Nevis Premier Hon Brantley hails Taiwan as Federation’s best friend internationally

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, October 9, 2022 (MMS-SKN) — The Republic of China (Taiwan) has been a friend of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and according to the Premier of Nevis, the Hon Mark Brantley, it continues to be the Federation’s best friend internationally.

Premier Brantley made the remarks on Saturday October 8 at the Frigate Bay lawns at the end of a health walk organised by the embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in St. Kitts and Nevis as the country prepares to celebrate its 111th Independence Anniversary on Monday October 10 (Double Ten Day).

“I have said it, and I continue to say that Taiwan is not just a friend,” said Premier Brantley. “Taiwan has been the best friend that St. Kitts and Nevis has internationally, and so I am very grateful to be here to have had the opportunity, and Ambassador please extend to your government our warmest regards.”

The walk which was dubbed Taiwan National Day Health Walk, that was coordinated by Mr Damien I-Ching Liu, Third Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in St. Kitts and Nevis, and held under the patronage of Resident Ambassador His Excellency Michael Lin, was also attended by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon Dr Terrance Drew.

Accompanying Hon Brantley for the walk, which took participants from Independence Square in Basseterre to the Frigate Bay lawns, were Deputy Premier of Nevis and Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Cooperatives and Fisheries, Natural Resources and Disaster Management, the Hon Alexis Jeffers, and Special Adviser to the Premier, Ms Latoya Jones.

“I just want to extend congratulations to my dear friend, Ambassador Lin, and to say welcome to everyone who is here,” said Premier Brantley at the end of the walk. “I would have walked from Nevis, to be over here this morning. We are here, a few colleagues from Nevis, because we thought this was an important event – the 111th National Day of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Thank you and happy National Day.”

Premier Brantley, who previously served as the Federal Foreign Affairs Minister in the Team Unity Administration and would have travelled to Taiwan previously and who on his third visit in May 2019 would have met and held discussions with President Her Excellency Tsai Ing-wen, will next month be joining Prime Minister the Hon Dr Terrance Drew on his first official state visit which will be to Taiwan.

While addressing the health walk participants at the Frigate Bay lawns, Prime Minister Drew announced his impending first official state visit. He added: “I also want to announce that the Premier will also be on that trip with us to Taiwan, with another member from Nevis.”

Also taking part in the health walk included, among others, Federal Minister of Tourism et al, Hon Marsha Henderson, Federal Minister of Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment, Senator the Hon Dr Joyelle Clarke, Permanent Secretaries Dr Delores Stapleton-Harris (Health), Ms Sharon Rattan (Environment et al), and Ms Naeemah Hazelle (Office of the Prime Minister).

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