Thirty-three Vincentians were awarded the 2023 Taiwan ICDF scholarships, in a
ceremony which took place earlier today on Friday August 11, 2023 at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Honorable Ralph Gonsalves congratulated the recipients
and noted that his Government remains committed to education and creating
educational opportunities for all Vincentians and it is a vision shared by the
Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan.
“We were given six scholarships at first and they have grown now to 33 per
year…since this programme was initiated, we have 269 including the 33 this year,
the number this year represents 8 per cent of the total number. The cost of each
scholarship is approximately 200 thousand dollars Easter Caribbean,” Dr.
Gonsalves said.
Newly appointed Ambassador of Republic of China on Taiwan to St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, Her Excellency, Fiona Fan at first official event said the
scholarships symbolize the “power of diplomacy” as it strengthens bilateral
relations between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan and further assists in
fostering social and economic development. The Ambassador encouraged the
scholarship recipients to take advantage of the opportunities that studying in
Taiwan will bring.
Ambassador Fan further urged the students, upon completion of their programmes
to work in advancing their country’s development with the knowledge that they
would have acquired in Taiwan.
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and National Reconciliation,
Myccle Burke thanked the Government of Taiwan, noting that Taiwan has
supported many educational and economic opportunities; including the Women’s
Empowerment Project, the ON- SITE programme, infrastructural projects among
others.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Keisal Peters gave testimony.
as to how far access to education has evolved and noted that in celebrating forty-
two years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, scholarships are distributed as more
opportunities for advancement are opened.
Currently, over one hundred persons have benefitted from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MOFA) and over seventy persons from the ICDF scholarships.
Minister Peters remarked that the cultural exchange between Taiwan and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines is evident as there are locals in Taiwan specializing in
Vincentian cuisine and other aspects of Taiwan’s culture are being embraced.
To date, two hundred and sixty-nine Vincentians have become beneficiaries of
Taiwanese scholarships.
