Farewell remarks by Chinese Ambassador to Grenada, HE Dr Zhao Yongchen
Time flies like an arrow and the days come and go. Now, the time has come for me to bid farewell to this beautiful tri-island country as the Fifth Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Grenada, and more nostalgically, to its amiable, enthusiastic and diligent people.
The three and a half years I spent here has left me with fond memories to cherish for the rest of my life. The waves gently stroking the Grand Anse Beach, the gurgling and rumbling of the Annandale Fall, the overpouring ardour and fervour permeating the air at the Carnival, the fascinating and mysterious underwater sculptures hibernating in the shallow, the colourful coral reef surrounding the island of Carriacou, and the smiling young faces aspiring to accomplishments in TAMCC—I endeavoured to leave my footprint on every corner of this nation, as I do not want to board the plane with any regret of not exhausting myself of discovering charms. Grenada has left me unforgettable memories, and it will always be my longing.
The thing that gives me the greatest pleasure is to witness the cooperation between China and Grenada bearing fruit. During my tenure, the two countries’ practical cooperation has taken a significant leap forward—the Maurice Bishop International Airport rehabilitation project has broken the ground, the 7th phase of China-aid agriculture technical cooperation has benefited a lot of local farmers, phase II low-income housing has almost come to its completion, and China-Grenada Friendship Garden has been ribbon-cut. For years, we have provided opportunities for young Grenadians to study in China. I am convinced that after they return, they will serve the Grenadian people with their knowledge and enthusiasm, and start a new, exceptional chapter of their lives. More importantly, guided by the common belief of shared future and supported by our rock-solid friendship, I joined “elbows” with Grenadian people to combat this devastating pandemic. Together, we have achieved victories after victories, and I am confident that the final triumph over the virus will belong to the devoting, self-disciplined and determined Grenadian people!
It is emotionally tough to accept the fact that all good things must come to an end. However, as a Chinese poem goes, “a bosom friend afar brings a distant land near.” Leaving is not forgetting, as I enjoy every experience this county has afforded me, every moment its sceneries have impressed me, and every story its people has shared with me. Things I want to carry with me abound, but the only thing I want to leave is blessing. Therefore, I am hereby honoured to extend my sincerest appreciation to everyone who has lent his or her strongest support to me and contributed to the friendship between China and Grenada.
May the health and happiness be with you, prosperity and development be with Grenada, and long-lasting fraternity be with our two countries!
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To all Grenadians who are not drunk on some sort of rum, weed or whatever substances which is so easily available today. I’m pleading with you to do whatever it takes to stop our small island from being run over by so-called investors. I’ve realized that some Grenadians have no focus and it seems as though they can’t see beyond the tip of their noses but then again most black people have short noses but we have to use our brains and think wisely.
Who would leave thousands of miles away to come and HELP some black people whom they have never met before or has no relations to? Please have some sense. These are the same type of people who have shown the world that they can beat up black people for just being black and you think these people just want to HELP.
For the commenter who always speaks of people who have posted they remarks based on recent chinese history as propaganda. You must be blind.
Would you build an apartment building for your neighbour because you want to HELP him develop himself? From the way you are sounding I can tell the answer would be no and this is somebody you see almost if not everyday. So why would you think that these people who have no relations to Grenadians would travel for thousands of miles to come HELP Grenadians for nothing in return?
People of the Isle of Spice well that was before they sold that nickname for PURE GRENADA wake up if you are interesting in a prosperous future for yourself and generations to come. Now is the time to put an end to all these so-called investors.
They all want to HELP, why hasn’t any of them decided to build a factory to create mass employment and foreign income from the export of our products. We have so much fruits going to waste everyday. NO! they wouldn’t they just want to keep us as house slaves forever working for wages that can’t even pay for transport to and from work and buy foodstuff to last just a week.
The authorities that be have time to pose for photo shots everyday with these people if not for 2 tractors, it’s for soil turning to give away our lands in the name of investment. However, they can’t take a minute to look at the labour code to ensure that Grenadians are paid justly for the entire daylight hours (8 or 9 hours) they spend in these so-called investors business places. Investors who when they are fed up send them home for no good reason with little or no compensation. Check on these things instead of giving away what the creator gave us free of cost. This is one way of HELPING Grenadians.
Wake up Grenadians!! Not all that glitters is gold. The faster we cut ties with some of these people the better for our children and grand children future.
So you guys want to come and run your mouth on foreigners and the chinese but you cant even do a damn thing for this country???
Wow what a shame. You are being Brainwashed by the White Man who exploited us decades ago and that has done nothing for us in return.
FOREIGNERS ARE DOING EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE CANT DO A DAMN THING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM. DOESN’T IT NOT COME TO COMMON SENSE. We can’t even help ourselves but you still dont want the foreigners to come and see if they can come and help us do something. smh
I am just saying that who ever these propagandists are dont blame the chinese but blame yourselves because you just do nothing to help this country but destroy it.
Not against the Chinese but with the Chinese because no one else but the Chinese will help us Develop the country. America is creating propaganda to brainwash Black countries into thinking that they are being taken over by the Chinese while they don’t do a damn thing to come and help us develop the country. Shows how foolish and blind Grenadians are to see that the Chinese have been helping build this country. I can understand the way people think of the Chinese but think of it. AMERICA JUST BRAINWASHES US INTO THINKING THAT THE CHINESE ARE BAD WHILE THEY DONT DO NOTHING, BECOME RICH OFF OF US AND WATCH US IN POVERTY. Grenada is not being taken over by the Chinese you dumb people. It may look so because Grenadians aren’t doing anything to develop the country but it is only the foreigners that will do so. SO PLEASE STOP WITH THIS PROPAGANDA BECAUSE YOU ARENT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP DEVELOP THIS COUNTRY BUT ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN. John Thomas you make no damn sense and all you do is spread anti foreign propaganda while you cant even pay one dollar in taxes, open a business, open a luxury hotel or donate to charity but all you can do is run your mouth. shows how terrible of a person you are. You are not a true Grenadian. GRENADIANS MUST BE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR COUNTRY WITH FOREIGNERS JUST LIKE FOREIGNERS SHARE THEIR COUNTRY WITH US.
Grenada has friends but not all of us exchange our friendship for ridiculous loan agreements that force Grenada to give up her sovereignty and give public lands to countries like China. The Chinese do nothing without an expectation of significant return as they have shown around the world.
Canada gave assistance but did not expect or demand ownership of Grenada public property in return.
Stop letting the Chinese in. Your country is disappearing between foreign developers and the Chinese.
Stay Grenada true, strong, spicy and beautiful for who you are in your souls. This is what your true friends across the world have come to love.
Friendship? Black people have no friends. The sooner we pound this into our heads, the better off we will be as a people, period.