei Chiou, Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, explaining that safety and security of the Federation is important not just for citizen but the tourism industry as well, praised recent efforts to combat crime saying “I can see in the past several months the Team Unity Government has done its best job to deter the criminals and to help the security of this country.”
He further explained that it is his hope that the donation would be of great benefit to the Federation.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr Osmond Petty, received the cheque on behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Also present at the handing over ceremony was the Cabinet Secretary, Mrs Josephine Huggins.