Prime Minister Dr. Drew Commends the Ministry of Tourism, as Seabourn Venture Makes Its Inaugural Call to St. Kitts

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 10, 2022 (SKNIS) – The Ministry of Tourism, ably-led by the Honourable Marsha Henderson, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) and other stakeholders in the tourism industry all came in for high praise from Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, as St. Kitts and Nevis welcomed the inaugural call of the Seabourn Venture to its shores on Monday, October 10.

The SKTA hosted a plaque exchange ceremony at the Carambola Beach Club where the Seabourn Venture is docked. There, Prime Minister Dr. Drew brought greetings on behalf of Minister Henderson who is currently representing the Federation at the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference with the Heads of Government and cruise executives.

“I must commend the honourable minister and her team for the tremendous job they have done thus far. I am proud of the work the ministry has conducted over the past months and I look forward to the new tourism season,” said the prime minister.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew also commented on the strong partnership between St. Kitts as a tourism destination and the Seabourn Cruise Line.

“I am also aware that after our lockdowns due to COVID-19 and we began courting the cruise lines to return, Seabourn was the first line to visit the destination back in July 2021. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the line and to commit our continued support of the partnership we have developed over the years.”

The prime minister indicated that the inaugural call of the Seabourn Venture marked the eighth ship from that line to visit St. Kitts. Dr. Drew said, “This to me is remarkable and shows confidence in our people to deliver at a very high standard.”

Prime Minister Dr. Drew also used the occasion to record his thanks and appreciation to the stakeholders of the tourism industry for their resilience over the past two years.

“Today we can look towards the future with hope and anticipation for better days. I want to also thank everyone who played a role in the return of the cruise sector for the 2022-2023 Season and encourage us to work together to offer our visitors a rich authentic Kittitian experience,” said Dr. Drew.

With the removal of all COVID-19 protocols and the gradual return of traveler confidence, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is optimistic that the 2022-2023 Season will be fruitful.

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IronRock share price gains 20% on Wednesday Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

IronRock Insurance led gains during Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).

IronRock gained 20 per cent to close at $2.51. It was followed by GWest up 16 per cent to $1.10 and Eppley Caribbean Property Fund up 14 per cent to $44.

The top declining stocks were Everything Fresh, down 13 per cent to $1.58; Sygnus Credit Investments, down 10 per cent to US$0.10 and Ciboney down 7 per cent to $0.62.

Meanwhile, the JSE Index declined by 1,835.87 points (0.51 per cent) to close at 357,666.75 points and the volume traded amounted to 7,390,135 valued at $63,445,450.39.

The Junior Market Index declined by 25.60 points (0.62 per cent) to close at 4,116.34 points and the volume traded amounted to 6,517,560 valued at $21,250,417.82.

The JSE Combined Index declined by 1,947.06 points (0.52 per cent) to close at 371,435.30 points and the volume traded amounted to 13,907,695 valued at $89,828,161.36.

Overall Market activity resulted from trading in 125 stocks of which 41 advanced, 42 declined and 42 traded firm.

The JA$ Market Volume (excluding blocks) amounted to 14 million units valued at $90 million.

The US$ Market Volume (excluding blocks) amounted to 192,000 units valued at US$14,500.

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Lionfish Experts Coming to Antigua

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

Lionfish Experts Coming to Antigua

Profile: Jim Hart

Antigua is preparing to host international scientists, conservationists and celebrities at the first Antigua Open Lionfish Tournament Nov 18-20th, capped with a festival in Nelson’s Dockyard on Nov 20th from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. A diverse group of experts make up what the group’s organizer Martha Watkins Gilkes, calls her “A-Team.” This is one in a series of profiles of the A-Team members.

Why would a successful Hollywood screenwriter start a non-profit and come to Antigua to talk about lionfish?

Whatever your age, you’ve probably seen the work of James V. Hart – Contact, Hook, August Rush, Tuck Everlasting, Muppet Treasure Island, Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  During his 40+ year career writing and producing movies and television, Jim became friends with the likes of Robin Williams and Carl Sagan.  He’s worked with directors like Francis Ford Coppola. And he trains writers to turn their imaginations into blockbusters, reminding them that “No one has a job until the screenwriter types, ‘The End.’”

So why the interest in lionfish? When Jim heard about the invasion of lionfish, his first inclination was to write a screenplay about a Volkswagen-sized predator ravaging humans who dared go in the water. The idea didn’t sell, mostly because Hollywood had no idea what the lionfish problem was, or for that matter, what a lionfish even was.

By then, as an avid diver, he was watching a catastrophe play out in real life on his favorite dive sites. Lionfish have been called “perfect invaders.” They’re excellent hunters with voracious appetites, and native fish lack a natural fear of them. Lionfish grow quickly and reproduce early in life and often, with each female releasing over 30,000 eggs every three days.  And few fish in the Atlantic seem to want to eat them. Except humans!

Jim realized this is an issue he cared deeply about.  So, along with dive buddy Stacy Frank, they started a non-profit called Lionfish University, which is a social networking platform for people to share news, reports, and ideas about lionfish.  LFU also sponsors training, outreach and research, organizes events, and supports marketing of lionfish products.

Seeing how people have responded to the invasion, Jim now wants to tell a different story.  It’s about a silver lining. “Lionfish have changed the lives of so many people.  Most I would never have met without this invasion – hunters, scientists, entrepreneurs – all very different in every way you can imagine. But they leave their differences at home when they rally to the call of protecting our ocean. I realized this is a success story about people pulling together because on this issue, they have the same values. It’s a model that can be replicated, and the story needs to be told.”

Meanwhile, one LFU patron, Antigua’s Martha Watkins Gilkes, had the idea of bringing experts from the lionfish community to the island to help control the invasion. She contacted Jim and Stacy, who quickly agreed, and assembled a team that visited in 2019. They did field surveys and met with key contacts on Antigua, then developed a report and video on the project. With his experience in Hollywood, Jim was the obvious choice as project documentarian!

One outcome of that project is the Antigua Open Lionfish Tournament and Festival. “We hope to educate the public about lionfish and promote ways to control populations and put the fish to good use as seafood and in the production of jewelry and other products. The benefits will be both environmental and economic.”

You can meet Jim at the festival on November 20, and listen to him speak at 1:40 at Nelson’s Dockyard.

The Antigua Open Lionfish Tournament is made possible by the generous support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Honorable Minister Max Fernandez, Mill Reef Club as a platinum sponsor, Elite Island Resorts as a silver sponsor, and other island stakeholders, including: National Parks Authority, Fisheries, Coast Guard, local media, dive shops, fishermen, and others.   For further information, visit https://antigualionfish.com or contact [email protected].

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International Disaster Day focuses on early warning

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

International Disaster Day focuses on early warning

This year’s International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), being celebrated today (Thurs.), brings attention to the importance of early warning with the theme “Early Warning for all”.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated October 13 as the International Day to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction.

The day focuses on one of the targets of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.” The Sendai Framework is an agreement endorsed by the UN General Assembly that focuses on the adoption of measures which address disaster risk.

Early warning and preparedness enable early action to preserve lives and safeguard properties.

The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has been improving on efforts to enhance Antigua and Barbuda’s National Early Warning System through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).

Several countries throughout the world utilises the CAP to send emergency alerts on hazards, giving details about what could be expected and safety actions that individuals should take.

Antigua and Barbuda’s CAP system has access to smart phones, emails and just recently radio and television interrupters, which break regular programming to bring emergency alerts.

ABS was the first media house to install the system and four private radio stations were added to the list last week – Observer Radio, Zoom Radio, Radio Lighthouse and God First Radio. Last Friday, a test was conducted with the stations just before 6am, which from all reports, was successful.

The CAP also allows for sirens to be included; an option that has been discussed with key agencies in Antigua and Barbuda. –

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Renuka scoffs at UNC senator: ‘My Ram is different to yours’

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal –

THE Hindu deity Lord Ram cannot be likened to former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and attorney Gerald Ramdeen despite one Opposition senator calling the legal duo “the two Rams.” This assertion came from Minister in the Office of the Attorney General, Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal, countering Jayanti Lutchmedial in the budget debate in the Senate on Wednesday.

DPP Roger Gaspard dropped corruption charges against Ramlogan and Ramdeen on Monday, after King’s Counsel and main witness Vincent Nelson declined to testify against them until the hearing of his civil lawsuit against the State for an alleged breach of indemnity. Earlier Lutchmedial recalled a recent Ramleela portrayal of Lord Ram’s journey from his home in Ajodha and his 14-year quest to save his wife from the evil king Rawan. “It’s amazing that on Monday, what transpired in a virtual courtroom in this country reminded me so much of that story that I witnessed in a play form on Sunday night,“ Lutchmedial said, referring to Ramleela celebrations.

“Today I feel I am in the city of Ajodha where we witness the victory of not one but two Rams that have become victorious over the schemes, the manoeuvrings, meant to score political mileage. It has a cost attached to it which the taxpayer must continue to bear because this Government through its budget, through its expenditure, continues to use the Treasury to further its own motives, its own objectives, to improve their lives and secure themselves in office, but not treating with the needs of this population.”She said the budget was based on “ineptitude, bad mind and nepotism,” had produced no anti-crime measures, and deserved an outcry against it.Lutchmedial said monies paid out by the Government as legal fees and legal damages will be felt by the taxpayer who must pay more at the gasoline pump.Recalling the Privy Council’s quashing of the Piarco #1 case, she said Monday’s dismissal was history repeating itself.Sagramsingh-Sooklal sharply disagreed. She began by saying the Senate was a place of dignity, not a UNC Monday Night Forum nor election hustings, in a clear barb at Lutchmedial’s presentation.

Sagramsingh-Sooklal scoffed at Lutchmedial’s attempt to liken the two attorneys to the deity. “Your Ram and the Ram I know are two completely different Rams.” Saying she had not merely visited a Ramleela event but had narrated the portrayal for 15 years, she said she understood the virtues that Lord Ram had stood for. “I understand he stood for dharma (virtue/duty). I understand he stood for truthfulness. That is the Ram of Ajodha. But the Ram the Senator referred to…”My Ram did not make $11.9 million in legal fees from 2010-2015. Maybe her Ram did that. The senator’s Ram did that!“

“…I will respectfully submit to the senator, bat in your crease!”Sagramsingh-Sooklal then said legal cases can “go anywhere” based on having astute counsel or evidence not presented in a particular way. She recalled Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi – as former AG – had once laid a document in Parliament saying the amalgamation of the former ministries of the AG, legal affairs and justice into the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs had resulted in a reduction in ministry expenditure from $4.58 billion under the former People’s Partnership government to $2.13 billion under this Government.

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Chastanet Says UWP Is Not In ‘Shambles’ – St. Lucia Times News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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United Workers Party (UWP) leader Allen Chastanet rejected suggestions that the party is in ‘shambles’ during an appearance Wednesday night on the DBS Television programme Newsmaker Live.

“I am not overly concerned that people talk about the party is in shambles. The party is not in shambles,” Chastanet, who led the UWP to a massive defeat at July 26, 2021, general elections, told programme host – Timothy Poleon.

Chastanet’s party lost power, holding on to a mere two of the eleven seats it formerly had in the 17-seat parliament.

Regarding the UWP, he said the organisation was going through what any other party would experience after an election loss.

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“Everybody all of a sudden starts throwing everything on the wall in terms of what they think the solution is,” he explained.

“Should that person run the seat again? Should Allen Chastanet be the leader, should such and such be the Chairman?” The former Prime Minister said.

“That’s what’s going on,” he told Newsmaker Live.

Chastanet observed that an election process within a political party would involve people competing against each other with conflicting views.

Chastanet said some feel that’s a weakness, but it is not.

“The more of an argument you hear and the more difference of opinion you hear actually speaks to the strength of the party,” he asserted.

Chastanet said he hoped the UWP would hold its convention in the first quarter of next year.

And e disclosed that he has not decided to call it quits.

“I am here because I still believe there’s a contribution I need to make. I am here because I have been encouraged by a lot of people to be here,” he asserted.

“I think what’s good about me – I don’t need to be Prime Minister. So I am not doing this to become Prime Minister. I am not doing this because I want to control the party,” the former Prime Minister said.

“I have given sixteen years directly into the politics of Saint Lucia,” he recalled.

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Elisabeth Borne lance des concertations politiques sur les retraites, droite et gauche divisées

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

Droite et gauche sont apparues sans surprise divisées sur la réforme des retraites proposée par l’exécutif, à l’issue de leurs discussions avec Elisabeth Borne, qui recevait jeudi les chefs des groupes parlementaires, sur fond de tensions sociales.

En ouvrant le bal des rencontres qui se tiennent jusqu’au 17 octobre, le chef de file des sénateurs LR Bruno Retailleau a redit à la Première ministre souhaiter une réforme, mais que “ce n’était pas une question comptable” et qu’il fallait “garantir le pouvoir d’achat de nos aînés”.

“On n’a pas de problème majeur sur le critère de l’âge” mais “ce n’est pas le seul”, a abondé son homologue à l’Assemblée Olivier Marleix, en évoquant la pénibilité, les fins de carrière ou les régimes spéciaux.

“Une réforme des retraites ce n’est pas une guerre contre les Français. La Première ministre doit montrer qu’elle ne fait pas cette réforme pour les marchés financiers, pour faire plaisir à l’UE, mais que c’est une réforme utile”, a-t-il souligné.

LR est favorable à un allongement de l’âge de départ “progressivement jusqu’à 64 ans”, quand le gouvernement veut un report de l’âge de départ de 4 mois par an, pour aboutir à 65 ans en 2031.

“Vent debout”

A l’inverse, le chef de file des députés communistes André Chassaigne a dit être “vent debout” contre cette réforme qui aura selon lui des conséquences “pour les plus modestes, les plus pauvres, pour ceux qui arrivent déjà cassés à l’âge de la retraite”.

Le gouvernement selon lui veut “aller au bout” de cette réforme mais “de façon plus soft” que pour celle du premier quinquennat, abandonnée pour cause de Covid-19.

Comme le PCF, la cheffe de file des députés EELV Cyrielle Châtelain a “acté (ses) désaccords” avec la Première ministre, jugeant “inacceptable” un recul de l’âge de départ à la retraite.

Son homologue au Sénat Guillaume Gontard a noté que ces concertations représentaient “un gain” par rapport aux velléités initiales de l’exécutif de faire passer sa réforme dans un amendement au projet de loi de financement de la sécurité sociale (PLFSS), idée finalement abandonnée qui déplaisait y compris au MoDem.

Mme Borne les a reçus accompagnée du ministre du Travail Olivier Dussopt, qui mène parallèlement des discussions avec les organisations syndicales et patronales, et du ministre des Relations avec le Parlement Franck Riester.

Ces rencontres ont lieu dans un contexte tendu, à quelques jours d’une “marche contre la vie chère et l’inaction climatique” qui vise aussi à dénoncer les réformes de l’assurance-chômage et des retraites, organisée notamment par les partis de gauche. Et avant une semaine d’action de la CGT, déjà à la manœuvre dans le blocage des dépôts de carburant.

“Huile sur le feu”

Ces mouvements sociaux se sont invités dans les discussions, selon les participants.

L’exécutif “a laissé s’enkyster dans le pays un mouvement qui désormais lui échappe”, a estimé M. Retailleau, qui a trouvé Emmanuel Macron “très optimiste” quand il a dit que la situation allait “revenir à la normale” dans la distribution de carburants “dans le courant de la semaine qui vient”.

Le gouvernement, qui a engagé des réquisitions, “aurait pu débloquer plus vite” les dépôts, selon M. Marleix.

Pour M. Chassaigne, TotalEnergies a fait “une erreur grave” en “conditionnant” l’ouverture de négociations à la levée du blocus, au risque de mettre de “l’huile sur le feu”.

“Les réformes d’aujourd’hui, les refus d’augmentation de salaires, les refus de poser la question de l’héritage, le refus de poser la question sur cette taxe sur les superprofits, bien sûr qu’elles imprègnent sur le climat social”, a estimé Mme Châtelain, en dénonçant “une brutalité sociale” du gouvernement.

Au-delà des oppositions, les représentants de la majorité, qui seront reçus en fin de journée, vont devoir accorder leurs violons.

Après François Bayrou sur la forme, Edouard Philippe, tenant de l’aile droite de la majorité, a fait entendre sa différence sur le fond de la réforme, en exhortant l’exécutif à “bouger beaucoup” sur l’âge de départ pour aller jusqu’à 67 ans.

Il ne s’agit pas du “projet que nous portons”, lui a répondu la cheffe de file des députés Renaissance Aurore Bergé.

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St Kitts and Nevis Strengthening Response to Gender-based Violence

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 12, 2022 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is strengthening its response to gender-based violence by pursuing a multi-pronged approach that will tackle system and cultural reforms

On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, Junior Minister and Minister responsible for Social Development and Gender Affairs, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, shared some of the reforms taken as she addressed the 83rd Session for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The October 10-28 meeting is being held in Geneva, Switzerland.

“To improve in this area, the Department of Gender Affairs has taken the initiative to build stronger relationships with the Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), and support the unit’s efforts to increase capacity by recruiting and training more officers in gender-sensitive response and investigation practices,” Minister Phillip stated. “To extend this work, Gender Affairs also plans to build its own staff capacity in order to provide the expertise and curriculum that facilitates consistent and sustainable gender-sensitive training to all police officers as part of mandatory training programmes.

The improvement in the reporting of domestic abuse cases to local law enforcement is critical given the rise in domestic conflict cases in the post-COVID era.

Minister Phillip stated that the twin-island Federation’s Constitution and legislative framework prohibits any form of discrimination, based on sex, and there are no laws legalizing discriminatory practices towards women. She added that various protections and agency responsibilities are also covered in the National Gender Policy and Action Plan.

“Gender mainstreaming will be coordinated across government ministries and programming. With the assistance of PAHO, a Gender Sensitization curriculum was revised for children under the age of 12, and a three-day Gender Sensitization Training of Trainers was delivered to stakeholders in February 2022,” the minister said. “Seventeen persons from various government ministries and NGOs, including school counselors received this training. The gender-sensitive training curriculum is intended to teach children about appropriate behaviours when it comes to issues of sexual conduct, the importance of consent and how to recognize and report experiences of molestation, harm or abuse.”

In addition to presenting the State Report to the UN committee, the junior minister responded to questions and will explore avenues to enhance UN support for local gender-related initiatives.

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TDC Home and Building Depots celebrate Pinktober in support Breast Cancer Awareness

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 13, 2022 (TDC) — As the Federation observes Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the TDC Home and Building Depots continue to play its part in helping to raise the consciousness of the disease.

Through its Pinktober campaign, the retail outlets are giving customers the opportunity to get deep discounts on all pink-tagged products in-store, and access to free breast screening, every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., by a team of trained and certified health professionals.

Pink displays with ribbons and bows can be found in the power aisles, the staff is dressed in pink, and the St. Kitts store’ façade also lit in pink, to remind patrons to ‘think pink’ in support of the National effort and a show of solidarity.

Pinktober forms part of the companies’ annual cause-related outreach programmes to advocate, celebrate, and educate the public about the realities of breast cancer.

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President Tsai Ing-Wen Promises a Better Taiwan for the World in Her National Day 2022 Address

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation

Taipei, Taiwan, October 12, 2022 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ longest and most faithful diplomatic ally of nearly four decades, the Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrated its National Day otherwise known as Double Ten Day (for the tenth day of the tenth month) on October 10. It marked the 111th year since the founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the 73rd National Day since the government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, formally separating from mainland China (formally the People’s Republic of China).

The National Day was punctuated with the spectacular annual National Day Parade outside the Presidential Office in the capital city of Taipei where Her Excellency President Dr. Tsai Ing-wen addressed thousands of Taiwanese citizens.

In her address, President Tsai promised a better Taiwan for the world.

“My fellow citizens, the greatest duty for all of us living on this land is to do everything we can to give the next generation a better country, and to give the world a better Taiwan,” she said. “Greater economic growth for Taiwan means more complete and resilient global supply chains. A more secure Taiwan means a more peaceful and prosperous region and world. And a more democratic Taiwan means a stronger global alliance.”

The Taiwanese President chronicled the journey of Taiwan.

“This is the years-long road we have travelled, from a darker time to a brighter future. Though it has been a difficult road, those difficulties have shown us what it means to be Taiwanese, and have helped us see what Taiwan means to the world,” said President Tsai to loud applause from the audience.

She added: “Today’s Taiwan is democratic, free, prosperous, and culturally diverse. Not only has Taiwan become a focus of global attention, but our people have come together around a shared determination to safeguard our homeland. Today, saying ‘I am Taiwanese’ is a statement of honour and an expression of pride.”

She ended her National Day address by saying “My fellow citizens, we are all family. Let us stand on the world stage with courage, determination, and confidence. Let us make Taiwan a Taiwan of the world, and let us give the world an even better Taiwan.”

The National Day festivities came to a close in Chiayi County with a dazzling fireworks display for 45 minutes accompanied by dramatic orchestral music and some quarter-million reported attendees. The pyrotechnics show included hundreds of drones in the sky, lit up in patterns that formed various images and symbols ranging from Chinese characters to the Taiwanese flag. The show was the capstone of the nation’s “Double Ten Day.”

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