Taiwanese Ambassador Elizabeth Chu leaving at month’s end

Any who had the opportunity to come in contact with Elizabeth Chu, Taiwan’s out going Resident Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines will certainly agree that she is a fantastic diplomat.

And for a long time she will be remembered by Vincentians for her charisma, charm and grace. She will surely be missed especially when one considers the role she played in further deepening the longstanding ties between the Republic of China on Taiwan and St.Vincent and the Grenadines and the level of financial and technical aid she was responsible for bringing to the shores of this country.{{more}}

After two years and a half in St.Vincent and the Grenadines as Taiwan’s first Resident Ambassador to this country, the curtain comes down on Ambassador Chu’s tenure here at the end of the month. Chu now heads home to Taipei, Taiwan, where she will be assigned a new post. In August 2003 she had replaced Roger Luo, the last Charge d’Affaires to St.Vincent and the Grenadines before the Mission was upgraded to an Embassy.

Chu will now be replaced by Ambassador Jack Chen, whom she describes as a “brilliant Ambassador at Taiwan’s Mission in Australia.”

“Taiwan is so sincere to helping this country,” Chu said in an interview on Tuesday at the Embassy of the Republic of China, adding that while help can be given to people for a purpose, Taiwan’s sole purpose for St.Vincent and the Grenadines is to encourage Vincentians to be Taiwan’s supporters.

“But when we say supporters that is subject to principle because we are a country of a democratic systems, we are a country that respects human rights, we are a country that thinks that every people, every country, everyone should be equally treated. It is our principle that we have this dilemma of showing countries that we are not treated equally,” said Chu as she explained the reasons why Taiwan is appealing to St.Vincent and the Grenadines and the other allies to help her country in getting equal justice on the world stage.

Chu said during her stint here, she always demonstrated creativity. She said she tried to do things differently because it’s her belief that people and countries should be progressive.

The out going Ambassador used the opportunity to appeal to Vincentians to wisely use the assistance that Taiwan is giving to Vincentians.

Chu said as an ambassador with responsibility to Taiwan’s tax payers she had to guarantee the projects were successful, and all agreements were maintained and not breached. With much humility, Chu admitted that she made a lot of effort to fulfill her obligation in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Vincentians for supporting Taiwan, for helping the Embassy and also in supporting me. That made my life very worthwhile and I thank you St.Vincent,” Ambassador Chu emphasized, adding that during her stint she had made some very good friends.

Last January Chu received her country’s highest award as one of Taiwan’s ten most outstanding civil servants for 2004 out of a population of 22.72 million.

Chu’s positive approach at her posting here in St.Vincent and the Grenadines had earned her the award.

Chu said she was nominated for the award because the relationship between both countries is so deep that St.Vincent and the Grenadines is now Taiwan’s strongest allies.

“That’s why they nominated me because I must have done some good work,” Chu stated then.

On August 15, 1981, Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations.

SEARCHLIGHT wishes Ambassador Chu well in her future endeavours.