BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 21ST 2013 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has showered praise on the people and several officials for contributing to the successful hosting of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Dr. Ma Ying-jeou.
President Ma is the second President of Taiwan to visit St. Kitts and Nevis.
“This visit holds enormous treasures of memories because of how successful it has been,” said Prime Minister Douglas during his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister.”
“I want to thank of course, His Excellency the Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence and Lady Lawrence for again demonstrating the Statesman that he is and his dear wife, Lady Lawrence, for receiving and hosting the President at State Dinner on Sunday Night,” said Dr. Douglas.
“I want to thank the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Elvis Newton and his staff, especially the protocol officers for really going beyond the call of duty to make this visit a success. I want to thank all in the private sector, in the public sector, the school students that came out, the organisers of our on-going camps with our children who were at the Marriott to receive him and also the former graduates of Taiwan universities, who were there as well at the Marriott with the President when he came to the hotel,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He praised the security forces “because when the advanced team came, if they were not satisfied that this was a country that can secure their President, he would have never came here and so I want to thank the security forces, for yet again making us proud because they were not only able to demonstrate their ability, but they actually demonstrated it over the two days that the President was here.”
Prime Minister Douglas singled out the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force Band and the Police for their excellent performance, not only in the playing of the National Anthem of St. Kitts and Nevis but that of the Republic of China on Taiwan and for providing the music at the State Dinner.
“There was a time at the State Dinner when the Band played a piece that they told me the President said was a love song from Taiwan and all of the Taiwanese people at dinner sang along with the band,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who thanked “Mr. Charles, his men and women for really making us proud on Sunday when President Ma arrived and on Monday when the President departed.”
Prime Minister Douglas also expressed thanks to Management and the staff of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort “for the excellent service that they provided with our own local people giving service of the highest standard to the President and his delegation and they have commented that the hospitality of our people at all levels has been unmatched throughout this visit.”
“I want to thank all of our people in St. Kitts and Nevis, our citizens, our residents, the people who came out, I want to thank you all for making this visit historic, secure and memorable,” Dr. Douglas said.
He added that the Government and the Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency Miguel Tsao are pleased to have had the full support of the country in making President Ma’s visit successful.