CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 30, 2007)
Premier of Nevis the Honorable Joseph Parry will visit Taiwan later this year. The invitation was extended to Premier Parry on Monday January 29, 2007, when Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency Mr. John Liu paid a courtesy call on Premier Parry at his office at the Administration Building at Bath Plain, Charlestown.
“The Taiwanese Ambassador has presented me with an invitation to travel to Taiwan later this year, which will give me the opportunity to discuss one or two major projects with the Taiwanese government and I’m very pleased for that,” the Premier said in an interview with the Department of Information.
He said that a number of matters were discussed including the agro-processing plant that will be constructed on Nevis in Cades Bay.“The Ambassador also discussed with me, the possibility of having a training center there [Cades Bay] as well to teach our people agro-processing. He also discussed a number of agricultural projects including pineapple and they have presented 10,000 suckers for the farmers. They are also looking at working in the area of cantaloupe with the farmers in Nevis. He also discussed a project for orchids and anturium lilies,” he said and added that the Ministry and the department of Agriculture would discuss with the Taiwanese and implement over the next two years.
Regarding the construction of a Fine Arts theatre and Community Center for Charlestown, Mr. Parry noted that the project be implemented during 2007 since both the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and the Taiwanese government wanted a speedy start to the project.
“The funds have already being provided and we [NIA] are working out how the funds can be dispersed and how the project can be started very, very quickly. I must say that the Taiwanese has been very kind to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and certainly I speak on behalf of Nevis in particular and we expect to work very closely with them in our mutual interest and benefit,” he said.
Mr. Parry noted that the Nevis Reformation Party led NIA had hoped to implement all the projects during its five year term in office.
Meantime, Ambassador Mr. John Liu who led a six man delegation during the visit said that the main purpose of his visit with the Premier was to discuss what Taiwan could do for the island, ways in which they could contribute to the development of the people of Nevis, and to get an update on the progress of the Taiwanese Mission projects which are on-going on the island.
“We have a number of projects taking place now, one is the agricultural project. Our Agricultural Mission has been in the island for many years. Now we have a construction of a new building which will be completed early next month. The building will serve as a training center for the farmers, also an office and the storage room,” he said.