The Saint Lucia-China Friendship Association (SLCFA) hosted its 20th Anniversary Luncheon Reception and Awards Ceremony on Sunday, March 30, 2025, honouring Founding Members who’ve shared two decades of friendship with China and announcing a generational transition to new and younger leadership with guidance from elder members.
The function, held at Cap Estate, came two decades after the association launched on November 5, 2004.
The event received a solidarity message from the President of the Saint Lucia-Cuba Friendship Association, Mrs Marlene Alexander, who reiterated her continuing support for the association and the local Chinese community.
Two overseas messages were also received by video: the first (in Spanish) from Luis Gonzales, General Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Federation of China Friendship Associations (FALCARPC); and the other from Tingyu ‘Lily’ He, a Saint Lucia-born citizen of Chinese descent now studying in China, who spoke in English and Chinese.
Founding members honoured included SLCFA Secretary Liz Ferdinand, as well as Treasurer Malcolm Alexander.
Also, honoured were couples like Jimmy and Ellen James — who initiated Tai Chi classes in Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean decades ago and both performed in a Tai Chi presentation at the SLCFA’s launch 20 years ago, as well as veteran member Trevor Heath.
The function was also addressed by Mr Andy Xu, a leading local businessman of Chinese origin who’s also a Caribbean and Saint Lucian citizen and investor for the past 25 years, has grown a local family — and whose Chinatown Inc. is very popular across Saint Lucia.
Mr Xu, who also heads the local Association of Chinese Nationals in Saint Lucia, said Chinese nationals and business people resident in Saint Lucia, while ever-loving China, also “remain committed to living and doing business on the island and employing locals, some of who move on and up to bigger things.”
Mrs Alexander, Mr Xu and photographer Marius Modeste were also among those honoured, as were Ava Marius, Damian Monrose and others who represented Saint Lucia at the World Trade Expo in Shanghai, in 2010.
SLCFA President Earl Bousquet reported on the association’s achievements in the past 20 years, starting with visits to China by its first Executive Committee, for meetings with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), including one hosted on a business cruise along the Yangtse River.
Bousquet said the SLCFA had been “able to keep Saint Lucia and China’s flags flying high under all local political climates” and was now ready “to make the generational changes to invite new members, including children, youth, students and women.”
He referred to the launch by China’s President Xi Jinping of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) in March 2023, which calls on nations to share Friendship between People on a Shared Planet, promoting peace and development, instead of wars and conflicts.
Bousquet said that on their visits to China, the original SLCFA Executive Members also visited The Great Wall and The Forbidden City in Beijing, the Oriental Tower in Shanghai and took ‘Maglev’ trains to Fujian, Shanghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hong Kong and other provinces, including cities like Chongqing, Xiamen and Xi’an.
The SLCFA President said Chinese parents of children born and schooled in Saint Lucia are also proud of those studying and doing business overseas, “but always thinking of ways to help Saint Lucia.”
He promised the SLCFA “will also engage in more joint ventures with the local association of Chinese nationals,” while launching a new drive to include “children of Chinese born in Saint Lucia and children of founding members who grew up attending SLCFA activities with their parents.
Bousquet said the 20th anniversary “is not just one day but one year long” and indicated several other activities are planned until November 5, when the SLCFA will start another decade and another 20 years.”
The President indicated founding members and patrons unable to receive their honours on March 30 will have another opportunity soon, while others will be delivered privately to those unable to attend public functions.
Mr Bousquet thanked the local entrepreneurs who exhibited their products, including Znnovations, Germz Creative Arts — and Frances Rub, whose products are now being exported to China.
He also thanked the Chair of proceedings Melania Monbelley “for her professional execution of her role and Ava Marius for delivering the Vote of Thanks in English and Chinese.
Meanwhile, the President indicated the SLCFA’s next membership event will be in May, related to the observation of Mother’s Day.