Taiwan donates COVID-19 vaccines to Caribbean nations
Two Caribbean nations received 10,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from Taiwan last week.
According to Taipei Times, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement was to help Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan’s two Caribbean allies, combat the pandemic.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines received their donations last Monday, and Saint Lucia accepted their doses last Thursday.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry added that the country has enough AstraZeneca doses for its own use, and there are 2.5 million doses of the vaccine that are to expire in May.
Figures from the Our World In Data showed that as of March 9, 2022, only 28.4 percent of the total population in Saint Lucia have been fully vaccinated, while booster shots were administered to the 3.7 per cent of Saint Lucia’s residents.
At Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, fully vaccinated individuals are only 26.5 percent of the total population, and 2.9 percent have received their third jabs.
Saint Lucia, Belize strengthen ties with Taiwan in separate activities
Saint Lucia and Taiwan has also held a virtual conference on youth in agriculture in a bid to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The meeting was held at the Saint Lucian embassy in Taiwan and according to Taiwan News, it was the first of its kind and was attended by Saint Lucia Deputy Chief Forest Officer Alfred Prospere and Jeremiah Norbert, deputy speaker of the St. Lucia House of Representatives.
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture Chairman Chen Chi-chung laid out his country’s new farmer cultivation plan and the measures they are currently promoting.
In a separate event, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño is visiting Taiwan to promote bilateral cooperation. The trip, which ends on March 12, will close with Briceño being conferred with the Order of Propitious Clouds.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen will present the Belizian official with a Special Grand Cordon for his role in advancing mutual ties over the years. Taiwan and Belize has enjoyed diplomatic ties since 1989.