Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology, the Hon. Camillo Gonsalves has received a certificate from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) signifying the completion of the 1st phase of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) project.
The presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday June 1st at the Foreign Affairs conference room and heard remarks from Minister Gonsalves, Ambassador Calvin Ho and Commissioner of Police Colin John.
Disclosing that Taiwan has assisted this country in modernizing and outfitting a monitoring station at the Questelles Police Station with cameras and equipment that are operational for 24 hours, Minister Gonsalves highlighted Taiwan’s continued contribution and expressed his appreciation to the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on this gesture. Work on the 2nd phase of the project which is the Intelligent Bus Management and monitoring system has started and is expected to intensify.
The Technology Minister added that Taiwanese associates in collaboration with the Commissioner of Police installed CCTV cameras atvarious locations across St Vincent to ensure general safety. He further noted that there are currently Eighty-eight (88) cameras in Kingstown,Twenty-six (26)along the Leeward coast and fifty-eight (58) on the Windward coast.
Addressing the presentation ceremony Ambassador Ho thanked Minister Gonsalves and Police Commissioner John for the support rendered to this project over the years.
In his remarks, Commissioner of Police, Colin John, echoed the benefits of the Intelligent Bus Management and Monitoring project. He said the Police Force welcomes the initiative and thanked the Government and people of Taiwan for their efforts. Furthermore, Commissioner John said that the initiative can assist in enhancing the transportation system, aid in time management, and provide a more equipped system to monitor and more effectively regulate the traffic.
The Commissioner hailed the CCTV program as an initiative that is helpful to the Police force in the detection, and prosecution of criminals, noting that it would also act as a deterrentfor criminal activities. Commissioner John thankedthe Republic of China (Taiwan) for its efforts and gave the assurance that the system would be successfully and “efficiently run and managed.”
Additionally, stressing the level of support Taiwan has given Commissioner John said that many police officers have undergone significant training from Taiwan, particularly through the police apprentice program sponsored by the Taiwanese Government.
Meantime, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ambassador Calvin Ho will end his tour of duty to St Vincent and the Grenadines at the end of June 2021. Ambassador Ho made the announcement as he addressed the presentation ceremony for the certificate to mark the completion of phase one of the CCTV project yesterday Tuesday June 1st.
Ambassador is leaving after serving three years as the Taiwanese Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Ambassador emphasized that even though he is about to leave his post, he regards St. Vincent and the Grenadines as family and thanked Minister Gonsalves and Police Commissioner John for their support over the years, noting that in the future, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan will continue to foster their relationship and work together.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of China (Taiwan) is this year celebrating 40 years of diplomatic ties and friendship.