A cohort of Saint Lucian police officers has taken an unconventional step in professional development, graduating not from a tactical course but from an intensive Mandarin Chinese language programme designed to strengthen cultural ties and international cooperation.
The initiative forms part of a broader cultural exchange effort and concluded with officers completing eight weeks of instruction, totaling 32 hours of study.
For participants, the journey into Mandarin proved both demanding and transformative.
“As a Saint Lucian police officer, taking a Mandarin course was challenging,” said WPC Carlene Charles. “On day one of the Mandarin class, we received handouts captioned, Chinese pronunciation and Chinese characters. Going through it, we saw little lines above letters and strokes which appeared less like writing and more like abstract art with rules.”
She described the linguistic shift required to grasp the language.
“The language did not sound like English or Creole, requiring a completely new way of listening, understanding and speaking,” Charles explained.
Despite the steep learning curve, instructors commended the officers for their dedication and enthusiasm throughout the programme.
“My students were very enthusiastic, active, and also very energetic,” said instructor Yu-Chin Peng. “They have given me a lot of inspiration, so I want to thank them here. Learning Mandarin is not an easy task.”
Peng acknowledged the effort required to achieve competence in the language.
“I believe they have invested a lot of time and effort in it. And they have done a very great job,” she added.
Taiwanese Ambassador Nicole Su also praised the officers’ commitment, noting the challenge of balancing professional responsibilities with academic study.
“I’m impressed with your commitment over those past eight weeks, consecutively, a total of 32 hours last year,” Ambassador Su said. “I can well understand it is not an easy task to balance your job, your duties, and also at the same time practice a language, a new language, as you said, so foreign.”
She commended their perseverance and discipline.
“But then your strong determination and sense of discipline are truly admirable,” Su remarked.
The completion of the Mandarin course marks more than a linguistic achievement for the officers. It represents a strengthening of cultural understanding and international friendship, reinforcing ties between Saint Lucia and Taiwan while equipping local law enforcement with new tools for global engagement.