St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) top diplomat in Taiwan has urged Vincentians in the Asian ally to learn from their host nation’s success and build their home country “sacrificially”.
Kenton X. Chance said at a reception in Taipei to mark SVG’s 47th anniversary of independence that Taiwanese today enjoy the fruits of the previous generations’ hard work even as they build a more resilient and prosperous country for the next generation.
“I urge every Vincentian in Taiwan to take inspiration from our host and build sacrificially so the next generation can experience in St. Vincent and the Grenadines a level of development similar to what we enjoy now in Taiwan,” the ambassador said.
The reception was held ahead of the 47th anniversary of independence on Tuesday and was the first SVG independence event organised by the SVG Embassy in Taiwan since Chance’s tour of duty began in March.
The guests at the event included SVG’s Minister of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health, and Energy, Honourable Daniel Cummings and his wife, Sharon Morris Cummings, who were in Taiwan to participate in the 2026 Global Health and Welfare Forum.
Chen Ming-chi, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented his government at the event.
Ambassador Chance pointed out that on Oct. 27, 1979, SVG “embraced the challenges and opportunities of governing a small island nation with limited resources” just six months after the eruption of the country’s volcano — La Soufriere.
“The anniversary of our independence, therefore, is an opportunity for Vincentians everywhere to reflect on how far we have come since 1979 and to recalibrate as we look to the future,” Kingstown’s top diplomat in Taipei said.
Progress ‘despite significant headwinds’
He told the guests that during this year’s Flag Raising Ceremony in Kingstown on Oct. 1, Prime Minister Godwin Friday said that independence is a hopeful time that is akin to a birthday.
“‘We are also a country looking forward with a new government to better times. To take our guard and say, ‘This is how we are going to do things differently and better. Not discarding what we have met, but building upon it, … so that our country moves forward’,” Chance quoted the Vincentian leader as saying.
Over its 47 years of independence, SVG has proven itself a stable democracy that respects the ballot and the rule of law, Chance said.
“Despite significant headwinds, we have made great progress in human development, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure.”
He said that Vincentians have demonstrated “remarkable resilience amid the vagaries of climate change and a global financial architecture that is, at times, unsympathetic, if not antagonistic, to the realities of small island developing states”.
‘faith without works is dead’
Vincentians, including those in the diaspora, have worked together to make SVG a middle-income country, with a life expectancy at birth of 71 in 2024 and GDP per capita of US$12,561.80 in 2025, according to World Bank data, the ambassador said.
He said SVG enjoys universal access to primary and secondary school education and healthcare.
Chance recognised SVG’s development partners – “the countries, international agencies, and organisations that have contributed, and continue to contribute, to our development over the last 47 years”.
He expressed particular gratitude to Taiwan, describing the country as “a faithful partner over the past 45 years”.
Looking to SVG’s future, Chance quoted the National Anthem, saying, “What e’er the future brings, our faith will see us through”, and added that, inspired by these words, the country looks to the future with optimism.
“Our Constitution affirms that our ‘Nation is founded on the belief in the supremacy of God and the freedom and dignity of man’. Therefore, in proclaiming that ‘What e’er the future brings, our faith will see us through’, we do so, forever reminded that ‘faith without works is dead’,” Chance said, quoting the Bible.
‘close friendship built on mutual trust’
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen wished SVG a happy Independence Day, noting that Kingstown and Taipei celebrated 45 years of diplomatic relations in August.
“Throughout these years, our two nations have developed a close friendship built on mutual trust, shared values, and meaningful cooperation,” Chen said.
The minister said Taiwan remains committed to deepening its partnership with SVG.
“Looking ahead, Taiwan is keen to deepen this partnership through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, with a focus on the blue economy, the new economy, tourism, and agriculture.”
He said that by working with SVG in these areas, Taiwan hopes to create new opportunities for local businesses, support economic growth, and bring a lasting benefit to both our peoples.
“Our partnership also extends beyond bilateral cooperation to the international stage,” Chen said, expressing sincere appreciation to the government of SVG for its steadfast support for Taiwan’s participation in international organisations.
“So, we are particularly grateful for your country’s consistent efforts to speak up for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly,” Chen said and wished SVG every success in the years ahead.