 Welcome to NTN Nightly. I am General Norvel. This edition stops stories. Tropical Storm Gonzalo forecast said to pass near St. Lucia on Saturday. Government to secure finance to meet international air transport standards and improve the climate resilience of St. Lucia's airport infrastructure and thousands of St. Lucia's to benefit from the income support program. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados. Maximum sustained winds for Tropical Storm Gonzalo are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is still possible during the next day or so before Gonzalo reaches the southern Winward Islands. Tropical Storm Gonzalo is moving towards the west near 18 mph. The new track of Gonzalo is now further south than previously anticipated which means that Gonzalo is moving faster towards the west and also is a little further away from St. Lucia. The weather conditions will not be as severe as first expected. However, the Tropical Storm warning is still in effect due to possible heavy rainfall over St. Lucia by Saturday the 25th. Gonzalo is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 5 inches over St. Lucia and the southern Winward Islands. Swells up to 10 feet or 3 meters generated by Tropical Storm Gonzalo will begin affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles Friday night. Small craft operators around St. Lucia are asked to exercise caution when venturing far from port. Members of the public are urged to take all the necessary precautions to secure loved ones and property during the passage of the storm. Thousands of St. Lucia's benefit from the Income Support Program which forms part of the Government of St. Lucia's Social Stabilization Plan. We hear more in this report. Thousands of St. Lucia's have begun receiving the promised income support from the Government of St. Lucia which forms part of the Social Stabilization Plan. The plan announced by Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney provides support to St. Lucia's who are non-contributors to the National Insurance Corporation but have lost their livelihood or income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government approved over $20 million to support these sole traders and self-employed St. Lucia's in their time of need as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As citizens receive their direct deposits and checks for $1,500 this week it was quite an emotional and joyous day for some as they explained how the funds would assist them and their families. I'm just grateful for the help because at this present time in our operation things has really not been good. I think it was from late February I have not been working. I have not drive a dime. So to get this little help as small as it is I am grateful. I'm very grateful to the Government for coming up with such an idea. And I believe everybody who is a recipient today should express a measure of gratitude for that small help. As small as it is it is very, very important and it is very good at least we can cover a little hole. I'm very grateful for it. I'm very happy to finally have it because as you know things are a little tight and I'll be able to pay some bills and eat some food basically. Well the process was a long one. I mean a lot of us thought we were going to get it before and now that it's here it's here so we'll make best use of it. It was a promise on the delivery so I feel good. Oh you know our daily necessities you know. It's small but you know it helps. I am so elitid. I use a very high word and I'm so happy and grateful. It will go a very long way. That's why I'm so proud to show my check from my Government. I thank you. And I hope all other vendors get the little check as well especially the people with children and the elder folks. Oh it will go such a long way. I'm a vendor and I really do need it and I appreciate. I also have my rent to pay. I'm so grateful. I prayed for it and I thank God. The Government of St. Lucia also took the decision to extend the deadline for the applications in order to reach more people adversely affected by COVID-19. The new deadline for applications for the Income Support Program for non-NIC contributors is July 30th, 2020. Director of Implementation, Mrs. Nancy Charles was on hand to explain how the program has been going so far. The Government as part of the Social Stabilization Program made available $24 million to self-employed persons. So most of our persons who have been impacted by COVID are our vendors, taxi drivers, jet ski operators. We have persons from various backgrounds that we are providing that support to. The first set of payments went out last week to persons who gave their bank accounts and as we indicated, check payments now are being made today at the Castro City Council for the first batch of about 100, a little over 100 of them. So we're making check payments to them today. We had a lot of internal issues to sort out. Additionally, we had to wait for the passage of the appropriation bill. We also had some challenges with the bank account numbers and the reconciliation with the banks. But finally, it is here. So from last week, we have quite a few taxi drivers and vendors and other persons who receive payments via the bank and today we have another batch of persons who are receiving payments. It will be a continuous process. So we have another batch being processed this week via the bank and hopefully next week those who will be getting check payments we will resume the payments right here at CCC at a date and time that we will be giving to those persons. Applications must be electronically completed on the Government of Senlusha website www.govt.lc and maybe access from a computer or mobile phone. Senlushans are reminded to put in the correct information, their account numbers and all relevant banking information when filling out the form to speed up the process. The Government of Senlusha remains committed to ensuring Senlushans receive support during this crisis. Reporting for the office of the Prime Minister, I am Nicole McDonald. The Government of Senlusha will secure finance to meet international air transport standards and improve the climate resilience of the country's airport infrastructure. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the Honourable Alan Shasny, speaking in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, explained that the weaknesses in the airport infrastructure and operations have been ignored for too long and the country must capitalise on this opportunity which has presented itself. He noted that the project considers Senlusha's resilience in the air transport sector and seeks to respond to the immediate environmental risk factors by supporting the Government of Senlusha to better manage the impact of shocks and adapt to changing circumstances for the improvement of climate resilience in airport infrastructure and systems. The objective of this project is to improve operational safety and navigation efficiency of air transport and to enhance the resilience of Senlusha's airport infrastructure, particularly to natural disasters. The most recent disaster risk assessment conducted on our airport infrastructure identified a number of weaknesses. Firstly, a high risk of river flooding at the Hyundai International Airport. The assessment also deemed both airports to be vulnerable to storm surge. Recent history has proven both of these assertions to be true as recent major weather events have disrupted the operations of both of our airports due to the instances of storm surge and flooding. Mr. Speaker, water damage from either storm surge or flooding can cause damage to the runways. Parked aircraft and the terminal buildings and leave the airport inoperable for an extended period of time. The Caribbean Regional Air Transport Connectivity Project was brought to the House of Assembly on Tuesday, 21st July 2020 where the motion was moved to borrow U.S. $45 million from the International Development Association. The project consists of five main parts, namely operational safety, which will see the improvement of the operational safety and flood disaster resilience of the runway at the Huronora International Airport and support for Slasper's compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization Standards. Modernization of the air navigation systems, strengthening institutional capacity, project management and contingent emergency response. Mr. Speaker, from since 2013, San Lucia has been red flagged by the Universal Oversight Audit Program of the International Civil Aviation Organization which raised concerns about the country's ability to properly oversee the airports, aircraft and air navigation services. Our existing airport infrastructure and navigation system is, in many areas, non-compliant with the international standards on safety and oversight. Most alarmingly, San Lucia scored 16.67% in effective implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and recommended practices with regard to air navigation services, which contrast with a global average of 67.2%. The terms of the loan are largely concessional, carrying a low interest rate and a 10-year grace period. San Lucia has recorded a total of 24 COVID-19 cases to date and 22 of these cases have fully recovered, while two patients remain in care at the respiratory hospital and remain stable. A total of 2,597 tests have been conducted to date. The Ministry of Health and Wellness was also informed by the St. Vincent's Health Ministry of a St. Lucia National who traveled to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday, July 19, 2020, who tested positive for COVID-19 after screening. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is investigating and has implemented a number of interventions to manage the situation. Dr. Sharon Belmar George is the Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The family and close friends of the individual have been tested and placed in government quarantine. The health team has visited the workplace of the individual. All of the employees who have screened and a total of 154 employees have been tested and placed into quarantine. None of the contacts of the individual, including the family, friends and employees, are symptomatic. The results are expected to be available by this evening or tomorrow. The Ministry of Health, we await reports on the occupational health and safety measures at the workplace from the Environmental Health Department to guide on the way forward. As we continue with the phased reopening of the country, the risk for introduction of COVID-19 has increased. The public is once again advised on the adherence of the public health measures that have been recommended. These include the use of face masks in public and maintaining safe physical distance from others. We continue to advise on the importance of maintaining the standard recommendations for infection prevention and control, which include regular hand washing of soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer where soap and water is not available. Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar George and our St. Lucia began receiving international flights bringing in both nationals and visitors on Thursday, July 9, 2020. The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues efforts at managing St. Lucia's COVID-19 response. As such, all arriving passengers are required to present the results of a negative PCR test then seven days prior to arrival in St. Lucia. The passengers are then screened by the health team at the Hironora International Airport Public Health Facility before entering the airport terminal. As guided by the established protocols, all arriving passengers are placed in 14 days quarantine without home in a state facility when approved COVID-19 certified accommodation. National epidemiologist Dr. Michel Foussois says these measures are to protect the health and safety of every individual within the country. Based on the data from the week of Thursday, July 9, 2020 to Thursday, July 16, 2020, St. Lucia has recorded 170 people in home quarantine, 254 people in institutional quarantine, and 476 people in approved COVID-19 certified accommodations. The Ministry of Health and Wellness asks that nationals and visitors adhere to the protocols for quarantine that have been put in place. The public is asked to cooperate and encourage family members and friends who have returned from overseas and are presently in home quarantine to remain there for the 14-day duration. The names of all persons in home quarantine who will be forwarded to the Royal St. Lucia Police Force to assist in ensuring compliance. The national epidemiologist also encourages the public to adhere to all protocols to prevent the spread of the virus as the COVID-19 threat still exists. Although most sectors have reopened, the public is reminded that mass crowd events with over 200 people are still not permitted. The public is encouraged to alert the nearest police station or the Ministry of Health and Wellness at 468-5349, 468-5342, or 468-5312 with information in relation to anyone who breaches home quarantine guidelines. The Ministry of Health and Wellness also encourages all St. Lucia's to support the national effort to minimize the threat of COVID-19 by adhering to all protocols. As St. Lucia continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, more corporate entities are playing their part. This time around, Windjama Landing, Villa Beach Resort and SPA is stepping up to the plate, having made a donation of 10,000 face masks to free separate entities. Anissia Antoine has the details. The Windjama Landing, Villa Beach Resort and SPA is aiding in the fight against COVID-19, having made a donation of 10,000 face masks to three separate entities. The handing over ceremony held on Wednesday saw a donation of 3,000 face masks to the Grand Riviera Primary School, 4,000 face masks to the Ministry of Tourism, and 3,000 face masks to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The resort, which has been in operation in St. Lucia for over 20 years, has also been assisting the government of St. Lucia through the National Mills Program by donating over 20,000 meals. The Minister for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries, Honourable Dominic Fede expressed gratitude to the Windjama Landing, Villa Beach Resort and SPA for their continued support. Thank you very much to the management and the employees of Windjama for your long-standing show of corporate social responsibility. Windjama has become a household named in St. Lucia. They've been around for quite a long time. They continue to be one of our flagship resorts here in St. Lucia. And it's really good to see today that they're taking some time out to reach out to the community and to participate in the national response of COVID-19, which has been a rather challenging one for small countries like St. Lucia. So we are extremely thrilled that we have friends like Windjama and we thank the entire management, the owners and the staff for their outstanding contribution to the various institutions here today. Julieta Charles, Principal of the Grand River Primary School noted that the donation of face masks will go a long way as they prepare for the reopening of school. And I wish to applaud Windjama Landing Villa Beach Resort for their continued support. In spite of these challenging times, I must say and you are not immune to that that you see it fitting to give this donation to our school. I applaud you for this because it shows that you are a true friend and it reaffirms your commitment to our school. And so thank you so much on behalf of the parents, myself and everyone else who work at our institution. As the hotel plans to reopen its doors on October 8th, 2020, Trisha Joseph, Director of Housekeeping at the Windjama Landing Villa Beach Resort and Spa assures that the safety and health of the guests, staff and community remains a top priority. We also would have adopted our Windjama Landing Care and Cleanliness Commitment. That commitment builds on our existing rigorous protocols and it also incorporates the guidance and the instructions from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control as well as our own Ministry of Health here in St. Lucia. It also causes for us to engage in intensive training with our team to ensure that they are comfortable, they are knowledgeable and they have the skills and resources to be able to deliver the level of service that enables us to have a safe environment for our guests and for our community as well. The handing over ceremony of the 10,000 face masks took place on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 at the Windjama Landing Villa Beach Resort and Spa. From the Government Information Service, I am Anicia Antoine This is Antoine Knightley. Up next, Primus Hutchinson with the Antoine Luffel, a quay all. With all that's happening around us, simple adjustments are necessary to keep us all safe. When calling 9-1-1, we may need a little more information to deploy the right personnel and protocols. You may be asked about your travel history, signs and symptoms, contact and movement history and whether others in your household are exhibiting similar symptoms. Please, be patient and cooperative during this time to ensure you receive the best possible care while keeping our first responders safe. Welcome back. We now join Primus Hutchinson for the Antoine Luffel, a quay all. Monsieur Tarjanel, Monsieur Madame, Departement now will be presenting information in Government Sette-le-Cie. This is GIS, Ec-Travision National Payee Antoine as well as a quay all. This is Primus Hutchinson. Sette-le-Cie, which is today the day of the Coronavirus, on April 20, Sette-le-Cie, the day of the.- To test your patient with the quarantine, school, which is a place where individuals can be placed in isolation at the Victoria Hospital and presently have enough to do well. The Ministry of Health also found information, or the Ministry of Health at PICF 100, which has a certificate that you will be able to pay there on Sunday, July 19, to be tested with a positive result. The Ministry of Health also found information, presently, that everyone who is in the SEPS has enough to communicate and, for the good of that, the Ministry of Health to continue to publicize the importance oflles or coratine bodies to protect health and well-being of the country generally. Both are noted the Ministry have named them, as they can continue to follow programs where they can now be placed in the request tolv перев to pay the hospital has, to remain able and to lose weight without the experience. You can continue to look for advice, wash your hands, wash your hands before you go to the service sanitizer, put your mask on, and then you can change your status, how do you know a lot in public. Your good-quality organization shall return to you. You will benefit how do you buy that you can manage. You have a chance to change it every year. You can do that. You can sell it on July 20, 2020. During the ceremony of the 17th ACH Salah, we talked about the quality of work that the organization is doing, and how do you do that? You can help to assist people who are more liberal in society, citizens, young people who are more liberal in direction, and people who can help to stay and others who are more vulnerable. Mr. ACH, who received assistance, it was Moghuj Club 60, Adult Decay, you received 20,000 dollars, St. Lucia Crisis Centre, 10,000 dollars, Children's Society, you received 20,000 dollars, Korsit National, Pule Des Abil, 20,000 dollars, Helen's Daughters, 10,000 dollars, Girls of a Feather, 10,000 dollars, Edénoux, you received 7,600, Pierre Foundation, 7,600, Salvation Army, 10,000 dollars, Do Something Different, 5,000 dollars, St. Lucia's Home, 15,000 dollars, Korsit National, 25,000, Laboratory of Science, where they call it comprehensive, 25,000, Association, they have exactly 20,000, New Beginnings, Transit Home, 10,000 dollars, Cadet Corps, 10,000 dollars, Egg Boys Training Centre, you received 8,000 dollars. Thank you very much, especially the organization Charitab Salah, who has helped us to help the society. Thank you very much for the organization. Thank you very much for helping us to assist the people who are suffering from COVID-19, it is very difficult to help them easily. Thank you very much for the activity of Edé Baudas, who is the director of Raquel de Boulay Shasne, who organized the collaboration with the Prime Minister. Thank you very much, and thank you to the Director of the Edé Baudas Committee, Madam Janine Jirori-Mackentai. Thank you very much for the organization and the spectacles, for the organization which is the first economy to be built in the country in general. Thank you very much, Mr Wendell Stevens, for the opportunity to help the people who are suffering from COVID-19. Thank you very much, for the organization Charitab Salah, who has helped the society to help the people who are suffering from COVID-19. Charitab Salah, who said that he was the team's first place. I have tried to help the people who are suffering from COVID-19 but I didn't know how to help the people who are suffering from COVID-19. I said that I was the team's first place. Charitab Salah and people create different buy because many of them are from the same place, they are from the same place they are producers, artists, they are from the same place, they are from the same place and your money is from the same place and you can find the link in the description there are artists from the same place and you can find the link on Instagram page you can find the link in the description there is a fix and if you would want to get more news wait until you know not just last week and last month you have edited the short line for the next five weeks Thank you for your time, and 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 any time on the St Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am the Genel Norvel.