 Welcome to the NTA Nightly. I'm Nisha Charles. This edition stops stories. Several health facilities to be upgraded to smart institutions. GINet continues to bridge the digital divide with a transformative initiative in Nikunos. The St. Lucia School of Music scores in shaping musically inclined youth. All that per the latest in youth development, sports and the NTA Nouvelle en Quaiol. Several health facilities have been selected for upgrade to smart institutions. The upgrade allows them to be adaptable to changing weather patterns, remain safe and operational during and after extreme weather events and emergencies. Governor-General His Excellency Sir Emanuel Neville Snack during the throne speech on April 9 indicated that government's plan for an improved healthcare system included efforts to make facilities more energy efficient with lower carbon footprints and operational costs. As we hear from Fidel Neptune, this is being realized through the implementation of the smart healthcare in the Caribbean project. The Department of Health and Wellness in partnership with the Pan-American Health Organization PAHO recently hosted a multi-stakeholder engagement on the smart healthcare facilities in the Caribbean project, aimed at ensuring involvement in the changes at the facilities. Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health and Wellness Felix St. Hill says he's very pleased that this project will seek to improve the delivery of services at primary healthcare facilities around the island. In St. Lucia, we have chosen 15 out of our 34 wellness centers for retrofitting and effecting improved structural and operational safety with environmentally friendly interventions. It is expected that these interventions will not only improve the quality of circulation and allow the staff of the respective institutions to work on the more favorable conditions, but will also decrease the consumption of energy and water, thereby reducing our carbon footprints and ultimately increasing patient satisfaction. PAHO and WHO representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Dr. Godfrey Scherub says the smart healthcare facilities go beyond safer, greener and climate resilient. When we talk about smart facilities, we talk about facilities that provide smart services. And what do I mean about smart services? Smart services are services that reflect the needs of the population of St. Lucia today. So smart services are ones that are developed through the profile of the health needs of the country. The smart healthcare facilities in the Caribbean project is currently implemented in four participants in countries, Dominico, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The project is funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fenel Neptune. The Government Islandwide Network GINET project is continuing to bridge the digital divide and transform communities with support from the Government of the Republic of China, Taiwan. General Novel reports on the latest initiative in Miku North. In the second leg of the Government of St. Lucia Islandwide Network GINET, a donation of many stands was made to the constituency of Miku. The project that was first launched in Miku on the 4th of July 2018 continues to contribute to the development of the people of Miku. According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Peggy An-Soudat, the initiative forms part of the Government's quest to bridge the urban world digital divide and address the issue of low internet penetration. She highlighted that according to the 2010 census report, only 24.3% of households in the community of Miku had internet access. Over 63% of the population of Miku had no internet access whatsoever, whether from a mobile service provider, school, work, or friend's house, or even an internet caffeine. This is even more alarming when juxtaposed against the statistics for the north of the island, where at the time only 42% of the population had no access. We are proud to announce that this has changed with GINET. GINET allows the residents of Miku as well as visitors to easily access the World Wide Web once in the vicinity of the Miku Plainfield, the Miku Secondary School, and the Miku Infant School. Given the overwhelming positive feedback and impact on the various districts where the GINET has been installed, charge the first for the Embassy of the Republic of China Taiwan, Councillor Bill Wong says there are plans for an extension to six more districts, including Ancelore, Shwazel, Grosile, Babunau, Kastri Southeast, and Miku South. And Taiwan as one of the world's leading providers of ICT technology is capable of and willing to share experience and expertise with Senutia. I believe that through our joint efforts, Senutia will be at the forefront in the Caribbean of the race to be a real smart nation. In conclusion, I would also like to congratulate Mr. Dr. Rigobert and the people of Miku for this Wi-Fi service, and I want to reiterate that Taiwan as a partner in sustainable development will continue to join hands with Senutia to make life better for the people. The mini stands according to Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development and Parliamentary Representative for Miku North Honourable Dr. Gil Rigobert will encourage residents' participation in sporting activities and spectatorship. And we walked this compound, we realised that there were gaps in the seating. And for those of you who have followed our Netball competitions and other activities held here on the court, we know that the seating is inadequate. And it was on that occasion last year, thanks again to the generosity of the GINET team that we negotiated additional seating so that not only will you have the benefit of free Wi-Fi, but you can do so while seated most comfortably somewhere here on the court. The project that commenced in 2015 and ended in 2018 saw the installation of 63 free Wi-Fi hotspots at 33 locations in five districts, namely Castries, Denry, Miku, Viewfort and Canrys. For the Government Information Service, I am Janelle Norville. The Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy is committed to improving the island's infrastructure during the 2019-2020 financial year. This year, some $79.8 million has been allocated for ongoing roads, bridges and maintenance rehabilitation projects. Of the $79.8 million, $11.4 million will go towards the rehabilitation of roads. Honourable Stevenson King is the Minister for Infrastructure, Ports and Energy. He elaborated on the plans during his contribution to the debate on the estimates of revenue and expenditure 2019-2020. And a more comprehensive list, which will be considered under the Taiwanese loan program, which we are hoping to implement in the very near future. The general road maintenance program, Mr. Speaker, will continue aggressively. And as this year, unlike previous years, where the program would shut down at the end of the financial year, we have been able to maintain the program into the new financial year through a mechanism that allows us to be able to procure sufficient material that will allow us to continue our road maintenance program. A major project to be continued by the ministry this financial year is the disilting of the island's rivers. We are hoping, Mr. Speaker, without wavering on the allocation for disilting, that we shall continue further disilting this year and to reach out to areas that we are unable to reach out to last year to ensure that through proper maintenance, to prove that through proper maintenance, we can deal with the problem of flooding by simply doing what must be done, and that is to keep the channels open and to allow the storm waters to flow freely in the various low-lying communities. And that was the Minister for Infrastructure, Ports and Energy, Honorable Stevenson King. 60 of St. Lucia's musically inclined youth have graduated from a nearly year-long training program conducted by the St. Lucia School of Music, here's Anisia Antoine. The School of Music organized a showcase to celebrate the excellence of the young people who participated in the Systems of Youth Orchestras and Choirs program. Richard Payne, Executive Director of the St. Lucia School of Music, explained that the project, which was launched in July last year, was inspired by the Venezuelan Elle Systema Music Education Program. This idea of having a sustainable orchestra program that gives talented students the opportunity for music education, regardless of means, is the idea behind this. In keeping with the vision of our founders, again, the idea of music as a tool for transformation, the vision of the school is to transform lives. This is about transforming lives. This is not just simply having them engage in something to keep them out of trouble on an afternoon, not at all. In fact, this is teaching them real skills, transferable skills that they can use in a 21st century world. Approximately 60 students participated in the Youth Orchestra and Choir program. Minister with responsibility for culture and creative industries, Senator Fortuna Bell-Rose expressed gratitude to the School of Music team and the Venezuelan ambassador for safeguarding this initiative. Every culture has its own type of music. Here in Saint Lucia, we have our own type of music, and in recent times we began to develop the denry segment, you know, and as a government, we'll continue to support our own people. And because of the tremendous work that Richard and the team have been doing through this program, it was felt necessary to have them as part of our program for Giles this year, where they could come in and showcase the skills and talents that they've learned. And so this is where we are headed with the music. We have to start at the foundation. The School of Music is providing an excellent platform, and we want to be able to, through that program within the School of Music, showcase our youngsters across the globe. The Systems of Youth Orchestra and Choir program was funded by the Winsong Foundation, a U.S.-based philanthropic organization. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antwan reporting. And this is the NTN Nightly. Ryan O'Brien is up next. the accuracy of measuring devices. Look for a green pass sticker on the blood pressure meter at your next visit to the doctor. The correct reading can mean the difference between life and death. For more information, contact the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards at 456-0546, or email SLBS at candw.lc, or visit the website at www.slbs.org.lc. St. Lucia Bureau of Standards, making quality and standards our way of life. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Welcome once again to your update from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports on the NTN Nightly News. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Minister responsible for youth development and sports, the Honourable Edman Estefan, says estimates of revenue and expenditure recently debated in Parliament reflects a serious focus on meeting the needs of the nation's youth. The Minister's remarks came during his contribution to the debate last week. This fuel that we maintain and the passion that drive our people to grow and to develop in this country falls squarely on our human potential. Statistics informs us that approximately 63% on 9 million of the Caribbean community's population is under the age of 30. Our youthful population therefore, from the building blocks of our development, as a people. April is being celebrated as Youth Month and stained with the aspect of Youth Month, the Youth Empowerment Project logo competition is continuing throughout the month of April. Project coordinator Joanne Husbands notes there are various platforms on which entries can be submitted or in person. Within the first three weeks of May, we should be able to identify or contact the winner and we'll be able to really use their logo as their official logo for all of our marketing and promotional materials. And I really want to encourage all youth within the communities to do so or you could contact us on Instagram at yep.slu or Facebook at yep.yepp.slu or St Lucia Youth Empowerment Pilot Project. The logo competition is open to youth from the communities of New Village, Conway, Barnard Hill and Wilton's Yard under the slogan, enlighten, enrich, empower. With the improvements to sporting facilities in Souffre under the National Sports Infrastructure Development Program, the upgrade of the Souffre Ministry will provide improved seating capacity and the addition of other amenities. The Honourable Herod Stanislas is Parliamentary Representative for Souffre, France. Currently our grandstand sits, I believe it's either 1,000 or 1,200 people and with such a facility, you need more seating space. So we are going to have additional portable seats on this side, the riverside of the facility. So we're looking at close to or having about 3,000 seating capacity facility. We are going to have major upgrades to the washrooms, upgrades to the existing grandstand, the locker rooms and of course with such an international facility, you must have a major upgrade of the lighting of the field. So we are going to most likely have brand new lights installed in order to meet the international standards of IWF and FIFA. The district representative made the remarks during the official start turning ceremony to mark commencement of works on the Souffre Ministry and the Ruby Cricket Ground. And that's your update on youth development and sports for today. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Thanks Ryan. In keeping with changes in international oil prices and government's application of the modified market pass through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail price of gasoline, diesel, kerosene and the LPG 2020, 22 and 100 pound cylinders has changed. The price changes take effect from Monday, April 15, 2019. Gasoline increased from $13.35 to $13.81 per gallon. Diesel moves from $13.84 to $13.87 per gallon. Kerosene increased by 30 cents to $8.51 per gallon. The 20 pound LPG cylinder increased by 3 cents to $32.33. The 22 pound cylinder also saw a two cent increase to $35.84. The 100 pound cylinder increased from $205.39 to $205.48. The next adjustment of the retail price of fuel products will be on Monday, May 6, 2019. And stay with the NTIA Nightly. Up next, Primers Hutchinson is here with the NTIA Nouvelle en Cuellon. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchinson for the NTIA Nouvelle en Cuellon. So, Emmanuel Neville-Snack, in delivering his address to the session of Parliament 9, he agreed to advance his opinion on several issues that are related to prosperity, security, and construction of the economy. If the authorities are able to act to protect the life of the citizens and the property owners, for example, Gov. Genoala declared that the government that addressed the situation continued to increase the number of police organizations and continue to clean the slavages of the cleaners and the people who are forced to use sexual prisoners among the others to improve the capacity to kill the people who are organized here. The government also improved its communication system with the various police agencies here. Gov. Genoala also announced that the government that established its relations with the public to fight crime and to kill more people for police operations. It is a diverse community here and I call the citizens to establish more groups of people to guard and communicate and collaborate with police organizations here. So, that's all for today's news. Thank you so much for watching. Thank you very much for the invitation to join me in my course. I wish you all a lot of good news. Thank you for your promise and here's a look at what's happening to us weather-wise. Skies are fair becoming cloudier times with a few showers. Low-level clouds drifting along a moderate to brisk easterly wind flow will produce some scattered light to moderate showers over the islands during the next 24 hours. The tide for Cassary's harbor is low at present. The tide for Viet-4-B was high at 1.41 pm and will be low at 8.19 pm. The sea's moderate of waves 4 to 6 feet or 1.2 to 1.8 meters. The sun will rise Tuesday at 5.50 am. And that brings us to the end of the NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7 pm with a repeat at 7 am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Salusha Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I'm Nisha Charles.