 Welcome to NTN Nightly. I am Genelle Norvell. This edition, Stop Stories. The Ministries of Education and Infrastructure to build new additions to two schools that will also serve as emergency shelters. The National Workers Union applauds government's efforts to reopen the economy. And Alicat makes a universal connection at 18. The Ministries of Education and Infrastructure have collaborated on a project to upgrade two schools in the Castries Basin. Upon completion, the schools will serve as shelters during times of disaster and emergency situations. Hermadi Mark reports on the plans for the new school buildings at the Gordon and Walker Memorial School and the Vibhutai Primary School. A contract signing ceremony was held between Construction and Industrial Equipment Limited, Prudies Construction and the Government of St. Usha. This signalled the commencement of works to improve the infrastructure of two schools in the Castries Basin. The purpose of the new wings at the Gordon and Walker Methodist and Vibhutai Primary Schools is to provide a conducive environment for students and teachers. Michelle Charles is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development. For us, it is more than just concrete classrooms and furniture. But most importantly, it is about the kind of future we can create for our country starting with our little ones. It's about giving students and teachers alike a reason to wake up and go to school on the morning. It's about creating a safe space for our students who may not otherwise feel safe elsewhere. An important consideration being made in the design of the schools is the ability for their use as shelters during a disaster and emergency situations. Honourable Dr. Gil Rigabet, Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development explains that the existing structures will be transformed to smart schools. For us, education is certainly more than fine buildings. Education is more than smart schools. And my colleagues are already beginning to smile behind their masks because when we say smart schools, we mean schools that reflect a fine tuned understanding of multiple intelligences and the need to cater for children who are differently abled and who are superlatively intelligent. We recognize too when we speak of smart schools, we speak of the infusion of technology. We speak of the need to embrace renewable energy. We speak of the dual purpose that many of our schools on Island serve, which is that not only do they serve an educational function, but many of them are also emergency shelters and that therefore compels us more than ever to ensure that they are also climate resilient. Minister for External Affairs and a Parliamentary Representative for Cassidy Central, Honourable Sarah-Fleid Borbre, noted the importance of a conducive environment to learning. Housing affects almost every aspect of life. It affects health, it affects education, it affects overall well-being. Poor housing leads to abuse of children and families. You simply can't raise healthy families if there is poor housing. And what does housing have to do with what I'm talking about here today? A school needs a home. Schools need good housing. And we've known for so many years and decades in fact that we have excellent teachers. That we have a people that are on par or perhaps even excel many others. I mean we are well known for having poor capital, the world's highest number of Nobel laureates. The works within this project for Vidbutai Primary School comprises of the new construction of a three level reinforced concrete building, consisting of a total floor space of 13,571 square feet of teaching and administrative space. The lot of the Vidbutai School is 43,044 square feet which will accommodate the new structure. The works at the Gordon and Walcott Methodists will consist of a two level reinforced concrete structure. The site works will include improvements in the perimeter fencing, improved vehicular parking conditions and improved site access on the northern boundary and refurbishing of the existing septic tank. Honourable Stephen Singh King, Minister for Infrastructure, Reports Energy and Labour and Parliamentary Representative for Castries North said one issue he hopes will be remedied at the Methodist School is the poor drainage system. There's one issue at the Methodist School and that is the issue of the drain which runs through the compound of the Methodist School. And I recall many a years going to attending Methodist School and Renault will remember how that playground flooded and we were marooned as a consequence of the inability to get out unless your parent had a vehicle capable of navigating through the flooded playground. I would hope that at some stage probably in conjunction with the Ministry of Infrastructure that we can address that situation if it is not yet considered in the design for the construction of the Methodist School. The plans include improvement of the drainage system for both schools. From the Government Information Service, I'm Hermadi Mark. The St. Lucia Electoral Department has heightened operations in preparation for the 2021 General Elections constitutionally due in October. The department has launched a registration mobile unit to assist citizens in ensuring they exercise their franchise. Voter registration is very important in that it is considered the first step in the process that allows an individual to exercise their franchise. The registration process is free and is described as permanent, continuous and personal. A person is qualified to be registered as an elector in an electoral district only if on the qualifying date the individual is a citizen of St. Lucia or a Commonwealth citizen residing continuously in St. Lucia for not less than seven years immediately preceding the qualifying date. The individual has attained 18 years of age and has resided continuously in that electoral district for a period of at least two months preceding the qualifying date. Assistant Chief Elections Officer in the St. Lucia Electoral Department, Olympia Lionel, indicated that the Electoral Department has intensified its efforts to ensure all individuals are afforded the opportunity to register and thus exercise their franchise. This year, because of COVID, we extended our services beyond. We have a number of outdoor centers where we have continuous registration in those centers open Monday to Friday. We also implemented a mobile service where we will go into the various communities like constituencies for the weekends. We will go into the various constituencies. Right now we are in Trousel and what we are doing that to achieve, we find sometimes during the election period, persons with the last minute to come and register. And to avoid all of that, we have extended our services in the various communities and established those centers there from September. During September they had been established, one in January North, one in Souffre and one in Brasile. So we have and we have those ads running every day to let persons know where we located our numbers and what they need to register. The annual qualifying dates are the 15th of February in respect of the first half of the year and the 15th of July in respect of the second half of the year. For nationals to obtain the new national identification card, they must provide their bill certificate and a letter from the National Insurance Corporation, NIC, while non-nationals must provide their bill certificate, a letter from the NIC and the certificate of citizenship from the Ministry of Home Affairs. To effect a change of address, an individual must provide their identification card and utility bills for at least three months prior to the application for change as proof of address. A verification of the residence will be carried out by a verification team. To effect a change of name, the individual must provide the national ID, a letter from the NIC and the original document showing change of name that is their bill certificate, marriage certificate, deed Paul or Afi David. The Electoral Department explained provisions made to aid in replacing lost or stolen ID cards. We understand persons' bags are being stolen and Electoral has implemented every year. That's our way of assisting. We actually wavered a fee of $100 during International Democracy Month, which is September. And it has become a pattern because solutions are actually looking forward. And last year, because we were coming into this election year, we had extended it to at least three months. Because you find a lot of persons are coming in to see the misplaced bags, etc. But you also have persons that is 70 years and over, which is, they can be exempted. The chief elections officer have that kind of power to exempt them. You have persons now coming with the government cards. They are unable to work. They have disabilities. Once you can give us the proof, you are exempted if your card is stolen. And also, police reported exemptions as well from paying the fees. Once registered, an individual is placed on the voter's list. The registration remains in force unless there is a valid cause for cancellation, such as death or migration. And the prospective registrant must apply in person to the registration officers if the registration is to be effected. No person can apply for registration on behalf of another person. It also provides for the issue of an identification card to the registrant when the registration is effected. From the Government Information Service, I am Janelle Norville. The National Workers Union NWU has endorsed what it says are the bold initiatives currently being undertaken by the Government of St. Lucia in the gradual opening up of the tourism sector. The Cabinet of Ministers on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer approved amendments to the COVID-19 prevention and control regulations that came into effect 31 May 2021 to 30 June 2021. The amendments included an adjustment for fully vaccinated individuals, returning nationals and visitors with a negative PCR test and who are fully vaccinated and now not required to quarantine. Deputy President General of the NWU, Solis Myers, says the measure facilitates the reopening of businesses in the tourism sector. We represent a number of members in the tourism industry. We have a number of hotel employer partners. So we would have been placed strategically, if you will, to actually witness all of the implications of COVID-19 from March last year in terms of the closures, the toll on the workers, the psychological impact, the financial impact, also on the employers as well. So we were very, very concerned in terms of the future of the industry and, you know, the impacts in terms of the workers where they will be placed, etc. So with the announcement that the Government is going in that direction, the union end up is these bolding initiatives because we see the positive impact in terms of trying to get people back at work, trying to make sure everybody is able to recover as much as possible as a result of this pandemic because it has not been easy on any sector. The NWU advises that while efforts are being made by the relevant authorities to ensure gainful employment is resumed, by the tens of thousands of workers in that sector, all workers need to be mindful that in the current COVID-19 environment, there is a dire need to protect themselves, their families and the general public. Director of the Pan-American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa Atien, has called on political leaders in the region to put aside rhetoric and unite to combat the coronavirus. Dr. Atien made the plea as she warned that COVID-19 cases and deaths have begun rising in Central and South America and the Caribbean after plateauing or decreasing for weeks. Since the start of the new year, we have seen a rapid increase in infections. In just the first five months of 2021, both cases and deaths have almost doubled in the region, which we're thinking will not solve or resolve this crisis. We need action. So please let me remind you of what needs to be done to stop this outbreak. The first thing is effective leadership. This pandemic has taught us time and again that leadership determines the effectiveness of a country's response. Certainly across our region, we've seen misinformation about COVID-19 and this has shown the doubt on proven health measures and often in the context of political disputes. By stoking controversy where there is none, our leaders are sending mixed messages to the public and are standing in the way of effective measures to control the virus. We must unite around stopping this virus and this should be the first priority. Central America is reporting the highest number of deaths. Infections are increasing in Panama, Deliz and El Salvador, where new cases have doubled in the last seven days. In South America, Colombia is reporting the highest rate of infections in South America. Brazil is also seeing a rise in new infections and hospitalizations. Uruguay, Argentina and Chile continue to report a rise in cases. Many Caribbean islands including Dutch St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic are reporting a surge in infections. Dr. Atien says the region needs an urgent access to vaccines. Effective vaccines are a beacon of hope in this crisis and we must do all in our power to secure more doses for all nations in the Americas. We are very far from this goal, especially for the low income countries that are still struggling to protect health professionals and those more vulnerable. COVAX has already delivered some 17.6 million doses to our region, but progress is not keeping up with the pandemic. Regional solidarity including the donation of doses will be key to get us through the current shortage of supplies. Vaccine will save lives and prevent future waves, but for the current surge in infections, we have to deploy the tools that we have at hand. Those tools, the power director reminded, are the simple but effective public health practices of washing hands, sanitizing and social distancing. A vaccine situation at the St. Jude Hospital involving conditions in the kitchen cafeteria has been resolved. Chairman of the board, Wayne Harrow, has confirmed that staff of the department protested flooding in the kitchen, however informed that the situation was resolved once brought to the attention of senior management. The water in the department, Mr. Harrow says, was as a result of leakage in the pipelines. As soon as the excess water was identified on the floor, I am informed by management that everything was done to clean up and to remedy and to fix the plumbing system. Everything is back to normal. In terms of the issue of the patients not being fed breakfast, they were in fact fed. It was done late because of the existing situation that was remaining. Mr. Harrow says despite best efforts by management, such infrastructure issues do arise. There are occasional situations with the plumbing system at the hospital. At no time did management deliberately neglect their responsibilities to put staff in the way of danger. As soon as the issue was brought to the attention of senior management, it was dealt with expeditiously. I wish to apologize on behalf of management and the board to the staff members who felt that there was some degree of neglect. That was not the case and that is not the case. It will never be the case. Our maintenance team will remain on track to ensure that in the future, those minor glitches are dealt with quickly. Staff of the kitchen and cafeteria resumed duty hours after downing their tools. Nikki Edmonds, better known by her Calypsoian name, Alikat, has continued producing music despite the pandemic. She has teamed up with a local music producer, Kelly Indigo, to produce 18 songs that she hopes will inspire and give hope to persons who truly listen to her music. The duo who goes by the name The Universal Connection has also received moral and financial support from the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association who encourages its members like Nikki to push the envelope and set no limits on themselves and their creativity. Glenn Simon reports. My name is Nikki Allison Edmonds, aka Alikat. Nikki Alikat Edmonds is living proof that COVID can't lock up talents or dreams. Alongside her producer, Kevin Kelly Indigo Moneros, they have since May 17th, 2021, produced and released 12 of the 18 songs which they have been working on. It's been a very interesting and trying five months but we have made it through this far and I'm very grateful. I wouldn't have it any other way. Nikki's talents are not only featured in the vocals in the music, but also in the musical arrangement as she is a proficient keyboard player. A skill she credits to her early involvement with the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association, of which she is both a member and client, having been diagnosed with low vision from an early age. With this current project, the Blind Welfare Association did assist in us being able to get a bass guitar added to the regime of instruments. Alikat said persons should stop setting limitations on blind and low vision individuals as this only helps to diminish their self-esteem and impede their personal growth and development. I just want to reiterate to my fellow blind and visually impaired brothers and sisters out there and to the sighted community also that it's all up to you. You have to know what you want and you have to go for it and you'll attract people and circumstances to actually make that happen. Nikki and a producer Kevin Monroe who goes by the sorbrice Kelly Indigo created their melodious music from his home-based studio called Psych Sound Studio. The duo goes by the name The Universal Connection. We have a wonderful working relationship and I love that. We're comfortable with each other. He does not look at my visual impairment as anything but normal. It's just an awesome vibe working with her and I really value it because she's always so, like you just said, always wants to keep going and that's the kind of energy that I want around me because when that's going on I as an individual as well can grow and then we can grow together. We can be on the same page. Their music is currently available on YouTube at the Universal Connection and Kelly Indigo. Nikki is hopeful that her music will touch and inspire persons who take time to listen. I want for people to feel joy and happiness when they hear the music because there are so many people who are hopeless, who feel hopeless, who feel depressed, who feel lost because of everything that's going on coupled with their own issues independent of this COVID virus. I want the music to penetrate people's hearts and to actually just align them with something brilliant. She ended the interview by singing her favourite track on the album entitled Switching Upon Me, Glenn Simon reporting. This is NTN Nightly up next, Prima Touching Sun with the NTN Louvelle of Weyall. Here at St. Lucia Distillers we produce an award-winning range of rums and rum products. We export our rums to the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Standards facilitate our entry into overseas markets. In the rum business, it is critical that our distillers and blenders get it right. St. Lucia Distillers is HASAP certified. We use two standards from SLBS, the standard for labelling of prepackaged foods, SLNS 1-3, 2014 and the National Specification for Rum, SLNS 12, 2003. We are also a registered member of the West Indies Rum and Spirit Producers Association, WISPA. SLBS ensures that we are up to standard and world class. This message is brought to you by the Commonwealth Standards Network. Welcome back. We join Prima Touching Sun for the NTN Louvelle of Weyall. Thank you so much, General. Thank you, Madam Department, University of Stability for the formation of the government on the GIS. The National Television for the NTN, and Prima Touching Sun. Minister of Construction at Toavo, I have permission for Company Oversize Engineering Construction HOD Taiwan to start building the LATUNE at Sushime Union which is estimated to cost more than $7 million and not $5 million from which it will be a media sector. For the GIS, you can establish the LATUNE at Union to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Sushime, Marysil, Grale Riviera and Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to engage Episection Marysil for Grale Riviera and Degason, Construction and Industrial Equipment engage Episection Marysil for Grale Riviera and Degason, Excalice Construction Services Limited, for the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the GIS, to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects on the side of Company CIO Williams to form the best project of the Wehabilitation at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects at Union. For the GIS, you can do three different projects at Union. For the GIS, you can do And that brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with our repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Gino Norvel.