Nevis Island’s Premier – Joseph Parry
Charlestown, Nevis
June 18, 2009
Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry returned to Nevis early this week from Taiwan, where he received financial assistance for a Fine Arts Theatre, police barracks and sponsorship for local farmers.
The Premier was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Hon. Robelto Hector and Chief Protocol Officer, Miss Angelica Elliott.
While in Taiwan, the Premier and his delegation paid a courtesy call on President, Ma Ying Jeou and Premier Liu Chan Shuan. He also sealed an agreement between the government of Taiwan and Nevis for US$2 million to complete a Fine Arts Theatre and secured a grant for US$300,000 for the construction of police barracks at Bath Plain.
Assistance in the area of agriculture was also discussed and since the Premier’s return to Nevis he was informed by Resident Taiwanese Ambassador Wu, that the Taiwanese government would sponsor the development of a collective farm in the area of Cades Bay. The assistance would include irrigation, marketing and support for farmers.
Also discussed was the geothermal development on Nevis. As a good gesture, Premier Parry extended an invitation to the Taiwan Bureau of Energy to attend the Conference, which will be held at the end of June. The Premier has been subsequently informed that the invitation has been graciously accepted and that representatives from the Bureau will be in attendance.
“The government of Taiwan expressed an extreme interest in Nevis and the Government of Nevis. The President himself also expressed a great interest in the island’s work in geothermal energy,” said Premier Parry.
He also indicated that the Taiwanese government expressed an interest in financing any part of the geothermal development with which the Nevis Reformation Party led Nevis Island Administration would need assistance.
The Premier noted that The Mega International Commercial Bank Co. Ltd. in Taiwan with which he signed the loan agreement for the development of the Fine Arts Theatre on Nevis, also expressed an interest in financing other projects on the island of Nevis.
Meanwhile, during the visit, the Premier and his delegation met with students from St. Kitts and Nevis who are pursuing studies at university level in Taiwan.
Mr. Parry reported that the students were all comfortable and had become very fluent in Mandarin, the official language of Taiwan.
According to Premier Parry, the Taiwanese Government was impressed with the education practices on Nevis and an increase in scholarship offers would be made available to Nevisians shortly.
“I encourage the young people of Nevis to utilize the chance of gaining free education whether it is from Taiwan, Cuba or the University of the West Indies, wherever education is offered. This is the way for upward mobility for all, whether rich, not so rich and the poor” remarked Premier Parry.
