 Welcome to NTIA Nightly. I am Janelle Norvell. This edition stops stories. 1400 tourism workers resume employment in the first phase of St. Lucia's economy reopening. The Ministry of Education to replace the common entrance examinations and protecting the creative industry from the ravage of COVID-19. The phase reopening of St. Lucia's lead economic sector has seen the return of 1400 workers and a training of hundreds more in the informal sector. Communications officer in the office of the Prime Minister Daniel DuPois reports. The government of St. Lucia welcomes the return of over 1,000 employees in the hospitality sector as commercial flights into the country commenced last week. A total of seven hotels have been approved to open under the protocols outlined by the Department of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Tourism. Minister of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting Hon. Dominic Fede at Monday's press briefing noted a very successful first few days of the phase reopening of the tourism sector and a high level of compliance from the majority of nationals and tourists upon arrival. The tourism minister highlighted the return of persons to work and reinforced the government's commitment to public health and safety. There are 1,200 individuals who have returned to work from the five hotels that are operational. Two of them in the north and three of them in Souffre. We've had some 400 visitors so far, 134 returning nationals and some 143 passengers in transit, most of them going to the Grenadines Islands coming through St. Lucia. I want to assure the press this morning that we're doing everything possible to ensure that we keep the people of St. Lucia safe. Our main priority as a government is to ensure that the safety of the people of St. Lucia are intact and that we do everything possible to make sure that that is controlled and that is achieved. Minister for Physical Planning and Parliamentary Representative for Souffre, Fosse Jacques, Hon. Harold Stanislas was delighted to see many of his constituents return to work and is looking forward to the second and third phases where local sites and attractions can open. I welcome the reopening of those hotels in Souffre. Sugar Beach, Stonefield, Derra, and I know Unchastney, Jed Mountain are making preparations for reopening by sometime next week. This is very welcoming news for the people of Souffre from St. Jacques. As you know, those resorts employ over 1200 people and Souffre has been devastated by COVID for the past couple of weeks, couple of months. So it is very, very pleasing for the reopening of those resorts. People are very happy to be back at work. I know at this moment they cannot bring in the entire complement of staff, but gradually with occupancy going up, they will be able to employ, if not 100%, but almost 80 to 90% of the staff. So that is very good news for Souffre from St. Jacques. I also look forward to the second and third phase of the reopening of the sector where we will be able to open the sites and attractions in Souffre. We know that Souffre is the maker of tourism and we have some of the most beautiful sites for our visitors, especially the South Springs, the Gropito, the Diamond Falls, Tep Paul Nature Trail, and so on. So for the past couple of weeks, months, it's been very tough in Souffre, but I'm very hopeful, very optimistic that there is confidence in the industry, in the sector, and Souffre will get back on its feet again. The parliamentary representative for Souffre, which is normally the maker of tourism activity, went on to state that there is still a level of caution and called upon constituents to exercise patience, as it will still take some time for the industry to bounce back to its previous capacity. Tourism is something that filters all the way down in the constituency and therefore it will significantly and positively impact small businesses in Souffre. So I'm asking everybody to be happy, to bear patience, to work with the authorities to put in the necessary protocols and measures in place, especially the staff of those resorts and small businesses. Practice the social distancing, wear your mask, use your hand sanitizers, protect yourself and your families as well. The Government of St. Lucia has from the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, delicately and strategically managed the health and economic challenges. So far, wonderful. People are very happy, people have been very anxious for the reopening. I mean, many, many people depend on tourism, the water taxi operators, the taxi drivers, the tour guides, the small restaurants, the bars. I mean, the entire Souffre constituency depends on tourism and I'm very, very pleased with that reopening and I want to commend the owners and managers of those resorts for the confidence in the sector and also in the people of Souffre to get the hotels reopened. The balance move to reopen the travel sector ensures that health and safety is paramount while also allowing citizens to make a living and support their families. Reporting for the Office of the Prime Minister, I am Danielle Dubois. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development is preparing to replace the common entrance examinations following years of complaints about the efficiency and fairness of the primary school exit test. Recognizing the shortfalls of the common entrance examination, the Department of Education is pursuing assessments which will allow for data collection to make appropriate decisions ensuring student success. It is for this reason that the Department is looking to adopt the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment, CPEA. This assessment provides the teachers with a certain level of autonomy enabling teachers to test the students within the classroom setting during the given school year through projects, book reviews and quizzes. The students' results will contribute to their final CPEA score. There is also an external component of the CPEA which is an exam administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council and consists of multiple choice questions. Department of Education's Deputy Chief Education Officer with Responsibility for Instruction Dawson Ragananan highlighted the benefits of the CPEA. I think it gives a more holistic picture in terms of the abilities of that child. A child for example who did the common entrance and they were sick on that day. For some reason that child wasn't feeling too well. The child would get a particular score. That may not be reflective of his or her ability. But this CPEA, it allows for that kind of interaction. It also allows for interaction amongst you have the teachers, you have the students. It also brings in the whole parents. It also brings in parents. So parents can also play a role in terms of helping to develop those skills because it's about skill development and that is what we're moving towards. There are many countries now that have moved to the CPEA in the Caribbean. The other thing about it is it allows for portability when it comes to scores. So a child is moving from one island to the other. There is no need for that child to go in and do another examination because the CPEA is a standardized test throughout the entire region. The CPEA ensures that students have critical literacies required when moving from primary school to secondary school and for life in general. Teachers are encouraged to provide in-depth feedback to students enabling them to perform even better in subsequent assessments. The assessment is done over time very inversely from the common entrance examination which is done in one sitting. CPEA's continuous assessment component allows for students to demonstrate over time the critical skills that they would have developed throughout the program. Deputy Chief Education Officer Rago Nanan says teachers are currently being trained to undertake the CPEA. We have recognized the need for training for our teachers for the CPEA and even now it is started from the 6th of July where we had training for that first week for all teachers from districts one through to district four. This week we are having training for districts five through to district eight and so again we are preparing our teachers, we are preparing them and also that training has been done with teachers from grades four through grade six. The implementation of that is going to actually start in September the date is September 2020 and we're going to be starting with the grade fives. The children have a period of two years to develop those skills so it means that the students who are moving into grade five would actually begin preparing for the CPEA and it means that the children who are actually going to grade six they would be doing common entrance for the final time. Students will be tested on four literacy areas including mathematics, social studies, English and science. And sensitization continues as the education sector forges ahead with transition from common entrance to the Caribbean primary exit assessment. More from Anise Antoine. Several countries in the Caribbean including St. Lucia are embarking upon the process of retiring the common entrance examination and implementing a modified and enhanced version the Caribbean primary exit assessment CPEA. The CPEA introduced by CXA in 2012 aims to improve the quality of education in primary schools and have more students enter in secondary school with the literacies needed for them to benefit fully from secondary school education. Education officer of testing and evaluation at the Ministry of Education, Paterson Abraham elaborated on the measures being taken in the preparatory process. At present we are undergoing training with our primary school teachers from grades four to six and that is actually two weeks training. The first week we covered teachers from the northern district districts one to four and the second week we are covering teachers from districts five to eight. In this training we are giving teachers the exposure to what the CPEA program actually entails. Abraham also explained that the CPEA will be implemented in September beginning with grade five students and will consist of both an internal and external component. The internal component will include peer assessments, teacher-made tests, practice skills, book reports and projects. It is basically broken down into two parts the internal component that would be what we usually call the SBA component and we have the external component of the assessment. The internal component we have several parts that comprise the internal component. These make up the book reports so students are expected to choose a book of their own choice however for this book they will be giving us certain details. So it's not just reading a book just so reading sake but they will be providing information such as the author of the book they give the summary of the book, the characters in the book what really jumped out to them when they read the book. The Education Officer explained that under the CPEA the students will be continuously assessed for the duration of the project component. Projects have been used in schools before but many times we use it as just a product assessment meaning that a child is given a project and all we are interested in getting from this project is the end mark. However with this type of assessment we are focusing on the process while the students go through the project development we are also assessing them throughout the process so it engages both process assessment and product assessment. The internal component of the CPEA contributes to 40% of the overall mark but the external component, a test given by the Caribbean Examination Council will contribute 60% of the overall mark at the end of the program. From the Government Information Service, I am Anicia Anton reporting. The income support program announced by Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shasne is set for roll out. The program will benefit thousands of inclusions in the informal sector including those involved in the creative industries. $24 million has been made available to assist during this time of job loss due to COVID-19. Lisa Joseph reports on the successes the sector realised in 2019 and the efforts aimed at protecting those gains. As the nation reels from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shasne is determined not to have the gains of 2019 eroded, particularly in the creative sector. After 2020-2021 budget address, he outlined government support to the development of the sector. Re-commissioning of the Saint Lucia's cultural map. Establishment of the Goodwill and Brand Ambassador program. Support for the development of music industry that is focused on increasing awareness of Saint Lucia music and enhancing its export potential. Access to small grants programs. Facilitation of export market opportunities. Amendments of the Fiscal Incentives Act to provide for service sectors including the creative industries. The rebranding of the Saint Lucia Jans Festival that led to the creation of the Saint Lucia Summer Festival has firmly placed national talent on the world stage with a local act standing alongside international greats in the genre of jazz and soul. Most importantly though, the Indigenous festivals of Creole Heritage Month and Carnival have been given greater prominence. Government's commitment to Saint Lucia's arts and culture was further demonstrated with a $3 million investment in Carnival. This resulted in increased participation from creators and revelers. The unprecedented cash injection led to an overall improvement in the Carnival product and when the curtains came down, July 2019 recorded the highest number of visitor arrivals at 42,773 an increase of 13% over 2018. The Caribbean tourism market also recorded a 6% growth for the summer period attributable to Saint Lucia Carnival. That is the first time in the history of our country that what is considered the traditional low period that it has surpassed a winter month or all winter months, Mr. Speaker, every in history and also for the year of 2019. And so Mr. Speaker, what it does is that it shows that the investment and the policy shift of this government to move away from over investment in the jazz festival and to focus on our Carnival, Mr. Speaker, has yielded significant benefits and it has highlighted and showcased our culture, our indigenous culture, Carnival, Mr. Speaker, as the biggest festival in Saint Lucia. The creation of a national cultural policy as announced in the budget by Prime Minister Honourable Alan Chastney is expected to build on the foundation already set. From the Government Information Service, Lisa Joseph reporting. And this is Ntia Knightley up next, Primus Hutchinson with the Ntia Nouvelle Aquial. In an effort to ensure patient and first responder safety, the Saint Lucia Fire Service has reviewed its patient transfer procedures, especially for patients with respiratory distress. Face masks will be provided. At no time during transportation should the face mask be removed. 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 join Primus Hutchinson for the Ntia Nouvelle Aquial. Ladies and gentlemen, the Government Information Service, the Ntia Nouvelle Aquial, and the Prime Minister Hutchinson. We hope to continue to strengthen the protocol to address COVID-19. Please be patient and cooperative during this time to ensure you receive the best possible care while keeping our first responders safe. Please be patient and cooperative during this time to ensure you receive the best possible care while keeping our first responders safe. Please be patient and cooperative during the long term. Please be patient and cooperative during this time. Please be patient and cooperative during this time. service sanitizer, except official access sanitizer, available at the bus stop. It is also necessary to continue chain distance social bus stop, bus stop passenger. It is also important to distance at the bus stop. It is also important to keep the bus stop free from the bus stop. Chief officer Ragnan has understood the possibility that if they keep the bus stop under Bueno Loto, we continue to have a equal conversation. Ragnan said that . It is only one short distance to travel as soon as possible. Minister of Economic Development, Honourable Gaye Joseph, a response for business I Tell BPO, Aviefo. Ka kuei ki se faso ki se business a la techa condui a va pas sustainable a visa. Honourable Gaye Joseph, te prisa asia mani potei oficialma uvei business I Tell BPO, asie pribonae asie menzala, habitation, lisitabilisma, business, a Aviefo. Minister a declare ki, a tan avan, kuei miss John Compton, te itabli deo toa lisin pu fai posse pola nitrawai asie pribonae a va sotrawai sala baka pospue a ko asie wezo government maka ekuwajie itabli suma business ko I Tell BPO. Latias a changi a brisa, nu pas a vie a memse industri a nuteada avan, mesa nu kare a brisa, se dat memse buildings a kitela, ka tuve ko yo converti a difewa mani eki o kasevi pu sanukue a iti call center. So sanukau ea, se dat government s'apadyes pa leo ba viefo, menuka deli voe bai viefo, paske a tan passe se toa vai sate oni ka ovei a ling di kastui. Leu ga desa ki ka fet isi a jordia. Mania investin lu se toa vai ko convert factory sa, sa se pat ove sanukau ea frizona. Minister a di ki development sa la, se efo ki a plas, po government plase yo fridja inef, habitasio a business a viefo, eka mem di ta, po se tit vil viefo. Leu no a toa government frizona te po eske vid, la paten ki a sbai ka opoe, mesa nu kau ea la a brisa, se padyes marchandis, nu ka menei si a, po mea a se wea house lek den, po marchandis la ki te ek viali, menuka kruye toa vai. Govedmo se toi se, japune yo decision, kwiteknoa, po we visi, ek we etabli marketing board se toi, ki kai proti noa send lu shav marketing entity, sa se noa e ka inia prisa. Yo na se pli fo initiative facilite inu voa, se po facilite exportatio, eko se po fe asime ki lani fa son, le kiltivate, sa se le fa ma, nio me fa so depodiktio, ek la plas po po doi aset le si, osi, vo genal ma, e etenasional. Si kodai po mea na, minister de agriculture, kopoetif, la pech, ek sektua, bari mo felisier, de ki, it was a porta, po marketing board, o poe, efektiv ma, po atotini, ek emboase, diman, le po doi, hod, fa ma peya. Selo misie felisier, marketing board la ni po continue, o poe a degue, yo excetitio, ki fo po sa, one bon service, po le fa ma, ye aset ke, la ni yo plas special, po asseblee, ne toai, sanitize, po park, ek distribue, tot se po doi, so ti marketing board, plas deo sa la, yo lo me, park house, kai a degue, itenasional, po protection, sa mon kamajie, ek depi sa venia, plas, pe peya kai kumasi, weh marketing board, la kai van po dois, ni a wejoan, e usi, e etenasional. Tot si e fo sa la, si komit, ma govedema, po si po te, ek assisti, le fa ma setle si, ek se ko sa ano ato, po te novella, ma govedema si o ota, po kai agade, ma govedema e vita si, po si, depi ma go, si de ko sa vela vi, ni a wejo to o lot, novella a kuiol, ap wezo, demo si o te, tot mon, bon finis masi men, ek kasi le, mua vie wezo to o, isional. Merci apel primers, 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 anytime on the Singlucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Janelle Norville.