 Welcome to NTIA Nightly, I am Genelle Norville, this edition's top stories. Cabinet announces the resumption of several social and economic activities. St. Lucia receives a donation of ventilators to treat COVID-19 and bidding farewell to Taiwan's ambassador to St. Lucia in a special way. As the island reopens its economy, a sense of normalcy is returning to the lives of nationals. The Cabinet of Ministers, based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, has agreed to the resumption of several social and economic activities under COVID-19 protocols. Effective Friday, July 10, 2020, cinemas will reopen. Early childhood development centres are to open. Tournaments, sporting events and contact spots with protocols for spectators are being allowed. Bayotine sector will reopen with strict protocols. The Cabinet has also decided to lift the curfew. And the decision by Cabinet follows the revision of the travel protocols for St. Lucia, effective Thursday 9th July 2020. Travelers will be required to obtain a negative PCR test within seven days of travel unless they are arriving from countries in a travel bubble designated by the government of St. Lucia. That travel bubble consists of countries in the Caribbean that have zero or low instance of COVID-19 cases. Travelers from those countries will be exempt from the seven-day pre-test and requirement. All arriving passengers will be screened, including temperature checks at the airport. Beginning Thursday 9th July, international flights will be arriving at the Huronora International Airport. Officials have been preparing the airport for the new order of business. Honourable Dominic Fede is the tourism minister. We were able to use the tents procured by events in Lucia for that purpose and it is now installed at the Huronora International Airport for the screening of travelers coming to our country as part of the preparation. But it also meant that the airport would have had to have been equipped with a lot of the equipment to be able to do the screening. I'm happy to report that significant progress have been made in that regard. The various walk-throughs, the various logistical walk-throughs that have taken place have put us in very good stead in the preparation of our airports. Training have been done with a lot of the hotel staff. We're up to hundreds. We've also been training our taxi drivers, customs and immigration officials. Officials from Slasper also employees of the water-based tourism sector all in an effort to ensure that in every level of the tourism value chain that we ensure that there's safety. Chief Medical Officer Dr Sharon Belmar George explains how the protocols will be observed. We are going to ensure that every person who comes off a flight goes through this facility and then until they get they will leave with a card of clearance, public health clearance, before they can even get into our actual airport. So everybody coming in will be fully screened. Those who need to be tested, persons who are symptomatic, will also be doing the tests in there. We'll ensure that before you step into the main airport you have gone through the public health facility and that you are cleared. So everyone will be assessed before they even get to customs immigration and the rest of the workers on the ports. A key part of St Lucia's responsible reopening is the COVID-19 compliance certification process for the accommodation sector. Two-date hotels that have received COVID-19 certification include Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa, Sanders Grand St Lucia, Stonefield Resorts Villas and Sugar Beach Advisory Resort. Several other hotels and resorts are on track to receive certification in July. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shasne says the aim is to keep both visitors and hotel workers safe. The ministry and the hotels have been working on very strict guidelines and protocols to protect the staff in terms of taking showers on properties, leaving their clothes on properties, their shoes on properties. The properties will provide dedicated bus transportation for them so they will not be required to go on to the public buses. They will be constantly having their temperature tested and they will have the proper PPEs in place while they're at work. Similarly the hotel guests when they're in public spaces with persons will be required to wear their mask but certainly in their rooms and when they're on the beach that will not be a requirement from what my understanding is. But each of the hotels have developed specific protocols that have been approved by the Ministry of Health during that operation. Visitors can stay only at hotels that are COVID-19 certified. Amongst the required protocols, accommodations must sanitize luggage upon checking, maintain a fully equipped nurses station, observe strict detailed sanitization protocols for housekeeping, maintain required distance with tables for dining, and have hand sanitizer stations installed throughout the property. Sanitizing stations and showers for staff must also be installed for use prior to re-entering the public. St Lucia has taken a great leap forward in the fight against COVID-19 following the donation of ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients. More in this report from Fenel Neptune. The Ministry of Health and Wellness recently received the generous donation of ventilators from English businessman Roger Myers. The donation of ventilators is expected to provide synclutia with the flexibility in treating patients affected by COVID-19. Roger Myers applauded the government of St Lucia for the work undertaken to battle COVID-19 on island and says he is pleased to play a significant part in this effort. We purchased these units from a company called Evante in Kentucky and I've never tried to buy anything before that everybody else in the world was trying to buy. And it was so difficult because I purchased 11 and the people at Evante donated a further unit, a portable one that may be I suppose useful in emergencies. I think it's about the 12 doubles the capacity on the island. I'm not sure about that but that's what I've been told. And my real prayer is that this is a complete waste of money and that they never needed. Minister for Health Senator the Honourable Mary Isaac commended Roger Myers on his efforts to provide such valuable contribution towards St Lucia's response to COVID-19. It is quite a sacrifice and it is an immense gift to us the people of St Lucia that Mr. Myers is making here this morning. And of course you see he even got a little emotional saying that he hoped that we never have to use these machines. These machines cost when you're looking at the shipping as well in excess of 25,000 is it US dollars? US dollars and we are getting 12 of these machines. Consultant anesthesiologist Dr. Becky John Baptiste expressed heartfelt gratitude for the ventilators and says it will go a long way in saving the lives of patients. I would like to thank Mr. Roger Myers on behalf of the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care for this gallant and timely gesture. As we all know from the plethora of reports and news articles, mechanical ventilators are an integral component in the management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome from severe COVID-19 disease. While we pray that no citizen will be diagnosed with this condition, these ventilators will now be added to our arsenal as COVID-19 remains a threat to us all. Thank you very much. The Ministry of Health will receive a total of 12 ventilators to be utilized in the Intensive Care units. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fenel Leptun. The St. Lucia Fire Service has received a shot in the arm with the donation of much-needed fire appliances. The trucks were donated by firefighters without borders Canada to the St. Lucia Fire Service. FWBs are registered charitable organization based in Toronto and recently donated to the St. Lucia Fire Service, personal protective equipment including bunker gear, helmets, visors, gloves, self-contained breathing apparatus, and personal alert safety systems. St. Lucia Fire Service's chief fire officer Joseph Joseph indicated that the equipment received will go a long way in assisting the fire service in carrying out its duties. He added that one of the trucks has already been put into use. The chief fire officer expressed gratitude to all who played a part in making the donation possible, especially the firefighters without borders, who continues to lend immense support to the St. Lucia Fire Service. I am also pleased to note that with the kind assistance of firefighters without borders, preparations have commenced for the establishment of a training facility in the south of the island. The proposed structure will be constructed out of still-shipping containers appropriately modified to allow for fire suppression training. We are thankful to the management of Inverse St. Lucia and St. Lucia Air and Seaport authorities last month for their kind assistance in approving a site for this structure. It is indisputable that the partnership which the St. Lucia Fire Service shares with FWB is definitely a blessing to our members and by extension the people of St. Lucia. Many people have come together to make this happen. Council General Cheryl Francis worked closely with the team at firefighters without borders to facilitate the transfer of the vehicles to St. Lucia. Metro Logistics Inc. sponsored the shipment of one of the vehicles, while KLC Shipping, an entity owned by a St. Lucia entrepreneur and Goodwill Ambassador Ken Chitoli, facilitated the shipping of the other along with the Department of External Affairs. Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security Honourable Herman Gale Francis explained that with limited resources and the ongoing war against COVID-19, the donation could not have been more timely. He also expressed gratitude to the St. Lucia Fire Service for its continued dedication. In the face of all these challenges, our fire service must go on. And so with some of our appliances coming on in age, and obviously necessitates timely replacements, we welcome firefighters without borders donation of these brand new appliances evermore. To all our firefighters, I'll invite, I thank you also for your dedication at this challenging time. I know you have had to come face to face with dealing the pandemic very courageously. You have had to learn all you can about COVID-19 and flatten the curve overnight. Take precautions and adopt new protocols. You have managed to do this almost seamlessly and without any interruptions to service. This is Keen and I want to say heart's off to you. Please keep it up and continue to make us proud. Minister with Responsibility for External Affairs Honourable Sarah Flood-Bowbray attended a March 7th Independence event in Toronto where she was able to personally thank the team from firefighters without borders for their generosity. The minister explained that the Government of St. Lucia continues to be a valued ally. We will now discuss with the Government of Canada to see how we can continue to help their supporters. And there are many other initiatives that Canada has continued to help St. Lucia with. So I just want to take this opportunity to renew the friendship, but to see how very grateful St. Lucia is in these uncertain times and in these times of hardship for our countries that we continue to benefit from the generosity of our friends. The Council General highlighted the work of Frank Lamy and Craig Dockery, President and Vice President of FWB as well as former President Russ Chalmers has been critical to the support that St. Lucia has received thus far from the group. Firefighters without borders and the St. Lucia Fire Service are currently working on a series of initiatives including the development of a training facility. Vice President of FWB Craig Dockery expressed gratitude to everyone who played their part. In partnership we have with the St. Lucia Fire Service go back several years now having conducted a few training projects together. We are thrilled to have been able to help donate the two fire trucks down there and we very we hope that they will help the firefighters in St. Lucia protect all St. Lucia's in the future. I would like to thank a few people for their leave here. Russ Chalmers, our past president who initiated this project. Also I would like to thank the Mrs. Saga Fire and Emergency Services who donated the truck to us. Mr. Ken Chitoli who helped ship the pumper truck. A Metro logistics who paid for the entire ladder truck shipment and shipped it down. Mrs. Cheryl Francis, the Council General for her full support. And of course Fire Chief Joseph and his team for his leadership The Department of External Affairs on Friday 3 July 2020 officially handed over two fire trucks recently shipped from Canada to the St. Lucia Fire Service. From the Government Information Service I am Janelle Norville. The Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan will soon bid farewell to St. Lucia. In appreciation for his service to St. Lucia, a special ceremony was held at Government House to honour his Excellency Douglas Shen. Anisea Antoine was in attendance. The Government of St. Lucia held an Investiture Ceremony to honour outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan, his Excellency Douglas Shen, with the St. Lucia Medal of Honor Gold. His Excellency Douglas Shen presented his letters of credence to the Governor-General of St. Lucia on March 22, 2017. During his tenure, the Ambassador facilitated many valuable projects that contributed significantly to the national development of St. Lucia and enhanced the livelihood of St. Lucia. The Minister for External Affairs, Honourable Sarah Flood Bobra, affirmed the deep-rooted diplomatic relations and bilateral cooperation between St. Lucia and the Republic of China Taiwan, and hailed the efforts of Ambassador Shen during his tenure. Your diplomacy has been characterised by an intense diplomacy. I would describe it as that, intense, strategic, quiet, and effective. You have represented the people of your country very well here, and you've represented the interest of St. Lucia, not just here, but even in your own country while you've been here. And so that is why it's very easy for me to say that this ceremony here confers this medal upon you, a medal that you've already earned. Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Honourable Alan Shasne, expressed gratitude to his Excellency Douglas Shen for his efforts in deepening the relations between St. Lucia and Taiwan to also include the private sector. Under your stewardship, Ambassador, the state of relations between Taiwan and St. Lucia has reached new heights in terms of productivity. No longer is it strictly between our two governments. It has now been broadened to include ties with our private sectors as well. It is mainly through your persistent efforts that St. Lucia has been able to access loan funding from Taiwan in Port Export Bank to finance the reconstruction of the Hyundai International Airport. The outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan, his Excellency Douglas Shen, stated that it was a privilege to have served the people of St. Lucia and expressed his gratitude to the government of St. Lucia for the honour bestowed upon him. I received the Medal of Honour with appreciation and humility, for it is not only a recognition of my service here, but also a symbol of the everlasting and the ever-stronger bond between Taiwan and St. Lucia. And I believe the existing partnership between our two countries will only grow and prosper in the future. Shakespeare once wrote, we are such staff, a dream are made of. My three years of tenure in St. Lucia have been a fantastic dream. Here I have met so many wonderful friends as you a good sir and together we have achieved so much. My wife and I also enjoy the beautiful scenery and the lovely people on this paradise island and I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to contribute something to St. Lucia. The Investiture Ceremony took place on Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 at Government House. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. This is NTN Nightly, up next, Primus Hutchinson with the NTN Nobel Award. COVID-19 is a new pandemic disease as declared by the World Health Organization. It is transmitted directly by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes or indirectly through rubbing the face with contaminated hands. There is still no specific treatment or vaccine against COVID-19 and as such, the farming community should adhere to some special recommendations. Reduce your farm labour to only essential workers. Ensure regular hand washing with soap and water or use 60% to 95% alcohol-based hand sanitizer until soap and water are available. Clean all work surfaces and farm tools such as cut glasses, forks and sprayers with a 10% bleach solution. Ensure that toilets are cleaned thoroughly after each use and sanitize daily. Prohibit visitors to the farms. Limit contact among farm workers and promote social distances, ensuring six feet between each worker and promote a no-hand shaking or unnecessary touch policy. More than ever before, your important role as the gatekeepers of St. Lucian's nutritional health and food security should be taken seriously. When you exercise these precautions, you not only safeguard your health but also continue to allow all St. Lucian's access to freshly grown fruits, vegetables and other local crops. Remember, it is our responsibility to ensure our nation eats fresh St. Lucian's best. Welcome back. We join Primus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle Aquial. In 1912, the government established the Karikom Kool-Air Day, an initiative for better visibility and for the work that was done. During the ceremony, when the day was over, the government established Lady Bomate, among the officers who were present. It was the ambassador of the Karikom Kool-Air Day, Elma J. Isaac, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kool-Air Day, Onimab Sivaflood-Bobre. The Minister of Foreign Affairs declared that each country that Karikom needs is a lot, because we live in the country that is more important than us. So, it is a good opportunity for the people of Karikom who have done all these things, to signify the need for cooperation all together to achieve the conditions that can exist in the country. We have made a decision that we are going to start with the Karikom flag. All of the national flags are here, and all of them are here. We are just going to flag all of them. All of them will be here. All of them will be here on the mission of the Embassy. For the people of the Karikom community, we have these national flags here, and the Karikom flag here. So, that is why we believe that it is symbolic, but it is not symbolic to self. We have free movement of persons. We have free movement of labour. We also know that this gap of freedom comes from regional travel, the EU can face this gap anduencia. We also have two heads of government지고 of Karikom, and the way that people address this gap can allow people to travel up and down. The government has decided to lower the tax rate for the women in Caricom to 35 dollars. That's why we have to do this to assist them. For the celebration and for the observance of the Salah, the citizens have been encouraged to wear a finger coat for Caricom. This is a light coat, which means the sky, which means the sea, which means the sun, which means the vegetation, and these are the six things that will help the people of Caricom, which means the people of Caricom, which means the colonial system. The regional and bio-prime ministerial division in collaboration with Caricom has established initiatives here. I am Caricom. I am Caricom. This initiative is to bring more visibility to the people of Caricom among the people of Caricom. The Salah needs to be searched for, to engage and assist the citizens to ensure that the institutions are secure with the government, with the plan, and to participate in the development of the future. I am Caricom. This is the conference of the Caricom Ambassador Committee. And we are excited to award these quero experiences to the caricom because as part of the event our special technologists are taking on their works to save lives. I think we started in the first place to organize an organizing and other projects for our development of Caricom. To help development of the caricom these four organizations have supported these people The original is the Cretan Pleasure Activity of Education to reinforce its organization that I have accomplished, and to present to you a work that will continue to be done. It allows these activities, as a discussion, as a diverse establishment of media, diverse activities, such as receiving information, as a contribution, role, activity, development and implementation of a common curriculum. The Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture, as well as the Honorable Ezekiel Joseph, has advised the NFTO organization to try to cut off the cost of the operation, the fixed operation of the organization. The Ministry of Agriculture has also addressed a third of the money that has been spent to check and validate the $4,000 worth of net windfresh for NFTO. The Ministry of Agriculture has also given NFTO officers to find ways that are easier for them to conduct a fixed business, to support their first employment and benefits for the farmers, and to help the farmers in this case. Because we have been working with the NFTO for a long time, we have had resources, and we have been working with the NFTO to cut off the cost of the operation, so that the farmers can continue to support them. So, COVID-19, we have paid $1.4 million to the NFTO to pay the farmer's fee. We have also paid $6 million to the NFTO to support the program, to support the farmers, and to help the farmers in this case. We have also paid $6 million to the NFTO to support the farmers, and to support this AccelPak Act, and also to support the spray of wheel for Blacksico Tuga. So, the Ministry, through Extension Officer, through BPIP, through MediSystems Rplus, and to support the farmers in this case. Thank you, Madam. First of all, I would like to thank you for your time, and for your invitation. I would like to thank you for your time, and I would like to thank you for your time. So, I would like to thank you for your time, Janelle.