Saint Lucia’s law enforcement personnel are expanding their linguistic capabilities through a specialized Mandarin training program, now entering its fourth consecutive year. The initiative, which simultaneously celebrated the graduation of one cohort while launching another, represents an ongoing collaboration between Saint Lucia and Taiwan.
The ceremonial event highlighted the completion of an intensive eight-week course in Vieux Fort while announcing the forthcoming session scheduled to commence February 16 in Castries—marking the third iteration of the program in northern Saint Lucia’s capital city.
Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, Nicole Su, commended the dedication of participating officers during her address. ‘I’m profoundly impressed by your commitment throughout these thirty-two hours of instruction last year,’ Ambassador Su remarked. ‘Balancing professional responsibilities with the acquisition of a completely new language demonstrates remarkable discipline.’
The incoming cohort of twenty-five officers will undertake the same comprehensive curriculum that combines language immersion with cultural education. Ambassador Su emphasized the program’s broader significance: ‘This training transcends mere language acquisition—it creates new opportunities for professional development, enhances international cooperation, and strengthens the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Saint Lucia.’
Police officer Carlene Charles, a program participant, shared her transformative educational journey. She described the initial challenge of deciphering Chinese characters as ‘encountering abstract art with rules,’ noting how the experience reshaped her perception of language learning. ‘This experience demonstrated that our roles as police officers don’t limit our potential for growth,’ Charles reflected. ‘It taught us that effective law enforcement relies not only on authority but equally on cultural understanding.’
Instructor Yu-Chin Peng praised participants’ enthusiasm and expressed hope that the program had provided officers with meaningful insights into Taiwanese culture and traditions. The initiative continues to bridge cultural divides while equipping Saint Lucian officers with valuable skills for international engagement and community policing in multilingual environments.