 Welcome to NTIA Nightly. I am General Norville. This edition, Stop Stories. NIMAC to convene Wednesday amid rising COVID-19 cases in country. Education Minister Hon. Sean Edward Mitz technical staff on his first day on the job and the Ministry of Agriculture moves to address low levels of production in the cocoa sector. A meeting of the National Emergency Advisory Council, NIMAC, is scheduled to be held Wednesday 11th August 2021 amid rising COVID-19 cases in country. The island is dealing with a new wave of the pandemic, which health authorities had anticipated given heightened activities associated with the July 26 general election. On Monday 9th August, the Ministry of Health reported two new COVID-19 deaths. A 66-year-old male from the Denver District and a 61-year-old female from the Castries District. To date, the total number of COVID-19 deaths in country is 65 and the total number of COVID-19 related deaths is 27. As of Monday, there were 350 active COVID-19 cases. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar George says the Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance not only to combat the increasing cases but also the COVID-19 strain known as the Delta variant. The Ministry of Health is preparing for the possible impact of the likely introduction of the Delta variant, which is present in Caribbean countries such as Martinique, Barbados and Antigua. To date, the Delta variant has not been identified in St. Lucia. However, we continue to send samples on a monthly basis for gene sequencing. Only the Alpha variant has been identified in country with a total of 51 cases thus far. The Delta variant has been identified in 11 Caribbean countries. They make up over 90% of the cases in the UK and over 80% of the cases in the US and France. The transmissibility is increased to over 97% as compared to the regular strain. The Delta variant is characterized for more severe disease, complications, hospitalizations and deaths. Dr. Sharon Belmar George is encouraging all St. Lucia to take the COVID-19 vaccine as it has proven effective against the different strains of the disease. Preliminary evidence shows twice the rate of hospitalizations for unvaccinated persons and over a thousand times the viral load. Vaccines are still effective against the Delta variant in controlling the disease transmission, reducing hospitalizations, severe disease and deaths. Vaccination remains the most effective public health measure in managing infectious diseases. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective in protecting persons from developing COVID-19. It forms complications, hospitalizations and death. The Ministry of Health, we continue to urge the public to access the various sites to get immunized as soon as possible. Let us encourage our colleagues, our family members, our friends to get immunized from early so we can be protected against COVID and the Delta variant. The CMO advises the public to remain vigilant as the risk of the introduction of variants of concern is high. Everyone should adhere to the protocols that are put in place to keep the public safe. These include regular hand washing, proper use of face masks in public places, avoiding crowds and persons with respiratory symptoms, and keeping frequently touched surfaces clean. Newly appointed Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocation Training, Hon. Sean Edward on Tuesday 10th August, met with staff of the Ministry for the first time since assuming office. We get the details in this report. Hon. Sean Edward along with the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Hon. Dr. Pauline Antoine Prosper held discussions with the various heads of department and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education. Hon. Edward says he's looking forward to forging cordial relationships for a healthy work environment given the critical role the ministry plays in the overall development of the nation. I tried to underscore as much as possible the importance of what we do in the Ministry of Education and unlike agencies say like the Ministry of Infrastructure where they deal with concrete and steel and buildings and infrastructure but we are dealing with young impressionable lives and how well we deliver in this ministry can determine the quality of citizens who put out there to serve our country in the future. Hon. Edward noted that he has assumed office amid pressing issues confronting the education sector. A priority for the minister is overseeing the successful opening of the new academic year on September 6, 2021. I know there are ongoing works at a number of schools so later today I will be apprised of the situation by the works unit and once that is done I will take to the field to see for myself how well the various contractors are progressing. Hon. Edward says this function as minister is to provide policy oversight and ensure that the education sector advances. There are a lot of technical people, a lot of competent people working in this department of government and I guess once I can get them to deliver an account for the government's time and to execute the various programs that have been agreed upon by way of a policy position of this administration I would have done my job. Success in the education fraternity or sector is heavily dependent on the quality of relationship we forge, we foster, we build with the various stakeholders in education, teachers union, students council, parents I mean the entire education fraternity must work as one if this department of government is to succeed and deliver to the people of this country. Hon. Sean Edward brings some 20 years of experience as an educator at the primary and secondary levels to his ministerial role. Parliamentary secretary, Hon. Dr. Pauline Antoine Prosper is also a veteran educator of 37 years with 17 of those years as a principal. From the government information service, Lisa Joseph reporting. Still with education, the national commission for UNESCO has partnered with the department of education to introduce the UNESCO STEM education program in order to build capacity and train teachers to become master trainers in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing for sustainable development goals. We have more in this Chris Satney report. The four-day training which was conducted in July had as its main mission to inspire the next generation of world thinkers and makers with accessible hands-on robotics and machine learning experiences and to increase awareness and understanding of artificial intelligence by making machine learning approachable, rewarding, and most of all fun. Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO, Marcia Simphorian says the training program is supportive of the Ministry of Education's ICT in education policy which builds upon previous initiatives of computer coding and robotics in schools. The organization believes that artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize STEM education through innovative teaching and learning practices which contribute to higher student engagement, enhanced problem solving skills, new opportunities for learning, enhanced creativity, and a promotion of gender equality. Curriculum Officer for Science and Technology, Jeannette George says the program will ultimately foster an increase in the uptake of these kinds of technologies for solving community challenges and the move towards sustainable development goals. It is intended that the program be tested at a number of pilot schools with the eventual integration and adaptation in the national schools curriculum. We'd also like to see the promotional skill development for jobs in this era of AI, artificial intelligence. We want to ensure that there is inclusive and equitable use of artificial intelligence and the knowledge associated with robotics and 3D printing. So we want to see both boys and girls involved in STEM education. The National Commission for UNESCO has also been instrumental in donating a number of micro science kits for distribution at primary and secondary schools on the island. These kits will support the delivery of science education by providing teachers and students with the capacity to conduct experiments in a number of subject areas, including biology, chemistry, physics, and electricity. And because they are micro kits, it means that they are portable, they can be carried anyway, and that we do not need to spend large sums of money in the purchasing of reagents and other kinds of material that is needed to use the kits. It means that those kits can be used before students go into an actual laboratory. They get to use equipment, they get to work as scientists anywhere. This is the second installment of science kits received by Kamdu from the National Commission for UNESCO that it believes will be beneficial to students of any age. From the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations, and Sustainable Development, I am Chris Sartney reporting. In an effort to combat the Cocoa Sector's low levels of production and productivity, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources, and Corporates has launched the Cocoa Sector Enhancement Project. Anithya Antwan tells us more. The Cocoa Sector Enhancement Project is geared towards the rehabilitation of cocoa farm holdings, transplanting of unproductive plants, and increasing of acreages with the overall goal of increasing cocoa bean production, while improving resilience to climate change, and the most common diseases that impact cocoa plants. Under the project, farmers are given the opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding, which would facilitate the collection of data, including the status of cocoa plants, production, sale of cocoa beans, as well as the prices of the produce. One of the tangible outcomes of the Cocoa Sector Enhancement Project is the additional subsidization of cocoa trees at $2 per plant. Head of the Agricultural Region 6 and Interim Coordinator of the Cocoa Sector Enhancement Project, Eloy Alexis, notes that these initiatives aim to address issues such as low return, low market penetration, and cross cutting issues including insufficient data on cocoa production. Basically what that project stands to do is to revitalize and expand the cocoa farm sector. A number of initiatives have been targeted, such as propagation of seedlings for farmers. Currently we have on offer cocoa seedlings for farmers at a further subsidized price of $2. Before it was $4, right now we are selling these seedlings at $2 per plant for farmers, just to encourage them to increase the acreage of cocoa on the island. The Department of Agriculture has also collaborated with the Cocoa Research Centre at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad to host quality analysis and sensory analysis training. Mr Alexis adds that the department is also looking into the possibility of forming a marketing cooperation for cocoa farmers. The reason why we have decided to go via the route of the cooperation is that we want to give farmers greater return. What happens with the cocoa sector? Cocoa in terms of the persons who are involved in cocoa production. If you were to produce cocoa beans and then just sell the raw material, there isn't much profit to be made from that. Considering the fact that cocoa is a plantation crop, you need a very sizable acreage so that for you to make a decent living from cocoa. So hence the reason why we are going for the route of the cooperation, that these people when we sell the beans or the cooperation market the beans, any dividends, any profit which is derived from the cooperation, this profit would be repatriated to the farmers. Farmers interested in purchasing cocoa plants through the Cocoa Sector Enhancement Project should contact their local extension office. The plants will be made available at the Bath Propagation Station in Souffre near Myers Bridge. From the communications unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. The month of August is observed as National Breastfeeding Month. The Ministry of Health is highlighting an initiative that helps support healthy breastfeeding practices, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. This initiative was launched in 1991 by Powell and UNICEF. Lisa Hunt, Chief Nutritionist in the Ministry of Health says the initiative helps encourage facilities that provide maternity and newborn services to better promote breastfeeding. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is based on the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding. Adherents to the 10 steps positively impacts breastfeeding initiation and duration as well as breastfeeding outcome. Powell recommends that health facilities implement measures to protect, promote and support breast feeding starting in the period of anti-natal care up to when mothers and newborns are discharged. Hunt says due to the benefits derived from breastfeeding, expectant and nursing mothers require special considerations such as maternity protection to empower parents to successfully breastfeed their infants. WHO recommends that employers implement policies including paid maternity leave, flexible or reduced working hours for breastfeeding mothers and a dedicated room for breastfeeding in the workplace that is private and hygienic. This will create a positive environment that will increase breastfeeding rates which will have a positive impact on the health of our infants and the nation as a whole. Benefits of breastfeeding to the baby include reduced risk of asthma, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome. Breastfeeding also contributes to a lower risk of high blood pressure and breast cancer in mothers. The Veterinary and Livestock Services Division in partnership with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program, United Nations Development Program and the Ionola Apiculture Collective recently hosted a national workshop on apiculture. We get details in this report. The Veterinary and Livestock Services Division has recognized the need to adequately address the requirements of producers in the apiculture sector and ultimately work towards holistic development of the sector. The division has collaborated with other sector agencies including JeffSGP-UNDP, the Ionola Apiculture Collective, Export St. Lucia and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation and Agriculture to internally restructure the apiculture unit and provide training for stakeholders involved in the sector. The most recent training exercise is the National Workshop on Apiculture which is aimed at developing an integrated apiculture industry in St. Lucia that promotes and protects natural ecosystems while also benefiting apiculturists, stakeholders and participating communities. Director of Agricultural Services Dr. Aurea King Snack pledges the Department of Agriculture's commitment to continue collaborating with stakeholders to develop the sector. We also urge our partners to work collaboratively with our department as the success of this industry depends or demands that we work together building synergies, developing an excess of shared ideas and competencies and building capacity within our stakeholders. Today's exercise seeks to bring all our important partners and stakeholders together to discuss these items, gain more knowledge on the new and innovative methods in apiculture and build networks for the advancement of the sector. The Department of Agriculture again pledges its support to the apiculture sector. We look forward to working with all of you and are excited for what lies on the horizon for the future of the apiculture in St. Lucia. The objectives of the National Workshop on Apiculture also include identifying new apiculture techniques that ensure the apiculture industry's optimization and sustainability as well as promoting the production of beehive products that meet national standards. National Program Coordinator of the Jeff SGP-UNDP Giles Romulus encourages the apiculture program participants to become more research focused and innovative with the continuous introduction of new products into the market. That our farmers in the rural parts of our Caribbean and St Lucia have always gotten a small bite of the pie with the majority of the value added going to the metropose and the mother country and so on. I want to make an appeal to St Lucia in apiculture that this must not happen. The value added along that value chain must remain in St Lucia and our people must become the supporters, the developers of apiculture in St Lucia. Jeff is determined to do that and to invest in the capacity development of the people and governments in St Lucia. So let's remember the history. This is NTR 9th Lee. Primers Hutchinson is up next. Stay with us. Caribbean ties are connected people then and now. A unique exhibition that presents the diversity and complexity in the Caribbean before the arrival of the Europeans. August 1st to the 31st at the 100-year-old Anglican Annex open daily 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Be part of the past still present today through stunning exhibits accompanied by live cultural street entertainment. Save the dates August 1st to the 31st. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchinson for the NTR Nouvelle Aquéole. Premier ministre St Lucia, on your left, Philip J. Pierre, declare that the government has promised that they will do before they enter the power. Premier ministre Pierre, make declarations. That's it. According to the address, after the government, you will submit. According to the ceremony, I have passed, that's it. I said on the first day, in Caïc-en-Cite. According to Premier ministre Pierre, you are the first to submit. It is to support the parents who will be able to pay pre-facility for the students who lived in school in September 2021. Premier ministre Pierre, make a call for the principal of the school, Neotipa Science, within the officers of the French Department who have finalized arrangements to deliver this service. Premier ministre Lucia also said that the National Trust organization received a financial assistance that already received a transfer and that they asked for the administration to be able to do so. Premier ministre said that the other side was already gone. That was very good and very difficult. Premier ministre, you have done a lot of things in your life that you are still in good time and also in bad times. The same package in position, he said, that Premier ministre, for a long time, Premier ministre Pierre, in the presentation of the cabinet members of the government, he made it clear that it was not easy, but they all had this capability that helped to take into account the responsibility to govern the people here. Premier ministre Pierre said that for more than a year, who has a public service, it was impossible to connect with the people here. It was difficult for him to exist in the country and that he had a battle with the people who had won the competition. He also said that he understood very well the way that people could experience transformation, the moment you were in a position to be able to do so. He also said that the other side could not even connect with the other side. Premier ministre Pierre also said, be careful, you will not be able to survive in the worst situation and in the worst situation at the level of the most good conduct, commitment, patience, and gratitude. Speaking of that, Premier ministre Honourable Philip J. Pierre announced the cabinet members of the government, I said last week, I said last time as well. Premier ministre Pierre said that we have to make a way to develop economic development with respect to the economy for generations. Honourable Dr. Ernest Healer said that this cabinet is for interest, investment, and destruction of cultural and informationalomographs. Honourable Moussi Gebakis said that this cabinet is for health and more than a general citizen. Honorable Sean Edward, Minister of Education, Development of the World, Science, Technology, and Etonement of Vocations. Honorable Alvaro Baptiste, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Voters, Civil Aviation, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Stevenson King, President of the Women's Affairs, Minister of Construction, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Emma Heapelit, Minister of Commerce, and Fabrication, Development of Business, Co-operative, and the Consumers. Honorable Joachim Henry, Minister of Equality and Social Justice. Honorable Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyards, Minister of Public Service and Security, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Kenson Joel Kazeme, Minister of Development and Development, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Altred Prospect, Minister of Agriculture, Fish, and Security, and Development, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Wayne Girard, Minister of Finance, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Richard Frederick, Minister of Business, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Dr. Pauline Antwerd Prospect, Minister of Education, and Development, and the people who live in the country. Honorable Kevin Ferdinand, Minister of Tourism, and the people who live in the country. Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, and the people who live in the country. Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, and the people who live in the country. Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, and the people who live in the country. Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, and the people who live in the country. Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, and the people who live in the country. Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, Minister of Health, and the people who live in the country. Mercier Pearl Primus. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Channel Novel.