Chinese ambassador Fang Qiu visits Moruga

Chinese Ambassador Fang Qiu recently created history as the first Chinese ambassador to visit Moruga.

The ambassador visited on the invitation of Eric Lewis.

Known as “the Prince of Moruga” for his ancestry and regular social activism in the district, Lewis met the ambassador at a function about two months ago.

“We talked about the importance of the Chinese in TT from an historical perspective and on how the Chinese contributed to the local economy,” said Lewis. “We also talked about my work on the museums (Lewis has founded two museums: the Cocoa and Chocolate Museum in Rock River and the Moruga Museum in Grand Chemin) and how my research could be helped by China.”

Fang Qui became interested and Lewis invited him to visit Moruga, where he toured both museums and walked through Grand Chemin. The ambassador also met long-time Moruga resident, businessman and political activist, Chinese descendant Godfrey Lee-Sing, who was a special guest.

The ambassador was also shown the statues of St Peter and Columbus and drove past the now-dilapidated Moruga Spring Bridge.

Lewis’s initiative resulted in this successful visit by the ambassador, which he hopes may result in the overall betterment of the Moruga community.

“It’s part of my philosophy to take our culture to the world,” he said, and that he intends to continue making diplomatic and business contacts to further help with the social and cultural development of the residents of Moruga.