 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles. This edition's top stories. Government has appointed a committee to assess best practices for the National Health Insurance Scheme. Educators thrash out issues relating to the administering of examinations. Drainage improvement works begin at Riviera Mita, all that plus the latest in youth development, sports and the NTN Nouvel Arquillon. Affordable access to quality health care is among the key areas of focus for the Government of St. Lucia, outlined in a medium-term development plan for 2019-2022. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shasne during the just-delivered budget address announced that 162 million EC dollars will be invested in the health of St. Lucia's at all levels. A major part of the island's health strategy is the full operation of the OKEU and the completion of St. Jude's Hospital as well as the design and implementation of a National Health Insurance and the strengthening of primary and public health. A National Health Insurance Committee has been set up to present the best model and financing options to cabinet. Also forming the Medium- Term Development Plan is the enrollment of 7,500 students in public, post secondary or tertiary education and TVET programs, a 45% reduction in serious crimes, a 40% increase in tourist arrivals, increase in exports of bananas and cocoa and in infrastructure, 99 kilometres of road, double airlift capacity and 40% increase in cruise capacity. National Health Insurance to secure affordable access to health care services, a national health fund will be established with the sole purpose of funding the National Health Care Insurance. I wish to point out that the government will ensure that adequate provisions will be made to cover the poor and most vulnerable within our society. Cognizant of the necessary legislative and institutional changes required to facilitate the full establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Department of Health and Wellness shall implement a pilot NHI while undertaking the necessary changes to support the system concurrently. A National Health Insurance Committee has been set up to present the best model and financing options to the cabinet. Citizen safety will see 12 game changes in three focus areas with the goal of a 45% reduction in serious crime by the end of the strategy term in 2022 and a 30% reduction in repeat offending by that same year. This radical and long overdue approach, Mr. Speaker, will focus on better policing, greater efficiency in the legal system, the rehabilitation of offenders and the strengthening of the justice system. Crime prevention and detection will benefit from a stronger police presence in hot spots. We'll be increasing foot and mobile patrols, the frontline where they are needed most. Mr. Speaker, greater surveillance capabilities are now available to the police with the building out of a $5.8 million safe city CCT project in Castres, of which 1.8 million has been allocated for 2019-2020. In addition, greater focus will be placed on community policing to strengthen the community involvement in fighting crime. And that was Prime Minister, the Honourable Alan Shasne. As thousands of St. Lucian students prepare to write examinations in the Caribbean Examination Council, educators are busy ensuring that all issues of administration are addressed well ahead of exam time. More from Anissa Antoine. The Assessment and Evaluation Unit in the Ministry of Education recently hosted a meeting with the principals, CXC presiding officers and invigilators to discuss CXC examination preparation and other related matters. The administration reflected on the manner in which past activities and decisions transpired and highlighted ways to obtain improved results in the future. Carmelita Matthew is the Registrar of Examination in the Ministry of Education. Our purpose here remains the same. Soldiers prepare themselves for the bad field. In the same way, our chief invigilators and their assistants need to refresh themselves in order to get acquainted with CXC standards. Our objective here today is to give you the tools needed to sufficiently carry out your responsibilities assigned to you. The Registrar expressed her gratitude to the administrators of the 2018 CSEC, CCSLC and CAPE examinations. Matthew explained that for 2019 examinations, invigilators and presiding officers would be rotated to prevent familiarization and discourage disrepute. A checkup or returning paper ones will be done at the unit to ensure that the documents remain highly secured. So we are going to start doing our checks and balances. That we expected CXC to do and call us and say, oh, but we didn't receive that number when we sent that amount to your school. But we will do these checks and balances at our office in the initial phase. Okay, we want to ensure that what we are sending to CXC is what they sent to us. As we know these paper ones, the multiple choice booklets are not supposed to be shared with anyone. Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and CAPE examinations will be offered in May to June 2019. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. The Department of Health and Wellness is continuing on its efforts to manage the present situation of an increase in influenza cases on Ireland by sanitizing public and private healthcare workers. More in this report from Fanelle Neptune. Healthcare professionals will grant the opportunity to acquire information about the guidelines for the prevention and control of the measles virus for a sensitization workshop held recently. Medical Officer of Health, Dr Sharon Bilma George says, although St Lucia has been free of measles since 1990, it is necessary that healthcare workers are sensitized about surveillance measures as to allow for prompt interventions if cases are identified. The immunization for measles started in 1982 and our last documented case of measles in St Lucia was in the year 1990. So as you could imagine, most of our healthcare workers would not have seen or managed a case of measles. With what is happening in the region and in the wider world, we note that the threat of measles outbreak is coming quite closer. So we are taking a very proactive step in ensuring that all of our healthcare workers are updated and sensitized so that we can have early detection if we were to get an imported case of measles coming into the island. Dr Bilma George says it is important that children are protected against measles by getting vaccinated. We have noted that in the last five to ten years, some parents have chosen not to immunize their children. So those children who are not immunized are at risk. The measles is a viral illness, it's an acute illness, and it is one of the most infectious agents that you could get. So all we need is for one person with the measles virus to travel either into St Lucia or for somebody from St Lucia who has not been fully immunized to travel into an area with an outbreak. And it would now put persons who have not received their full scheduler vaccines or not immunized would be at risk for such a disease. The Medical Office of Health is appealing to parents to review their child's health card and ensure it is updated. Through the Immunization Program, the Department of Health and Wellness will be administering the vaccine for measles free of charge. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fenel Neptune. Efforts at building more resilient communities are continuing with works at Riviameter Moshi, Genel Novel reports. The National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, is collaborating with the Riviameter Community Development Committee with funding from the Canada Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund to redesign drainage and road works at Valley Lord Avenue. The residents on Sunday 14th April 2019, after almost 11 long years, saw the official commencement of the project. Chairman of the Riviameter Development Committee, Paul Lord, explained that it is extremely difficult for motorists and pedestrians alike traversing the road, especially after heavy rainfall. He grasped the opportunity to make an appeal for even more work to be done on the road. A drain without a road is not what we really want. But when you have that structure, that drain structure, that means it would cost you much cheaper to have the road. So as we have the parliamentary rebate, I'm sure that the budget is on the way, but I'm sure some allocation probably has already done somewhere along for Bruce Lee, which can probably, right after that drain is completed, by then some of the money have been released so that something can happen. Engineer in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Len Leo, provided some insight into the project. As you know, we're going to be doing about 180 meters approximately of line drain. Remember, this is a drainage project. And as such, it's going to be executed utilizing V drains, U drains, culvert crossing to take all that surface runoff away, and also to have a look at the junction near the bridge going up the hill to ensure that all surface runoff, which before was probably running in a very haphazard way, is now controlled, directed, and sent sensibly to the nearby ravine. That is what this project really entails. Minister for Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment and Parliamentary Representative for Grossly Honourable Leonard Montuth commanded the Riviameter Community Development Committee for its efforts. He indicated that like entities must work together to achieve community goals. With the government of St. Lucia soon to embark on a massive road maintenance and rehabilitation project, Minister Honourable Montuth also pledges commitment to ensuring an improved road network for Grossly. I know the challenges that you're facing. I cannot promise you that under this project that is upcoming that all your roads will be resurfaced, but you will certainly see some improvement. You will see some work done here in this part of Riviameter. Understand that we have a very large constituency with very many roads, and I know if I do a hundred roads and I do not do yours as far as you're concerned, I've done nothing. So I will try to ensure that we touch a Riviameter. If we touch Riviameter, because I know that for a long time you have been going through the plight of, you know, having to traverse those roads, and especially when it rains, I know the challenges that you face. So I'm making this pledge here today, and while I am thankful for the part that has been done, I realize that it has put me on the spot to come up to play my part. The project is expected to be completed in six weeks. For the Government Information Service, I am General Norville. And this is the NTN Nightly. Ryan O'Brien is up next. There are signs everywhere. Pay attention whether you're male or female. Visit your health center to get screened. It's a preliminary test to determine if you are exposed to the HIV virus, an STI, or tuberculosis. Some people who are HIV positive also have tuberculosis. But there is hope. Tuberculosis can be cured. And yes, you can live a full life with HIV. Talk to your doctor. Be responsible. Help stop the spread of TB HIV. Encourage everyone to get tested. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Hello, and welcome once again to your update on youth development and sports on the NTN Nightly News. I'm Ryan O'Brien. The Government of St. Lucia has allocated $20.6 million towards sports facilities during this financial year 2019-2020. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the Honourable Alan Chastney, made the announcement during the tabling of the Appropriations Bill in Parliament Monday evening. These facilities will ensure our youth channel their energy into positive, healthy activity. I've said it before and it bears repeating now that it's better for our young people to join clubs than to join gangs. Four sports facilities have been identified initially for further development as follows. A mini stadium at Soufere. A large sports hub at Dennery. A medium sports hub in Miku North. And a community hub in Miku South. In addition, we'll soon have the School of Excellence at Grozallet, where a pilot program has already begun, which introduced to Form 3 as the first step of phasing in the sports curriculum. Prime Minister Chastney observed that these facilities were not only served to enhance the status of sports on the island, but also to build on community spread. The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports will be employing adequate and relevant means to reach out to the young people of St. Lucia, Director of Youth Mary Wilfred noted that merely involving the community as a main avenue to communicate to young people does not meet the required objectives. That as a Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, we're missing this key component of reaching young people. Okay, the way we reach young people 10, 15 years ago, even three years ago, we can't reach them anymore. Send it to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education send it to the schools, and we hope the students will get it. It can't happen anymore. We can individually reach students through various platforms. And thank you for even reinforcing that this is something that we have to put money into and get young people committed to reaching you, so that you get involved in the programs. Ms Wilfred disclosed that the Ministry will be using various media platforms to address youth concerns. The next main activity on the calendar for Youth Month will become Kalinago, which will run from April 19 to the 21st. It is expected to provide a unique opportunity for emerging youth leaders to access leadership teaching through the mirroring of the life of the Indigenous people. Candidates will develop their directorship capabilities as well as increase their knowledge of St Lucia's early history. They will be able to advance their skills in projects and events management, budgeting and proposal writing, public relations, social media etiquette and other skills relevant to their roles on their respective councils. It is hoped participants will also develop an appreciation for the lifestyle and history of the Kalinago people and the impact of other ethnicities on their lifestyles. And that's our update on youth development and sports today. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Thanks Ryan. The Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries is conducting a survey to get your views on the proposed improvements to the William Peter Boulevard. The aim of the project is to prepare design options for making the area more pedestrian friendly as well as the facade improvement program in the Boulevard area. This survey is part of an environmental and social impact assessment that must be completed as part of the project. Enumerators will be approaching businesses, vendors and pedestrians on the Boulevard between Tuesday 23rd April and Tuesday 20th April 2019. The Government of St Lucia values your opinion and therefore looks forward to your cooperation and support. And stay with the NTN Nightly. Up next, Primus Hutchinson is here with the NTN Nouvelle Arquio. Welcome back. We join Primus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle Arquio. Primus Hutchinson. As you can see, we have a lot of projects that cost us more than a million dollars. As for the program, we will continue to present it as much as we can in the next year. We have projects to address the problems of the water in the Nouvelle Arquio. We have a lot of projects that are more advanced. On 270,000 remote living targeted in 2021, we have other projects that arePeople who fall улиuld don't really know that they are each together to help喔 one or more families will. On 27th April 2019, we have a fourth project to assist will create an OSC for insurgents on the street. And within the four walls of the Giant Mountain to provide repair services for our people. Chairman for Lorde Pallédi, it's been a long time since we've been able to control the amount of water that affected the company that affected the company. It was impossible for the big cities, the big cities, to survive as a whole. Lorde Pallédi, it's been a pleasure to assist the government of Canada to start working on their project, Canal Salah. Since 2009, we have been working on it and we continue to work on it. In the end, we are going to be able to work on it and start working on it. We are going to be able to work on 410,000 Canadian dollars that the government... not the government, but the Ministry of Infrastructure to assist us in putting these different things in place and to ensure that everything is good that we are able to work on it. Okay, we are going to be able to work on it and we are going to be able to work on it and we are going to be able to work on it. Can you explain this, Lorde Pallédi? Well, I don't know if it's a common thing to do but it's difficult to put it in place because people don't know what to do and they don't want to know what to do. And then, the place we are going to be working on is Valry Lodds Avenue. You have to put it in place after Valry Lodds because it's a decision that you make as long as it goes and you don't have to put it in place because you have to put it in place at any cost. Chairman, the Committee on Development has asked the government to work on it so that after that, it's better for me to work on it. The sick people who are in the hospital for the Department of Health and the Victoria Hospital can be more comfortable than before because you have to find gifts soviet and cribs recently. This committee is in Brooklyn, New York that is doing a presentation on this. It's a presentation on gifts. Madam Committee, Claudia Augustine, after which you need your commitment to help the citizens here and also to provide your benefit to the hospital so that you can continue to help people to find a place to do that. No, that's not what you know. For your children, this is the problem. I don't know who it is. You have to appreciate these gifts because you have to assist to change these children well, protect them because children are always active even if they are sick. Committee, after which these great cribs for the Victoria Hospital. That's why we have new news, Madam. I thank you so much for watching. Thank you for your invitation so that I can get to know a lot of new things. After that, we have to leave. Thank you, Pil Primus. And here's a look at what's happening to us weather-wise. The Atlantic High Pressure System will maintain a moderate easterly windflow across the eastern Caribbean region over the next few days. Skies are partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times with a few scattered showers. Low-level clouds drifting with the windflow will bring some scattered showers over the islands during the next 24 hours. The tide for Castries Harbor was high at 3.29 p.m. and will be low again at 8.53 p.m. The tide for V4 Bay was high at 4.36 p.m. and will be low again at 10.20 p.m. The seas moderate of waves 4 to 6 feet are 1.2 to 1.8 meters. The sun will rise Friday at 5.48 a.m.