President Ma Ying-jeou, who is leading a delegation from the ROC to allies in South America and the Caribbean on a trip codenamed Project Congratulations and Friendship, arrived at E. T. Joshua Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 8:30 a.m. local time on August 17 (8:30 p.m. on August 17 Taipei time).
After the chartered aircraft came to a halt, ROC Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Weber Shih (施文斌) and the St. Vincent Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs Permanent Secretary Nathaniel Williams boarded the plane to welcome President Ma and escort him off the plane. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Governor-General Frederick Ballantyne and Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves were standing on the tarmac next to the stairs leading to the plane to welcome the president. That nation's police marching band and honor guard then welcomed President Ma and the delegation with a red-carpet ceremony and a 21-gun salute.
As the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens were the first such facility in the Western Hemisphere, President Ma's motorcade made a stop there. After arriving, President Ma was warmly welcomed by children from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and given a tour of the park by Director Gordon Shallow of the park. While touring the facility, the president planted a wax apple tree and visited the old residence of the first director of the park.
After the tree planting ceremony, President Ma made his way to the Governor-General's Office to meet with Governor-General Ballantyne. The two held brief discussions, after which the president visited Colonaire Bridge, which was built with assistance from the ROC. The president attended a ceremony formally opening the bridge to vehicle traffic.
In remarks, President Ma stated that the completion of the bridge represents the successful execution of a bilateral cooperation project, and highlights the staunch alliance between the two countries. He mentioned that the two nations have maintained diplomatic relations for 32 years, and bilateral cooperation projects have yielded impressive results, including the establishment of infrastructure and the administration of projects in the fields of agricultural technology, medicine and health care, information and communications, education, and the development of human resources. In addition to Colonaire Bridge, other projects completed in recent years include the Rabacca Bridge, the national library, 13 learning resource centers, and a center to promote the computerization of government, he said. All of these initiatives have enhanced the quality of life for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he noted.
The president also commented that bridges not only cross rivers and valleys, but also serve as avenues which the public can use to return home safely. All governments must invest large amounts of manpower and resources to create infrastructure, adding that six years ago the Rabacca Bridge was opened and 40,000 people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines attended the ceremony. The bridge realized the dreams of residents of the nation for over 200 years that people there no longer had to take a perilous river-crossing to return home, he said, adding that the bridge has helped to foster local development and prosperity.
President Ma also mentioned that the Colonaire district on the windward side of the island of St. Vincent so the Colonaire Bridge is an important thoroughfare. Residents previously had to use an old bridge that was erected during colonial times. That bridge was narrow and in poor condition due to its age, and did not meet the needs of the public, he said, so Prime Minister Gonsalves two years ago suggested that the Colonaire Bridge could be rebuilt as a priority bilateral cooperation project focusing on public infrastructure. The ROC agreed with the need to rebuild the bridge and therefore lent its full support for the project.
President Ma further stated that modern engineering techniques were applied in the design and construction of the new bridge, and now that it is open to traffic, it will not only improve the traffic situation, but also promote local prosperity. The bridge, he pointed out, can be used safely for over 100 years. In addition, the president said, the Vermont-Francois Bridge, which is being built with assistance from the ROC also, is scheduled to open at the end of this year. He expressed confidence that the completion of this bridge will be welcomed by local residents and will be a wonderful Christmas present to them.
The president explained that after arriving at the airport in the morning, he and Prime Minister Gonsalves held brief discussions at a meeting room in the terminal. During those talks, the prime minister said that he had to cross the old Colonaire Bridge when he was young on his way to school. The president said that he told the prime minister that the new bridge has been built to last, so the children and grandchildren of residents will be able to use the bridge for many generations to come to get to school.
President Ma also expressed appreciation to the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for speaking on behalf of the ROC in international venues on many occasions. He stressed that the sense of friendship, justice, and heartfelt goodwill that the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have shown toward the ROC is deeply appreciated, adding that the ROC's assistance projects to St. Vincent and the Grenadines are but a small gesture to repay these kindnesses.
Lastly, the president used the English saying, "A friend in need is a friend indeed," in wishing a strong and everlasting alliance between the two nations, just like what Colonaire Bridge will provide.
After the completion of the ceremony opening the bridge, President Ma and his entourage made their way to the official residence of the prime minister to have lunch with Prime Minister Gonsalves and Mrs. Gonsalves. The two leaders held cordial and lively discussions, and President Ma presented gifts to the prime minister and his wife in appreciation for the warm reception that they had provided.
In the afternoon, the president went to Argyle International Airport to view the site of a new terminal building. He was given a briefing on the construction of the new building by Taiwan's Overseas Engineering & Construction Company (OECC), and noted that the existing airport cannot accommodate large aircraft. Consequently, the development of the tourism industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has lagged behind that of the nation's Caribbean neighbors. The president stated that Prime Minister Gonsalves in 2005 floated his idea of the construction of an international airport that could handle larger aircraft, and that this vision is gradually being realized. President Ma stated that the ROC has shouldered the construction of the terminal building at the airport and Taiwan's CECI Engineering Consultants has designed the terminal, with the OECC working to construct the facility. The president said that the construction began two years ago and that the terminal is expected to be completed at the end of this year. He added that while the cost of the terminal building is only a small portion of the NT$800 million budget for the entire airport, the terminal is perhaps the most visible building in the whole airport, and is sure to attract a lot of attention.
President Ma also mentioned that last month he visited Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to attend ceremonies marking the completion of the overhaul of Terminal 1. The renovation process took three and a half years to complete, and the updated facility can now handle an extra three million passengers each year, he said. The president noted that the airport's international rankings in a variety of areas have improved according to the Airports Council International.
President Ma furthermore stated that prior to his taking office the number of passengers using Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport increased by about 400,000 per year, but this year the number was up by 1.4 million passengers from last year, so the rapid renovation of Terminal 1 was indeed necessary. Now that the renovations are finished, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 together should be enough to handle the continually growing number of passengers.
The president also said that the ROC's foreign aid is intended to solidify ties between the ROC and its diplomatic allies, and to improve the wellbeing of the public in these nations. He pointed out that per capita GDP in the ROC has already surpassed US$20,000, and standards set by the United Nations recommend that nations with this level of income allocate 0.7% of their GDP to foreign aid. The level provided by the ROC falls far short of that standard, he said. President Ma remarked that the ROC previously received assistance from other nations and as it now has the ability to come to the aid of others, it should do so. This is a type of international morality and justice, the president said.
A short while later, President Ma headed to the Office of the Prime Minister for more formal discussions with Prime Minister Gonsalves. The two exchanged opinions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and signed a joint communiqué to reiterate their staunch support for each other's national development and participation in the international community.
After the signing of the joint communiqué, President Ma mentioned that during the lunch with Prime Minister Gonsalves he met the prime minister's 94-year-old mother, which made him think of his own mother who this year is 93. He said that he had a deep sense for the hope among mothers that the younger generation will do all it can to create a better future. Thus, he commented, the mutual assistance of the ROC and St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in a way the realization of the dreams of all mothers.
In the evening, President Ma attended a reception hosted by the ROC Embassy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In remarks, he said he has gotten a deep sense for the friendship and hospitality of the host nation during his visit. He also noted he is extremely pleased to see the efforts and accomplishments achieved in the 32 years of cooperation between the two countries since establishing formal diplomatic relations.
President Ma stated that Taiwan has limited natural resources, but faces no shortage of natural disasters. As a member of the global community, the ROC has had to rely on the intelligence and diligence of its people, along with its education system, to achieve what it has. He added that the ROC is sharing its educational resources with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which has helped to successfully cultivate a new generation of highly skilled people. He specifically mentioned individuals such as Rohan McDonald, Gordon Shallow, and Kemston Cato, all of whom studied in Taiwan and have distinguished themselves in the fields of tissue cultivation, botanical garden management, and food product research and development, respectively.
President Ma opined that the most important investment that can be made by any developing nation is not in physical facilities, but rather in education. The active effort currently being made by St. Vincent and the Grenadines to cultivate talent makes him hopeful about the prospects for betterment of the nation in the future, he said.
The president also mentioned that the relatively small population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines means that no regular university exists in that nation. However, at present Taiwan has 162 colleges and universities, and the acceptance rate this year among students applying to enter such institutions was 94%, he said. The ROC thus has relatively abundant educational resources, which it would be happy to share with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the president stated. With this in mind, the ROC's Ministry of Education this year has increased the number of scholarships provided to outstanding students from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to study in Taiwan to 17. While 14 of these students will be selected to study in bachelor's, master's or doctorate programs, another three will receive post-bachelor scholarships for medicine science to study at I-Shou University in Kaohsiung, he said. President Ma stated that in the future the government will continue to increase the number of these medical science scholarships with the hope of helping its allies advance in the fields of medicine and public health.
Upon the completion of these remarks, President Ma, Governor General Ballantyne, and Prime Minister Gonsalves raised their glasses in toast to the two nations, and expressed their wishes for a lasting alliance. After the reception, President Ma and his entourage returned to the airport to board the chartered flight that took them back to St. Lucia. This marked the end to the president's visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.