 |
|
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas (l) reeceives check from Republic of China Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Her Excellecy Mrs. Marietta Liau |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS SEPTEMBER 29TH 2004 (CUOPM) – The Republic of China on Taiwan on Tuesday presented to St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas a US$1.4 million check for the redevelopment of Warner Park as a venue for World Cup Cricket in 2007.
Making the presentation was the Resident Ambassador, Her Excellency Mrs. Marietta Liau, who said it was the first installment of the US$6 million her country is providing to finance the improvement of the facility to international standards.
Ambassador Liua noted that although the sport of cricket is not popular in most of the Oriental countries, she has been fortunate since her posting to St. Kitts and Nevis to appreciate the “spirit of the game” as it unites both the “old and the young.”
She noted that World Cup Cricket 2007 will not only help tourism and other sectors of the economy, it will “uplift the visibility of this country.”
“My Government feels very honoured to be able to further assist with the development of sports in the Federation and am sure that both our Governments will continue to work closely together in the years ahead,” said Ambassador Liua as she handed over the check to Prime Minister Douglas.
In accepting the financial donation, Prime Minister Douglas said he considers the ceremony a special one as it coincides with the Moonfest Celebration of persons of Chinese descent and brings families together.
“This is important to us because we consider ourselves here in St. Kitts and Nevis, as part of your big family in Taiwan. It is because of that very strong relationship why I believe you are able to enjoy the support that we have had from your Government over the years. It is because of those strong ties of friendship, almost family ties, why we have consistently being able to support the interest of the people of Taiwan, especially at the United Nations in securing the fact that the 23 million people of Taiwan need to be properly represented in this international august body,” said Dr. Douglas.
 |
|
(Left to right) - Director of Planning, Mrs. Hilary Hazel; Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin; St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas and Republic of China Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Mrs. Marietta Liau. |
The St. Kitts and Nevis leader gave Ambassador Liau the assurance that the cricket facility of the Warner Park Re-Development Project is going to be put to good use in the development of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis “not only the young people who are sports lovers, specifically the cricket lovers, but also it is going to be an important aspect of the tourism development.”
Prime Minister Douglas said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government and the People “could not be over grateful in expressing how pleased we are that you have come forward, representing your Government in assisting us in realising our specific goals and objectives in sports and tourism development.”
In receiving the cheque from Prime Minister Douglas, the Minister of Sports, the Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin said St. Kitts and Nevis always wanted to be able to take its stand with the cricket-loving nations “in not only supporting the West Indies team wherever it plays, but in being able to afford our people of St. Kitts and Nevis and of the region, an opportunity to witness the game of cricket being played in what we believe to be in the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“Your tangible support for our thrust in this area combined with your acceptance of the genuine nature
 |
|
Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin (l) accepts check from St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas. Photos by Erasmus Williams |
of our desire to play our part has allowed us to move from the dream to the road towards the realisation of our ambition,” said Minister Henry-Martin, who added that “cricket means far more than a sport to us as part of the Caribbean.”
“It is one of the dominant ties that permit us not only to say we are a Caribbean people, but to demonstrate when cricket is being played that we are one Caribbean nation,” said Henry-Martin.
The Sports Minister said the financial support from the Republic of China on Taiwan permits St. Kitts and Nevis as a country to afford not just the game of cricket and an opportunity to blossom and develop, “but affords us to reach to the pinnacle of what it is to be a cricket loving nation, to host top international cricket, but in fact the World Cup Cricket here.”
Ground breaking for the construction of the new facility will take place on Thursday morning.
