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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 26^th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and his delegation to Taiwan spoke for more than two hours on the weekend with a large number of students from St. Kitts and Nevis who are enrolled in universities in the Republic of China (Taiwan).  The meeting was held at the St. Kitts and Nevis Embassy in Taipei.

The students are studying in different parts of the country, namely Hsinchu, Hualien, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taipei, and Taoyuan, and majoring in the following specialties: architecture, biomedical engineering, international business and trade, journalism and mass communication, management science and finance, Mandarin Chinese, medicine, nursing and health science, police administration, travel and tourism management, and tropical agriculture.

Records from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in St. Kitts and Nevis show that 78 persons from the Federation have been afforded the opportunity to study in Taiwan since 2004.  The Taiwan Scholarship Program – an initiative of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Economic Affairs – was launched in 2004.

According to the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in St. Kitts and Nevis, it is estimated that over 55 of our nationals are currently enrolled in Taiwan’s universities. Forty-two of them are scholarship recipients.

The students who came to see Prime Minister Harris and his delegation on Saturdayengaged the government officials in a lively Q&A and afterwards got to interact with them one-on-one.

This week, Her Excellency Jasmine Huggins, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan), gave a report of the meeting.

“The Prime Minister began by thanking the students for coming to meet with him and the delegation, and continued by congratulating them for taking the bold step of choosing to study in Taiwan,” Ambassador Jasmine Huggins said.

Her Excellency continued: “Prime Minister Harris told the students they may be tempted to give up during times of hardship, but he encouraged them to stay focused on their goals.  He also said that we need everyone to come back to the Federation after the completion of their studies because their skills, knowledge and experience accumulated in Taiwan are going to help in nation building.”

Ambassador Huggins, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan), said that, in speaking with the students about job opportunities and job creation in St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Harris highlighted the accomplishments of 34-year-old Stachio Williams, the owner of SKNVibes.  Stachio Williams, who co-founded the successful news and information website in 2002, was invited by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cover the May 20^th, 2016 inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen.  Mr. Williams was also at the meeting and spoke to the students about the benefits of entrepreneurship.

Students who registered through R.S.V.P. were Addea C’Dell Brunder, Davina Doras Cranstoun, Ketricia Herschel Finch, Miguel Shevaughn Flemming, Donya Lynex Francis,Jamella Rochelle Fraser, Lilibeth De La Rosa Gumbs, Rolhensha T’ Keyah Henry, Travis Curtly Kelly, Jelani Lawrence, Monique Amanda Lescott, Natasha Maynard, Kurt Adolphus Jr. Pollock, Novelia Ileta Rawlins-Nwosu, Alrick C.J. Edwards Sutton, Cassandra Ward, Davrald Antoine Webbe-Allen, Selena Teneka Weekes, and Olanzvier Shandier Williams.  Alvin Mitcham, a national who works in Taipei, was also present.

The St. Kitts-Nevis delegation to Taiwan included Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Vance Amory and Mrs. Amory, Attorney General, Honourable Vincent Byron Jr. and Mrs. Byron, and Director-General of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), Mr. Lesroy Williams.  His Excellency George Gow Wei Chiou, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, accompanied the delegation.