On Thursday, a landmark diplomatic moment unfolded in Taipei, as Kenton X. Chance, founder and former executive editor of Caribbean outlet iWitness News, formally presented his letter of credence to President Lai Ching-te at the Taiwan Presidential Office, officially taking up his post as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) new ambassador to Taiwan. The credential ceremony came two days after Chance presented a copy of his credentials to Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung, marking the final step in his transition from a decades-long career in journalism to leading SVG’s diplomatic mission in Taipei.
Chance’s appointment to the ambassadorial role, which took effect on March 1, closes a nearly 20-year full-circle journey for the Taiwan-educated diplomat. He first arrived in Taiwan as a graduate student in 2006 on a five-year full scholarship from the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, just six months shy of 20 years to the day of his return as ambassador-designate on March 2 this year. Over his six years of study, Chance earned both a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Taiwanese institutions. Before stepping into his diplomatic role, Chance built a 20-plus-year career in journalism, including 18 years as a correspondent for the Barbados-based Caribbean Media Corporation, and filed reports for many of the world’s leading international news outlets. In recognition of his professional achievements and ties to Taiwan, the Taiwan Ministry of Education named Chance a Distinguished Taiwan Alumnus in 2022, an honor he says reflects the lasting value of the education he received on the island, which served him through assignments across the globe.
A particularly meaningful layer to Chance’s appointment is the timing: this coming August, SVG and Taiwan will mark 45 years of uninterrupted formal diplomatic relations, and Chance shares the exact same age as the bilateral partnership. “Therefore, I consider it a special honour to be representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Taiwan at this time,” Chance said in his remarks during Thursday’s ceremony, where he conveyed warm greetings from King Charles III, SVG’s Governor General Sir Stanley John, Prime Minister Godwin Friday, Foreign Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, and the entire government and people of SVG to President Lai and the people of Taiwan.
Chance also paid tribute to Andrea Bowman, SVG’s first envoy to Taipei, who also served as his high school teacher early in his life. “She laid a solid foundation during her tour of duty. I intend to build on that foundation, erecting pillars in support of a broader, expanded relationship,” he said, reaffirming SVG’s longstanding commitment to the bilateral partnership. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines values its relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan); our government stands ready to deepen and expand that relationship for the continued benefit of both our peoples and our countries.”
President Lai welcomed Chance’s appointment, noting that the new ambassador’s deep personal and professional ties to Taiwan position him to drive new progress in bilateral cooperation at this significant milestone for the relationship. Lai expressed hope that Chance’s tenure would see expanded collaboration between the two nations in key sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, and information and communications technology, building on existing partnerships in smart agriculture and smart medicine to diversify cooperation and deliver shared prosperity. “Chance’s appointment at such a significant moment will allow us to witness new milestones in our relations,” Lai said. “We continue to cherish this longstanding partnership as we embrace the future together … Going forward, I believe we will build on existing cooperation … helping us realise our goal of mutual benefit and prosperity.”
Lai also extended deep gratitude to SVG for its consistent, longstanding public support for Taiwan’s participation in international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly, World Health Assembly, International Civil Aviation Organization, and Interpol. “Such actions embody the priceless spirit of true friendship and mutual support,” Lai said. “Moving ahead, we look forward to St. Vincent and the Grenadines continuing to support Taiwan’s international participation. This will allow Taiwan to use its expertise to make contributions to the international community and work with like-minded nations to enhance global well-being.”
As part of the formal diplomatic ceremonies, Chance presented two custom-commissioned artworks by Vincentian artists to Taiwanese officials. During his initial meeting with Foreign Minister Lin on Tuesday, he gifted the piece *All Ah Dat Is Mas* (“That, Too, Is Mas”) by Sharleen Branch, a Vincentian artist set to graduate from a master’s program at National Dong Hwa University this June. For Thursday’s ceremony with President Lai, he presented a painting of three horses by Donnie Collins, a Vincentian artist and radio personality. The horse holds special symbolic meaning in 2026, the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, where the animal represents speed, success, vitality, and determined resilience.
Chance’s appointment was first announced by SVG’s Foreign Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble in Kingstown on January 22, as part of a broader wave of new senior diplomatic appointments from the Caribbean nation. Earlier this month, Bramble also announced the appointment of Laverne Phillips, another Taiwan-educated Vincentian who earned an international business degree in Taiwan between 2006 and 2011, as SVG’s new deputy consul general in Toronto, Canada.