The Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in Taiwan celebrated its 43rd National Independence Day on Thursday with powerful speeches on the deaths of young Vincentian men.
“This society, the social network which binds our Vincentian community together, is being threatened in a very seminal manner. I have particularly used the word ‘seminal’ here because I am specifically referring to the threat posed to our society by the loss of youthful male lives,” SVG Ambassador to Taiwan Andrea Bowman said in a speech at the Diplomatic Quarter in Taipei’s Tianmu area.
Five young Vincentian men perished on Sept. 11 in a vehicular accident in SVG, leaving behind fatherless children and bereft family members, Bowman said.
The men, whom were all under 40, were reported by Caribbean media to have been killed when the vehicle overturned as they traveled to the funeral of a man who was shot and killed in Lowmans Bay on the outskirts of the capital on Aug. 15.
The flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Embassy, like at all official buildings in the SVG, was flown at half-mast until the men were buried following a joint funeral service on Oct. 16, Bowman said.
“We want to say to these families, and to the wider community of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, that their loss is our loss and unless this interconnectivity is actualized in a practical manner, our words of national solidarity and celebration would remain and would be reduced to mere words,” Bowman said.
Meanwhile, Craiglee Sam, one of the first ever basketball players to receive a university basketball scholarship in Taiwan, sought to motivate young Vincentians, especially those going through difficulties in their lives, by telling them to never give up.
“As long as you can still focus and keep your dreams alive, I can assure you that your endeavors will certainly become your reality,” Sam said.
The utility player shared in his speech how he overcame difficulties in his own life, which included not having proper basketball shoes and emphasized the importance of always working hard, as he eventually secured a basketball scholarship at the age of 22.
The theme for the anniversary is “Our Resilience; Our Fortitude; Our People,” as the island nation with around 110,000 inhabitants marked 43 years of political independence from Great Britain, Bowman said.
“For 43 years we have been paddling our own canoe-one canoe, because we have to do this together. We have to be united in the thrusts of our oars as we continue to move our canoe forward,” Bowman said. “We do have a great deal to celebrate at this juncture of our youthful journey.”
The embassy also celebrated the Independence Anniversary with music and Caribbean food for guests and international dignitaries.
SVG opened its embassy in Taipei on Aug. 8, 2019, which represents Vincentians and Vincentian interests with a view to strengthening bi-lateral relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The embassy received the Republic of China Chamber of Commerce Golden Merchants’ Award for being the Most Outstanding Foreign Embassy and Mission in Taiwan on Nov. 1, 2021.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel