R.O.C Taiwan Foreign Minister Visits Cooperation Projects in Belize

The Republic of China, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Doctor Lin Chai-Lung, is on an official visit to Belize. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño welcomed him with a breakfast meeting in Belize City. Afterward, they headed over to the BelCan Bridge on Central American Boulevard. On Tuesday, Doctor Lin Chai-Lung announced that his government has agreed to fund the bridge’s replacement. The delegation then traveled to San Pedro Town to visit the construction site of the Taiwan-sponsored San Pedro-Caulker General Hospital. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the details.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca hosted a breakfast meeting with Doctor Lin Chai-Lung. Afterward, they took him to visit the BelCan Bridge. On Tuesday, during a press conference in Belmopan, Doctor Chai-Lung announced that the Taiwanese government has approved funding to replace the BelCan Bridge in Belize City. Taiwan’s foreign minister got a firsthand look at the rapidly deteriorating structure. The delegation then traveled to San Pedro to visit the construction site of the Caye Caulker-San Pedro General Hospital; a thirty-three- million-dollar project funded by the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

 

Dr. Lin Chia-Lung, Foreign Minister, Taiwan

“One of Prime Minister Briceno’s key policies is to improve health services for the Belizean people. Our president is a medical doctor. He strongly supports this project. So, and after extensive consultations and the preparation by the government of Belize and Taiwan the San Pedro Hospital project was launched earlier this year. Both of our countries understand that health is integral to the quality of life and attack great importance to this project. I am keen to see the construction site myself on this visit.”

 

In his remarks, Prime Minister John Briceño, noted that Taiwan is one of Belize’s greatest allies. He compared Taiwan’s geopolitical struggles to the border dispute between Belize and Guatemala.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Our support for Taiwan is unshakeable. It is a strong relationship that we have built for the first thirty-five years. But, it is a relationship that is built on a principle of the right to self determination. If we did not have that opportunity as a country, we would not be here today as a country, because likewise we have a big country. It is not as big as China, but a huge country compared to us, we are at four hundred thousand, they are at eighteen million and for over all these years they have this unfounded claims to Belize. But we are very happy that through diplomacy, through building relationships between both countries, the leaders and leadership that even Guatemala is able to say let us settle this diferendum or the borer peacefully.”

 

Notably, Belize and Guatemala are the only two Central American countries that are diplomatic allies of the Republic of China (Taiwan).  Minister of Health Kevin Bernard was also at the site visit this morning. He shared his thoughts on what the new hospital and Taiwan’s support for this project mean for Belize.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“This new hospital represents progress and the commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of everyone who calls the island home as well as the many visitors who come here. No longer will residents need to travel long distances for essential medical care. From emergency services and maternity care to routine checkups. This facility will provide high quality, accessible healthcare right here in San Pedro.  The hospital will be staffed by a dedicated team of doctors, nurses and medical professionals who will work tirelessly to ensure each patient receives the best care possible.”

 

Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez emphasized how grateful the residents of San Pedro and Caye Caulker are for the support from Taiwan’s government to construct the health facility.

 

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“This hospital will be serving as much as thirty thousand people here in Caye Caulker and San Pedro and it swells at times for the busy season. I can tell you that this building, I am being kept abreast on a weekly basis, that this building is being built correctly, in tune with climate change, building a building so resilient that it will be able to withstand a hurricane. It will take about three years or so and I am keeping in touch so that you will see we are on the foundation being built . The people are very grateful because as we grow, this infrastructure that is growing so fast, the most important component is a hospital and your government, and my government has done the right thing by choosing something that is critically important for this community.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.