 Welcome to NTN Nightly, I am Janelle Norville, this edition's top stories. A robust plan by government for capital projects has positioned the St Lucia for 3% economic growth. The impact of natural disasters on the National Social Protection System is examined. On this World Water Day, government ensures that no one is left behind. All that plus the latest in youth development, sports and the NTN Novell, a quay all. A robust plan by the government of St Lucia for the execution of capital projects has positioned the island for 3% growth in the economy this year. The Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, in making the projection, attributed the upswing to public sector construction programs coming on stream. The institution, however, noted that implementation of the projects is key. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shasne has agreed, indicating that the government decided to introduce a delivery unit for this very reason. In the Tourism Economic Review 2018 St Lucia, the CDB said that tourism activities are projected to expand and agriculture output will remain buoyant. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shasne highlighted some of the projects soon to come on stream. In terms of the major capital projects, obviously the airport, we've been in negotiations the whole of this year. We're very happy that those negotiations have been completed. We've gotten approval from the Exem Bank of Taiwan. My understanding is that the contract for the roads has now been signed with the contractor and we're very close to finalizing the contract with the airport. Although parts of the airport have already been approved and are proceeding, the main body of the airport will be commencing very, very shortly and will have completed those contract negotiations. The government, who has seen Lucia recently undertook a project, geared at enhancing the capacity of public and private sector workers to facilitate the strategic implementation of projects. A number of training workshops have been held in that regard and a delivery unit is soon to be established within the office of the Prime Minister. Minister Shasne indicated that many of the projects are expected to commence in 2019. Next year is going to be a very big year for solution. With the airport, which is $175 million U.S. dollars, the roads, which are about $114 million E.C. in the first instance, with another $60 to $70 million E.C. dollars to be followed up over the next two years. We're very close to finalizing the home port facility in view for it. We are, have completed the loan agreement for St. Jude's, which is $30 million U.S. $10 million U.S. is the carryover from the time when these load and we've now added another $20 million U.S. dollars to it. And we're also in the final stages of finalizing the $30 million U.S. dollar loan agreement for the police headquarters. And the police headquarters will include six courts in the design. My understanding is that they've met with the National Trust and that we've obtained, I believe, approval from them in terms of what we're doing and how we're handling in the design. So we're all very encouraged that that's going to be taking place very quickly. The Prime Minister highlighted some of the tourism projects to come on stream, including the 800-room Hyatt to be constructed at Shock, the Maria Courtyard at Point Seraphine, and the 300-room honeymoon beach project to name a few. St. Lucia, as chair of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean, and the Pacific States Carry Forum, has played a key role in formalizing an agreement between the grouping and the United Kingdom in the face of Brexit. Anisia Antoine has the details. The Carry Forum Member States and the United Kingdom have officially signed the Carry Forum United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement has been in the making since 2017 and seeks to remove taxes on exports from the Carry Forum Member States to the United Kingdom to make the products more competitive. Chair of the Carry Forum and Minister for Commerce, International Trade and Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs of St. Lucia, Hon. Bradley Felix, explained that the Carry Forum recognizes the importance of securing the existing trade agreements and avoiding disruption of the preferential trade agreement. The UK is our largest trading partner in the European Union, as it currently absorbs approximately 25 percent of the region's total exports to Europe. Bananas, rum, sugar, rice, agro-processed goods and methanol are among our major exports to the UK. In regard to service and investment, the UK has provided significant guarantees of access to its market offering and many other opportunities for our exporters. We are committed to working closely with the United Kingdom to ensure that our service providers can take further advantage of this market. The United Kingdom is scheduled to exit the European Union on March 29, 2019. Hon. George Hollenberry is the Minister of State for Trade Policy in the Department of International Trade of the United Kingdom. Today's signing is a very, very important moment for all of our nations. Recognizing as it does the importance of allowing trade between Carry Forum and the UK to continue uninterrupted post-Brexit whatever those circumstances may be. Our nations have traded for a long time. They trade with each other profitably. Our consumers rely on many of the products that our relationship allows to cross borders and I am incredibly pleased to be here today to allow the signing of an agreement that allows that to continue as it always had. Saint Lucia was amongst the nine member states of the Carry Forum, which together with the United Kingdom signed the agreement on Friday, March 22, 2019. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. The impact natural disasters can have on the island's national social protection system came in for thorough discussion this week at the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, more from Chevrolet Marius. Climate shocks are not only responsible for increasing humanitarian crisis but are also leading factors in augmenting poverty and food insecurity in Saint Lucia. To deal with this situation, countries must implement systems that can respond effectively to protect the vulnerable who depend directly on social services for their survival and welfare. To accomplish this task on Tuesday, March 19, the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, in partnership with the United Nations World Food and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, SIDIMA, held a consultation at the Ministry's Conference Room. United Nations World Food Representative, Ms. Francesca Cadia, stated that the procedure will commence with the examination of the social services of the social protection system. Our focus in Saint Lucia is to really look at how the national social protection system can coexist as part of disaster risk management protocols and procedures in the event of an emergency. We are delighted to be here, to be invited to be part of the, to carry out the study. We're looking at analyzing these systems from five technical areas, coordination, financing, disaster, sorry, information management, data management and targeting mechanisms. Disaster caused by weather-related hazards impose a large cost on the country's fragile economy and exacerbates poverty levels. They have destroyed infrastructure and disrupted the provision of essential services. We do envisage that whatever findings come out of this, we'll use it to strengthen the overall social protection system in Saint Lucia and hopefully that we have a more responsive social protection system that responds to natural disasters. Social protection can help people manage climate and disaster risk by helping the most vulnerable to respond before the disaster happens. Reporting from the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, I am Shevroy Marius. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Corporatives, in partnership with the Water Resources Management Agency, has begun a week of activities placing the spotlight on the island's water resources in observation of March 22 as World Water Day. Here's Amanda Fay-Clarke. Designated some 26 years ago by the United Nations General Assembly, World Water Day has become a hallmark which emphasizes and evaluates the progress made by governments and societies around the world in commissioning systems to ensure that every citizen, particularly children, have access to clean and safe water. In Saint Lucia this year, the priority is placed on assisting vulnerable communities, prepare for drought-like conditions and extreme flooding during the hurricane season. And as such, the Water Resources Management Agency have embarked on an education drive to sensitize students on newly erected water-level systems around the island. Water Resources Officer Mervyn Ayes says this approach taken for Saint Lucia's observance of World Water Day is timely, as it takes place at the time of year when our environment is most prone to prolonged dry spells, while at the same time, communities revise their disaster response mechanisms and put in motion a plan for the hurricane season, the first education and outreach activities. For students, took place at the Bexel Primary School and the Barbano Secondary School this week. We plan to visit as many schools as possible and actually tomorrow we'll be going to Barbano Secondary School and on Friday we'll have a fair actually going to be held in Souffre, at the waterfront in Souffre, so that all schools will be invited and so on. And Wednesday and first day we're going to have a school fair as well in our college where schools will be coming to visit and we'll be demonstrating our various equipment and what do we do at the Water Resources Management Agency and the importance of water and water conservation for the general public and for the future of Saint Lucia. The installation of water-level systems in vulnerable communities like Bexel, Gives Nemo and Community Disaster Responders, a greater level of control in managing flood responses. First of all, when the level of the water rises, it concerns a very simple SMS. Right now it's functioning with SMS, text messages and it can send messages to three persons at the same time. Actually, right now I think it's the Water Resources Management Agency, the director. Someone from the community, meaning from a disaster community, will be added to the contact list and someone from Nemo, the National Emergency Management Organization. If all three prisoners could get information that when the level rises, they could respond to it. This year's theme for World Water Day is Leaving No One Behind, a message the Water Resources Management Agency hope will raise awareness that indeed water is a human right but also greater management and intervention in securing water resources is equally important in ensuring Saint Lucia's socio-economic development. From the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Amanda Fey-Clock reporting. This is NTN Nightly, coming up the latest happenings in youth development and sports with Ryan O'Brien. Pamela, I noticed that you built your retaining wall on my property, you will have to give me my land back or compensate me for that. My contractor isn't dumb, I trust that he will not build anything on your property. Where is your proof? Let's go to court. This situation does not require you to go to court. Looks like we have to go through mediation here. Communication is a way people resolve conflicts like this. Someone, a third party, comes to speak to both parties. This person is called the mediator. The mediator is impartial. He or she makes sure that communication between both parties is effective and efficient. So, the mediator is a judge? No, the mediator is not a judge. Mediators, unlike judges, do not decide cases or impose settlements. Let me get a mediator to handle this retaining wall and that kitchen. Kitchen? Yes, your kitchen also falls on my land. Let me call the mediator. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Hello once again. I'm Ryan O'Brien, if you're update from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports on the NTN Nightly News. Following last week's launch of the youth mentorship program under the initiative of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, several stakeholders will also be the focus of attention during the conduct of the program. One such group is that of parenting. Parental engagement will take the format of a 12-week parenting group in which parents will be led through a psycho-educational curriculum by a trained counselor. Topics will include emotional intelligence, anger management, positive parenting practices, and youth development issues. The group will also play the role of a support group where parents will have the opportunity to share their experiences. The program's effectiveness will be evaluated on an ongoing basis, engaging both process and outcome evaluation modalities. The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports has recorded a successful week of preliminaries in track and field as schools from the south and north of the island send participants to qualifiers from which the cream of the crop will emerge to participate in the inter-secondary schools track and field championships, down to be held at the Darren-Sami Cricket Ground Wednesday and Friday next week. The northern zone qualifiers ended Friday afternoon. The format of the championship allows for semifinals and finals to be held on both days. Today will also be keen interest on both days. In other words, semifinals and finals on Wednesday and semifinals and finals on Friday as well. So the place to be next week, if you are a track and field fan and keen on witnessing some of the talent that's possibly going to represent St. Lucia at Curveder Games this year, then you have to be at the Darren-Sami Cricket Ground next Wednesday and Friday for inter-seq. And before we leave you for the weekend, another snippet as we keep the focus on Youth Month. Today we look at Youth Service Week, April 15th to the 20th. The concept is for youth groups, organizations and individuals to be encouraged to show acts of kindness and volunteerism through service projects. Images must be captured and posted to Youth and Sports St. Lucia Facebook page. Photos can also be posted using the hashtag YSW2019, most liked act of kindness when we recognize at Youth Awards at the end of April. And that's your update for the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports this week. I'm Ryan O'Brien saying goodbye until next time. Thanks Ryan. The Dental Services Unit of the Department of Health and Wellness continues on its mandate to promote good oral health of St. Lucia's, prefective education and promotion activities. More from Funnel Neptune. As part of observing world oral health day on March 20th, the various dental clinics around the island hosted an open day for patients providing information and effective oral health. Senior dental surgeon in the Department of Health and Wellness, Dr. Sherry Ifrinocont says it is important that inclusions are aware of the issues surrounding oral health and work towards oral hygiene. The theme for world oral health day this year is say, ah, act on mouth health. Basically it means that if we put into practice these hygiene habits, including a visit to the dentist every six months, as well as manage the risk factors, we can have better outcomes for our overall general health. According to the Nutrition Unit of the Department of Health and Wellness, reducing our sugar intake to no more than three teaspoons a day for a child or nine teaspoons for an adult is best advice. In addition, the Substance Abuse Unit also advises to avoid smoking and consuming alcohol just as the World Dental Federation has proposed. Dental hygienist Sheryl Senzir says this year the Dental Services Unit has launched its halitosis campaign as a means of raising awareness of oral health. We want to highlight and to bring an awareness of the condition, halitosis. Halitosis actually warns us and it also tells us that there is gum disease maybe going on with you or you may have decay or simply that you need to visit the dentist. Visiting the dentist will tell you about other conditions that may have caused your halitosis and as we know that many people, they would not want to tell another person, hey, you have halitosis and halitosis is just really bad breath and can easily be resolved by your home treatment of brushing and flossing regularly and visiting your dentist. At least twice a day, twice a year, excuse me, or once a year is alright as well. As part of the Halitosis campaign, the Dental Services Unit will introduce a dental comic strip competition aimed at starting island-wide conversation on oral health, non-communicable diseases, end-deceased and overall health. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fennel Neptune. Today with NTN Nightly Up Next, Primers Hutchingson is here with the NTN Nouvelle Aquial. Do you think you're invincible? You think it can only happen to certain people? Yeah, yeah man, being smart. Glove up when you love up. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchingson for the NTN Nouvelle Aquial. Monsieur Tarr Janelle, Monsieur Madame, Departement de l'Escosabilité pour l'information en gouvernement cette fois-ci, ça c'est GIS, c'est le pays television national, pays NTN, comme c'est le Nouvelle Aquial, c'est le pays Primers Hutchingson. We have arguments at CPI Kimmam Carry Forum, at CPI Langleter, at the Aéogymne Économique. C'est un argument qui a protégé CPI Salat, néporté, Langleter sorti à l'Union Européenne. Minister Lakiné was close ability to offer industry, commerce, development, investment on Europe. Bradley-Felix, des appareils plusieurs ministres gouvernement, hôte Carribla, qui t'essayait argument Salat, et puis l'Europositive Langleter. Selon On Europe, Felix, argument Salat, c'est pour protéger CPI Salat, comme Langleter en chemin pour sortir à loin les liens Europe. Monsieur Felix fait nous comprendre qui, argument Salat, c'est pour établir assurances pour CPI Salat, pour ne pas souffrir et puis produire qu'à l'Union Européenne Langleter. Ça nous fait bien important de faire assurances à l'Union Européenne Langleter, parce qu'il y a une taxe à l'air, pour faire le plus compétitif de l'Union Européenne Langleter à chez. Mais si il n'y a pas de façade, il n'y a pas de façade. Ça nous fait bien important, c'est qu'il y a des rensements à l'Union Européenne Langleter et l'Union Européenne Langleter, mais tout ça, c'est qui ça qui a eu huit avec si l'Union Européenne Langleter qui a quitté l'Union, ça a fait nous avoir rougé. Gouacou Françalat fait un hôtel à la club, Rodney Bay, j'ai dit, pour vendredi. M'a rougé en l'eau, j'ai faite par gouvernement pour ménager service de l'eau à cet lycée. Là, il n'y a plus qu'il s'affaite toujours, ça s'est oublier au ministre de l'Union Européenne Langleter, qui a eu la responsabilité pour l'agriculture de l'Union Européenne Langleter. C'est le ministre de l'Union Européenne Langleter. Gouvernement en bas où est la responsabilité du ministre de l'Union Européenne Langleter avec ce lot à juste qui m'a arrêté et puis le ministère, j'ai implementé un budget programme avec facilité pour développer un service qui peut payer, car où c'est vrai, un résultat de bonne qualité de l'eau. Il faut s'élover ces projets qui nous ont commencé, qui nous ont commencé à déceler les passés. For example, John Compton Dom, nous avons commencé à carrer les faits ou aveils là qui nécessaires pour assurer cette lycée, là, si nous n'avons pas de draught, nous serons plus l'autant de passer, ça n'aurait pas expériment. Nous aurons de nous faire bouger un denouin, un denouin off, on m'a bien appuyé ça, appuyé ça à fini. Le nouvel ence-leurie, on a appuyé un ence-leurie, nous nous avons ouvert pour bâtir le plus de qualité de l'eau. C'est aussi important, c'est bâtir le plus de qualité de l'eau, c'est aussi nous avons des boutons de DLC. So, on va faire ça à travers le co-gouvernement, le co-company Levene Pouglou. Jeunet international Pouglou, on va observer le 20th of March. Pogé pour établir plus maire protection à ce chemin cette lycée, j'ai oublié un bon coup de chapeau, c'est pour ça, la sortie, remet pour Vilcastrie, Peterson Francis. Mère Francis, car félicité Pogé, qui est en place, appuisant, qui a fait assesement de maire protection à ce chemin payeur. Mère Francis, t'es assisté en cérémonie, j'ai d'ici 14 mars en ministère de construction et travaux pour établir le programme salaire. Pogé Salah, c'est pour déterminer qui maire qualité action qui s'affaite pour délivrer maire protection pour moune qui a servi chemin à cette lycée. Pogé Salah, car j'ai allocationné pour l'année plus sine de trafic et que c'est sine qui a offert maire direction au Lyon Pays-là. L'année aussi, programme pour marcher ce chemin Salah et pour placer barois de protection. Selon Mère Francis, il a coéqui programme international d'assassement chemin pour qu'il s'aille à ce chemin à cette lycée. Mais car aussi, c'est pour délivrer maire protection et pour qu'il aille à faire de bonnes bénéfices pour le cas de l'année. Francis, c'est pour la sécurité de la vie que je perds en cause d'accidents à ce chemin à cette lycée. Mère Francis, c'est pour la sécurité de la vie que je perds pour qu'il aille à ce chemin à cette lycée. L'allaquée Saloh Française Whereas we look at whats happening to us weather-wise? The Atlantic high pressure system will maintain a moderate to brisk easterly wind flow across St Lucia and the rest of the eastern Caribbean over the next few days. Low level clouds drifting with this flow will bring some showers over the islands during the next 24 hours. The tide for Castries Harbor was high at 5.13pm and will be low again at 10.43pm. The tides for Vaefort Bay was low at 12.03pm and will be high again at 6.20pm. Seeds moderate with waves 4 to 6 feet or 1.2 to 1.8 meters. The sun will rise Saturday at 6.06am.