Governor General Dame Susan D. Dougan is in Taiwan until Wednesday to participate in Taiwan’s National Day celebrations.
Taiwan Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Fiona Huei Chun Fan saw the governor general and her delegation off at the Argyle International Airport.
The diplomat said that the governor general’s visit will further deepen the relationship between the two countries.
Dame Susan visited Taiwan in 2008, when she was chief education officer of SVG, however, this is her first visit as the governor-general.
During the visit, Dame Susan will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, participate in a series of National Day celebrations, attend reception hosted by Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, visit the Embassy of SVG in Taiwan and meet with the Vincentian students, as well as visit National Palace Museum, Taipei 101 Building and Taipei Botanical Garden.
“The friendship between Republic of China(Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines enters its 42nd anniversary this year, and the friendship remains everlasting,” the Taiwan embassy said in a press release.
“The SVG government is Taiwan’s robust ally in the international arena. Over the years, it has firmly supported Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Criminal Police Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and other international organisations,” the release said.
“The two countries have been working together for many years to promote various cooperation projects and have achieved fruitful results in the fields of agriculture, information and communications, health care, disaster prevention, women’s empowerment and education, mutually benefiting the people of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan,” it further stated.
The Governor General should play a more significant role in SVG. Her Excellency should particularly champion the cause of young people and the elderly by visiting schools, youth organizations and Care homes.
She should be a unifying force within the country. While her role has been a ceremonial figure head traditionally, there is nothing preventing her from being more engaging.
Finally, Her Excellency should make it her business to attend all youth activities. Her role should be more realistically define. She should speak frequently on matters affecting youth and crime, the elderly and disabled.
The role of the Governor General is akin to a separate ministry and an arm of the ULP. Her role is one of independence, however, even the blind can see her role is a quasi arm of the government. It begs the question as to whether or not the manner in which the Governor General is selected is the problem. The balance that was intended was never attained, her method of selection ensures that the Governor General is never the people’s candidate. If that’s the case we need to go back to the drawing board to ensure a more broadly based selection will result in section of the ideal candidate by default.
IAgustus, t’s all about self , who cares.