The embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) was opened in August in Taipei at a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of SVG Dr.Ralph Gonsalves, Taiwan’s Vice President Chen Chien-Jen and Foregin Minister Joseph Wu. The embassy officially began service in October and the first ambassador is Andrea Bowman who is a career educator. On October 27th, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines celebrated its 40th anniversary of its independence. A series of events were held in Taiwan to mark the occasion.