 Welcome to the Week in Review, from the Government Information Service, I'm Richmond Felix. The first sit-ins since the opening session of the 11th Parliament on July 12th were held this week. The inter-governmental agreement between St. Lucia and the United States of America was discussed at Tuesday's House of Assembly meeting. In presenting the bill, the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service said it was about facilitating an easier means of communication whilst preventing money laundering. The agreement between the Government of St. Lucia and the Government of the United States of America to improve international tax compliance and implement factor. Whereas the Government of St. Lucia and the Government of the United States of America each a party and together the parties desire to conclude an agreement to improve international tax compliance through mutual assistance and tax matters based on the effective infrastructure for the automatic exchange of information. The Education Minister has been touring school facilities ahead of the implementation of a program of preventative maintenance which is seen as the best way forward in dealing with the extremely high cost of repairs needed annually. More in this report from the Ministry of Education. Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, the Honourable Dr. Gil Rigabet, met recently with stakeholders involved in the temporary relocation of the George Charles Secondary School. Students and staff of the George Charles Secondary School will be reassigned to the John O'Donnell Secondary School effective September 5, 2016 in order to house divisions of the South Lewis Community College which has to undergo extensive repairs. The Honourable Dr. Gil Rigabet says she is extremely pleased with the outcome of the meeting. Most importantly, issues of curriculum, instruction, student management, staff and student well-being, all of these among other issues were raised as we want to ensure minimum disruption to staff, students and of course to the parents as well. I trust therefore that having had this discussion and given that a committee has been established to oversee the transitioning process that all affected persons will appreciate the need for the temporary arrangement. President of the St. Lucia Teacher's Union, Julian Monrose, who was present at the stakeholder meeting says this kind of dialogue enhances the relationship between the Ministry and the Union, especially in circumstances like the one which is currently being confronted. We have always indicated that we want to have open and free dialogue with the Ministry of Education. We're involved in the business of education. We represent the professionals in the system and that nothing can happen if you don't have the professionals on board. So we're very happy that the Ministry understands that needs to engage the Teacher's Union. The whole idea is to find solutions because there will be problems in any system. The Ministry of Education has commenced demolition of Curtin-Termite infested structures of the South Lewis Community College and expects to commence rehabilitation works shortly. From the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, I am Fennel Neptune reporting. The Sandals Foundation Cricket Academy has bowled off its 14th year in St. Lucia where some 33 of the island's best under 15 players will converge for one week at the Darren-Same Cricket Grounds for intense on and off the field training. The 14th edition of the Sandals Cricket Academy is currently underway following an official launch this week at the Darren-Same Cricket Ground. 33 of the island's top under 15 cricketers are being coached not only in a game of cricket but other life skills as well. Acting Permanent Secretary in the Department of Youth Development and Sports, Dr. Anthony George urged the young cricketers to develop an attitude of cricket excellence. What does it require for you to pursue excellence at that next level? What does it require for you as national champions as Windward Islands Cricket and the 15 champions to pursue that level of excellence, setting excellence as the goal at the next level? Dr. George advised the CS Group of Camp attendees that they should grasp the opportunity to hone their skills during the academy. Set the imagination, align it with what you believe and pursue it vigorously by nurturing the skills, the capabilities and the endless potential that you do have. The Sandals Cricket Academy is a nursery for the development of the island's national under 15 cricket team and the Department of Youth Development and Sports has been an integral partner during this process. From the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Empowerment, Youth Development, Sports, Culture and Local Government, I'm Ryan O'Brien reporting. The Government of St. Lucia received $2.26 million from the Republic of China, Taiwan to upgrade sporting facilities. The funds were donated for lighting installation at the Barbano Canaries, Dennery Self and Shouzele Plain Fields. Any money spent in sports is not a cost but an investment. And that this contribution and specifically the lighting of four additional pain fields in St. Lucia will go long ways in helping support the long-term goals that we have for sports in our country. For many community residents everywhere, Taiwan and St. Lucia, I believe after dinner we still have time to do some interactions in the community. So this is a thing that is very important to increase the capacity of the community playing field. For multiple uses at different times and create more activities that can keep the youth in St. Lucia engaged through sports. Ten St. Lucia elite athletes are engaging their younger counterparts to develop and empower them through the 758th Olympian Program. This comes against the backdrop of five representatives participating at the Rio Games this year. Especially LeVoon Spencer, who on Thursday qualified for the high jump final, much the delight of fellow St. Lucia's. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Youth Development, Sports, Culture and Local Government engaged athletes to foster youth development. Acting Permanent Secretary in the Department of Youth Development and Sports, Dr. Anthony George says one aspect of the program is to support St. Lucia Olympians in Rio. It is a show of support for five Olympians who are now in Rio representing St. Lucia at the highest level of their own sport. And so with Marshall, the 758th champions, the St. Lucia team from every sporting discipline. Dr. George says this program will teach and inspire over 100 emerging athletes between 13 and 19 years old. We need all of our emerging athletes, our young athletes, to move from their personal best to really establish national records. And then beyond the national records, we want our athletes competing with the world. And so in order to do this throughout this academic year coming up, we've put together a national coaching program, an emerging athlete development program, an elite athlete development program, with the support, of course, of our ministers and the government of St. Lucia. The program covers four development aspects, training, personal development, community services, and social interaction among the emerging athletes. In this next report, we get an update on the Owen King EU Hospital. Over the past two months, the Owen King EU Hospital has been buzzing with activity with the arrival and installation of numerous pieces of equipment and furniture. Claudio Merovic has been involved in all tendering and supervision of contracts at the hospital since 2012. He reports that all is on target thus far. Right now we're working on the last five contracts that we have, five contractors that are providing all the general furniture, all the clinical furniture, including all the beds for delivery beds as well, all the surgical tables, also ENT and ophthalmology microscopes, and all the tools and all the equipment that is coming for the maintenance area is also coming in this part of the project. And the last two contractors that are going to be starting right now are for physiotherapy equipment and for the lab and the morgue equipment. Merovic added that all equipment has now been shipped to St. Lucia, with over 30 containers already destuffed at the facility. Several teams of persons are currently engaged in the installation of equipment and furniture within all areas of the facility. Merovic targets the end of September to be completed with most, if not all, the installation. We expect that some of the contractor also finish their work by the end of August. So we would have only a couple of contractors working in September. And that means that all the furniture and all the equipment will be ready to start doing training for doctors and nurses to start working and feeling the hospital as their new house. From inception, the Office of the National Authorizing Officer has played a critical role in overseeing procurement, contract management and payments for all contractors. Without the NAO's involvement, the communication would not begin. And so all of the communication happens with and through the NAO. Yes, you may have other authority figures, you know, the Prime Minister being a key person in that negotiation process. But given that the Cotton Agreement mentions or identifies the NAO in that role, it must happen in his or her presence, whoever sits in the chair at that time. The NAO was born out of the Cotton Agreement, which binds the EU with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, and functions as a liaison between the various ACP governments and the EU Commission. Its pivotal role is in managing the developmental assistance provided by the EU. It is anticipated that St Lucians will be very pleased with the State of the App Facility, which will soon be delivered to them. I tell this to everybody, not only to St Lucians, I think you're going to have a first-class hospital in the island. Nothing is going to be missing, and you're going to have one of the best technologies to take care of the health of all the population, which is one of our objectives, and I think the people of St. Lucian can be proud of. Trading on the newly installed operating tables commenced this August, with continued trading on ENT, ophthalmology and sterilization equipment scheduled for September. Reporting for the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I'm Glenn Simon. Breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child's healthy development, it is also the foundation of a country's development, according to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. The emphasis of Breastfeeding Week this year was on raising awareness on the links between breastfeeding and the sustainable development goals. Here is another report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Breast is best is the message the nursing and nutrition departments of the Ministry of Health and Wellness continue to drive home to pregnant women and nursing mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding of a baby for at least the first six months of their life is being promoted as a method which is in the best interest of both the baby and mother. Nutritional officer Mariana Gasper-Philip stated, when other foods are introduced too early to the babies, it can adversely affect their growth and development. The breast milk has all the properties, all the nutrients in the right amounts and so it goes without saying that breast is best for the infant because it was meant for the baby. And by extension it has benefits to the mother which helps the mother to feel better, helps her womb to reap to the uterus to contract and for her to regain her normal size. It has benefits to the mother as well in terms of bonding. Philip indicated that 15-20% of the average household income can be spent in purchasing baby formula during the first six months of a baby's life which is a huge cost when compared to exclusive breastfeeding. The breast milk is always ready, it is at the right temperature, it is cheap, it has all the antibodies that will protect the baby from a lot of childhood infections. The exclusive breastfeeding sensitization workshop was conducted at the NEE Wellness Center as part of activities in recognition of World Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding is a very good thing, it's very healthy for the children because even though your body changes, you'll pick up back because I've been breastfeeding seven children and look at me, sometimes I get small, sometimes I get fat but I still breastfeed. You have no milk to buy, you save from that also. Family Nurse Practitioner Mary Joseph Sidney notes, though there is a heightened awareness among the general population about exclusive breastfeeding, there is still not enough adherence by mothers. We really want them to understand exclusive breastfeeding not only help the physical aspect of the child to grow adequately, however the child's brain, we call the cognitive function of the child, is much improved on children who are breastfed because every property in the breast milk gets to the child. Breastfeeding workshops were conducted throughout the island by the nursing and nutrition departments of the Ministry of Health with the aim of convincing more mothers to stay true to exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of the child's life. From the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I'm Glenn Simon reporting. Organizers hail the successful production of Mukheri Beach 2016. Organizers hail the successful production of the three-day-four event that was Mukheri Beach 2016. Maritime consultant Cuthbert DJ says marrying the nautical event with other aspects of St. Lucian culture and Caribbean culture as well infused a unique element into Mukheri Beach. This year was to pitch a Mukheri experience because this weekend is special because Monday is a holiday in Martinique. So we came up with the idea that if we can get them here from Thursday meaning people from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica and Miami, they'll stay till the Monday. And to make sure that they infuse themselves in the local culture. So Grosely Friday night was our fringe event that opened up. And it all came together. Tough lineup, great location. We battled with some bad weather but as you can see today came up and it's a good climate. Head of security for the event Titus Leo says the boots on the ground approach coupled with the installation of CCTV cameras curbed any disturbances before it escalated. He says patrons to the event were as secure as could be. Minister for Tourism, Information and Broadcast in the Honourable Dominic Fede says Mukheri has a significant economic footprint for St. Lucia. And they have been booked up months in advance. So this event has tremendous value for tourism sector, for the small hotel sector certainly. And it justifies the investment of the St. Lucia Tourism Board. Mukheri Beach began in Martinique as a thank you event to mariners who purchased Mukheri engines. The event has grown into a premier French experience. Meanwhile, the Government Information Service spoke to patrons at Mukheri Beach to get their impressions of the event. A lot of people coming from Martinique, coming from Guadeloupe, Trinidad, all the Caribbean islands come here to enjoy themselves, to spend money here. And I think it's important to have an event like this. And that's the Week in Review from the Government Information Service. I'm Richmond Felix.