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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Investment and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, has urged Vincentians in Taiwan to transform their overseas experience into concrete contributions to the development of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Speaking at a gathering of Vincentians in Taiwan on Saturday, 15th August, during Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Godwin Friday’s first official visit to the Asian ally, Bramble framed the diaspora not as spectators but as “active partners in our foreign policy” and national development agenda.

The visit coincided with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and SVG, and the diaspora engagement was held on the anniversary date.

Bramble said it was easy, from the vantage point of a “modern, highly efficient society like Taiwan,” to focus on SVG’s shortcomings - from infrastructure and digital transformation to bureaucracy and public services. But he insisted that this was not the conversation he wanted to have with the diaspora. I came here today to engage you and to ask you: what can Saint Vincent and the Grenadines become because of you?”

Addressing students, graduates, and professionals, Bramble said their time in Taiwan was not simply a personal opportunity but a “strategic asset for our homeland.”

He urged them not to be content with merely obtaining degrees or “that piece of paper,” recalling his own university days when that had been his primary goal.

“We have evolved… to a country that demands and deserves much better than that mindset,” he said, encouraging students to master technical skills, work ethic, problem-solving approaches, and institutional standards that drive Taiwan’s success.

From observation to application

Bramble pushed the audience to move beyond admiration of Taiwan’s systems and instead “deconstruct” them for use at home.

“When you look at an efficient system here, don’t just admire it. Deconstruct it. Understand how it works, and ask yourself: How can I design a solution like this for Kingstown, for Bequia, for Union Island, for Sandy Bay…?”

He noted that many Vincentians in Taiwan had already established themselves in competitive industries, built professional networks, mastered foreign languages, and gained real-world experience in Asian markets.

“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines needs your expertise… your global perspective, and your willingness to mentor the next generation,” he said, stressing that these assets were “critical if we are going to move forward in any meaningful way.”

Wearing what he described as multiple hats - foreign affairs, foreign trade, foreign investment, and diaspora affairs - Bramble said the government was actively reshaping how we view our diaspora.

“You are not just passive observers of our national development; you are active partners in our foreign policy,” he told the audience.

He said the ministry was committed to creating better avenues for diaspora skills, ideas, and ventures to impact SVG; encouraging partnerships that link Taiwanese businesses with Vincentian entrepreneurs; and treating the diaspora as a strategic extension of SVG’s development efforts.

Bramble also emphasised that meaningful contribution does not require immediate physical return, noting that modern development is no longer limited to physical borders.

He called on Vincentians in Taiwan to partner with local institutions, start-ups, or government agencies at home; share best practices and technical know-how; and identify trade, technology, and investment opportunities that connect Taiwan and SVG.

Reject ‘good enough is good enough’

Bramble urged his audience to reject mediocrity when engaging with projects in SVG.

“Refuse to accept this notion that good enough is good enough,” he said, calling on them to bring “the standard of excellence you practice here” to everything they touch at home.

He illustrated his point by referring to a young woman in the audience whose vision for contributing to SVG had impressed him, describing her as one of the “products… of being here in Taiwan and really benefiting and having that vision” for national development.

Bramble urged Vincentian students and professionals in Taiwan not to underestimate their potential.

“When you look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow morning, do not just see a student or a worker abroad. See a future leader, an innovator, a policy reformer, and a builder of a modern Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.”

He contrasted the “infinite possibilities” now open to young Vincentians with his own youth, when career guidance and structured opportunities were scarce.

“Never in my wildest dreams I thought I’d be here talking to you in this capacity,” he said, adding that today’s students are “beneficiaries of what is possible” and should not “shortchange” themselves.

SOURCE: Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Republic of China (Taiwan)