Following dispatching relief goods and foodstuffs to Grenada since early September, Taiwan has donated US$1 million in cash to Grenada to help with post-disaster rehabilitation in the Caribbean island country that was ravaged by Hurricane Ivan Sept. 7. Grenada Premier Keith Mitchell received a check for the money on behalf of the Grenada people presented by Allen Jiang (姜禮尚), Taiwan ambassador to the Caribbean country, at a ceremony held at Mitchell's office Friday. Addressing the presentation ceremony, Mitchell offered his sincerest appreciation to Taiwan for its magnanimity and compassion. Mitchell assured Jiang that his administration will use the money efficiently to help the people get back on their feet again and expressed his hopes that Taiwan will continue to help to his country. Mitchell also stressed the importance of the realization of a promise that Taiwan has made to Grenada on helping build a sports stadium in his country. Once the stadium is built, he said, it would be the largest and best-equipped sports stadium throughout the entire Caribbean. He added that the stadium will also showcase Taiwan's strength and magnanimity if it were used as the venue of the 2007 World Cricket Games, which will be held in Grenada that year. After learning that Hurricane Ivan had struck Grenada on Sept. 7, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) telephoned the Grenada government to express their concern about the disaster. Minister Chen also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff to dispatch US$200,000 in relief materials bought in Venezuela to Grenada in the following days. Meanwhile, the Taiwan embassy in Grenada's capital of St. George's saved the US$5,000 that was originally allocated for the Oct. 10 ROC National Day celebrations and donated the sum to the Grenada government for relief. On Sept. 18, Minister Chen traveled to Grenada to express concern over the natural disaster and facilitating the donations. Immediately after that, the Taiwan agro-tech mission gave more than 10,000 seedlings of vegetables and crops to the people of Grenada, followed by the arrival of a full container of foods and clothes donated by Taiwan citizens residing in the greater New York area. Grenada has maintained a close and friendly relationship with Taiwan since both sides established official diplomatic relations 15 years ago. The Caribbean country also spoke up for Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations at this year's U.N. Steering Committee meeting held Sept. 16 in New York. SOURCE: TAIPEITIMES.COM