 Welcome to NTM Nightly. I am Jesse Layance. This edition stops stories. Commuters on public transportation on the two-H castries to view forth route are being urged to get tested amid a possible COVID-19 community spread. The SSDF shows our boys' matter and sharing a culture of light and renewal. Solutions have been placed on a public health alert following the recording of the 29th case of COVID-19 on Island. A 48-year-old male minibus operator tested positive after seeking care at a respiratory clinic. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Bill-Mart George says this case poses high risk to St. Lucia, given the possibility for community spread. Health authorities are yet to determine the source of infection and are urging commuters on public transportation on the two-H castries to view forth route to visit the respiratory clinics for testing. Come and get assessed, get tested. We're trying as much as possible to widen the net of the possibilities of persons coming through between view forth and castries. So we made available those extended clinics from view forth, then we look there as well, but in a center to ensure that we can we can manage. We've also set up testing and assessments within the community as well to make it easier access for persons who may have been concerned or possible contacts of those cases. Dr. Bill-Mart George says despite the high risk of community spread from this latest case, at this time there is not sufficient evidence to restrict the movement of nationals by way of curfew or lockdown. Adherents to the protocols the CMO reminds will help keep individuals safe. The information that we have in terms of our results, we've not finished all of the results. We have not finished our assessments of the situation. I don't think we have enough information to make such a recommendation. How would we know when? We anticipate after a few days of testing, then we'll be able to give a better idea of the impact. So are we looking at numbers in terms of testing? If we say we've tested a thousand people, what sample size are we looking at? We're looking at about 500 to see what percentage, what positivity rate we get from at least 500. So maybe in the next few days we'll get a better idea of what the level of spread may be. But notwithstanding, our protocols are robust enough that if they are followed and if we get adherence to them, even with community spread, the need for a full shutdown would not be necessary. And I'm saying that although when I say community spread, it all depends. Is it sporadic cases? Is it a huge community? It all depends on how the level of spread is. Such a decision would be made. Such a recommendation would be made. And once again, anyone who traveled from the two H castries to view Fort Rout via minibus M481 during the period Monday, September 28, 2020 to Friday, October 9, 2020, please visit the Respiratory Clinics for Assessment. The five existing respiratory clinics are at the Grosally Poly Clinic, the LeClaire Wellness Center, Denry Hospital, View Fort Wellness Center and the Souffle Hospital. Individuals who are unable to visit the clinics can call the 311 hotline for assistance. Minibus operators island-wide are getting tested for the coronavirus. Health officials made arrangements for their testing to begin Sunday, 11 October 2020, a day after the COVID-19 diagnosis of their counterpart. President of the National Council of Public Transportation, NCOPT, Godfrey Ferdinand, encourages operators to not panic and avail themselves as health officials conduct investigations and contact tracing activities. I must say we had a very good response from the operators and the testing will continue today and into tomorrow because again, manpower is a factor. Also, we have this stigma that an old propaganda going across whether it is true or false. So you would have individuals being a bit reluctant. There are also people, persons that are fearful naturally of any kind of tests. So we are still working and encouraging individuals to go and get this particular test done. Commissioner of Police, Sever Moschery has announced a zero tolerance policy regarding mandatory mask laws on public transports, while leniency offered to the sector on seating capacity has been revoked. A maximum of 10 individuals may occupy a public transport. The NCOPT President hopes this will persuade minibus operators to run a tight ship. Presently going back to 10 or having a transport in 10 is a concern because profitability is at zero. We are just offering a service doing that. So the concern is that operators really, really don't spirited on the fact that they have to resort back to 10 and that there is a possibility that there might be islands community spread which creates even a greater concern to the operators. Who has it? Who doesn't have it? But what this particular case has done is allow persons to know and see the importance of following the protocol. President of the National Council of Public Transportation NCOPT, Godfrey Ferdinand. The St. Lucia Social Development Fund, SSDF, expands its targeted mentorship program, Our Boys Matter, to District Education 6, Viewfort. The launch was marked by a brief assigning ceremony on Thursday, 8th October 2020 at the Viewfort Comprehensive Secondary School Campus B. The success of the Our Boys Matter program is directly tied to the success of the beneficiaries. That word from Dr. Allison Mathura, Executive Director of the St. Lucia Social Development Fund, SSDF, as he urged its new recipients to make the best of this support now made available in the south of the island. Our Boys Matter, a holistic mentorship program spearheaded by the SSDF, was officially launched in January 2019. In its pilot phase, the initiative offered 100 at-risk students, educational assistants, meals, transport allowance, housing and psychosocial support in the northern and western education districts. Now, in October 2020, the program extends to District Education 6, Viewfort. Parents of three students at the Comprehensive Secondary School Campus B signed the agreements during a brief ceremony on Thursday, the 8th. I want the parents to understand that they're very privileged because there are a number of students and a number of schools. Even some of the schools that started the program, if they always want to add more boys, they have, of course, and I understand that everybody has boys that really fit the criteria. But we decided to come down here and invest our time and resources in you. And I certainly hope that you all paved the way for the boys that will come after you to influence the SSDF, to come on and take more boys from here. Acting principal of the Viewfort Comprehensive Secondary School, Ava Peter welcomed the initiative in assisting the disadvantaged within its school population. On behalf of everyone at Viewfort Comprehensive, I think this is a very touching day for all of us. And we definitely appreciate the SSDF as well as our boys matter initiative for considering Viewfort Comprehensive and for including us in this program. Acknowledging the disproportionate underperformance of boys in the classroom, Education Officer for District 6, Stephen O'Geest, lauded the program for addressing root causes beyond the education system. To deal with issues of male underperformance, it is necessary to identify the specific issues that are holding back the performance of our males and to address those issues. It is against this background that we in District 6 applaud the work of SSDF with the program, Our Boys Matter. The Our Boys Matter program is a collaborative effort between the St Lucia Social Development Fund, Massey Store St Lucia Limited and the St Lucia Electricity Services Limited, Lucillec. Still with the SSDF, the agency's assisting St Lucians in diaspora make a difference here at home. Anissa Antoine has the details. The St Lucia Social Development Fund has been working closely with the diaspora office to help facilitate the donations received from the St Lucia diaspora. The latest undertaking of the organizations is the establishment of a thrift shop in St Lucia with the aim of assisting nationals here at home. The Executive Director of the SSDF, Alison Mathera, noted that the St Lucia Association from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have shown absolute commitment towards the initiative. I think the challenge was they wanted to find something that they could unify, come together on to make a meaningful dent in poverty in St Lucia and we were able to present that to them through a proposal that we set up a thrift shop in St Lucia that would be funded by the US LoE if you will through contributions and at the end of every year we would have discussions with a steering committee that has been that comprised members of the SSDF and the US LoE to determine what the funds would go to, the proceeds from that. That was to me one of the most amazing experiences at the SSDF and I think it's a watershed because there is no question that there are a number of St Lucia's living overseas that are very committed to help in St Lucia. Mathera expressed gratitude to watch radio and family and the St Lucia Association of St Croix who have already made donations. St Croix from the beginning when we attended the biennial convention in the UK from the beginning they indicated that they were committed to helping and they have sent, they have sent, they have sent free barrels. This is not the first time they've sent stuff to us and I'm very happy for what they do. They seem very energized also. The Canadians have also been very helpful. They've done a house and what have you. So there is the will, there is the will from the associations in the US, the UK and Canada. It is for us to march it here and we are the SSDF, the SSDF staff. We are doing all we can to make this happen. Ambassador for diaspora affairs, her Excellency Dr Joyce Lynn Clark Fletcher expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government of St Lucia to the diaspora for all the assistance received especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. So this is a difficult time but we are very positive. We are looking ahead. We know that things will get better. We know that all the things we had planned for St Lucia for the diaspora is on hold but we are not given up. We are holding on, we are praying, we are pressing on and we will keep on receiving. We have next week or I think it's a week and a half again. We will be receiving will chairs and things from the Diabetic Association UK, St Lucia Diabetic Association UK and so many others of you send it. This is what you can do now because you cannot physically come and if your holiday is very short you don't want to come and spend seven days in quarantine and you want to protect those in St Lucia that you love. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for working with us and the Government. Thank you for giving. The hand in over ceremony of the donations received from Watch Radio and Family and the St Lucia Association of St Croix took place on Tuesday October 6th 2020. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Anzuan reporting. Inspired by the National Day of Taiwan Lantern Competition, the Cultural Development Foundation has its sights set on additional Lantern competitions during the year and beyond the Christmas season. The Cultural Development Foundation's collaboration with the Taiwanese Embassy for the well-received National Day of Taiwan Lantern Competition held in St Lucia has reignited hope for an annual Lantern event outside the festive season. It has long been a tradition in St Lucia to create and display Lanterns as part of a celebration to mark the start of the Christmas season. This competition event, Festival of Lights, is observed on December 13th, the day associated with St Lucia or St Lucy, the patron saint of light. Executive Director of the Foundation, Ramona Henry-Winn, says the response to the recent competition is inspiring. If you would look around, you would see the excitement that came out of the creativity of the artist. The Lanterns are a lot bigger, more extravagant. It's better than we've seen in past years, so for us it's a wonderful opportunity and it drives home the fact that we've been saying that we can do it out of the season because it has a place and today has proven that the Lanterns do have a place outside of the traditional Christmas season. Henry-Winn further expressed to that the CDF always lamented that Lanterns had a place outside of the traditional season and platforms could be provided to display creativity. Lantern displays, she says, would be useful at events such as arc-race, cruise and airports, craft shops and prominent spaces and places. Meantime, the CDF is pleased to team up with the Taiwanese Embassy for the Lantern Competition Component of Taiwan's National Decelebrations here on Island. St Lucia gets to share its traditions, culture and talent, and the Embassy gets to honour its country's observance. The theme of this Lantern Competition or exhibition is proud of Taiwan and San Lucia, so we want to use this opportunity to demonstrate, to showcase the cultural relationship between Taiwan and San Lucia and we are so happy that 12 artists are selected by CDF participating in this competition. Taiwan's National Day is observed on October 10th. St Lucia's diplomatic relations with Taiwan date back to 1984. Up next we have Primus Hutchinson with the NTN novella playoff. Be aware of and follow water conservation practices. Here are a few tips to help you save water. Wash dishes in a basin of water instead of a running tap. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while scraping them. Check toilets for leaks by putting dye in the tank. If colour shows in the bowl without flushing, there is a leak. A leaking toilet can waste thousands of gallons of water. Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash cars and reuse grey water from laundry to water plants. Water conservation reduces energy consumption and strain on the water distribution system. Conserve water whenever possible and remember every job counts. A message brought to you by the Water and Sewage Company Incorporated, Wasco. Welcome back. Time now for the NTN novella playoff with Primus Hutchinson. Visit a country where I have lived for more than 20 years. Apart from that, Dr. Belma George, the person who obeyed these protocols, who I have established, except for the one who refused to pay, but who refused to stay in quarantine. Dr. Belma George, the situation is very serious because a lot of people are still wearing masks and sofijayos because they are participating in public social activities that are not paid. But what makes the authorities even more are the passengers in the car. 100 masks and sofijayos. A public private service that is still being enforced. Dr. Belma George announced that despite all the protocols that are being enforced to wear masks, to stay six-spire distance, social, private activity, social, and public, and all the people who are in place should be observed immediately. Dr. Belma George, the public service who has already existed before, has paid for treatment. And all these clinics that have been opened by the government have continued to change their situation. Speaking of this, Prime Minister Onimab Allen Chasne declared that the situation should be the other way around, that you should be tested positive for the coronavirus that has passed the measure for the economy of this country. As the Prime Minister said, even if this situation has begun to be experienced, we should be able to prove to the economy that every business that has been done has more than 20 rooms, hotels that have been opened, and that this situation has the capacity to meet 10 countries of consideration. According to Prime Minister Chasne, the type of people that I have registered here, I have lost more than 400 million dollars in taxes that the government has lost more than 100 million dollars in taxes. According to Prime Minister Onimab Allen Chasne, we have continued to pay for the patients. So, according to the Prime Minister, this has led to a huge loss for the country, and now we have to accept that this is the most painful thing that has happened to the world. For this, Prime Minister Jamade, Chief Police Secretary, for the blood that has been shed, and now we have to do the other thing, we have to make sure that the passengers are still in the bus to Sofidjayo because the police officers have the action that has been given to you. Prime Minister Chasne made a point that the government has done all that is possible with the money that has been given to assist the world because there is not enough money to help the people who are suffering from this illness. In all of this, Prime Minister Chasne made a point that the country has to close again because this year, I started to wear a T-shirt in the economy, so the country has to close this economy to close the country as it did before. All this government has not yet achieved the situation it deserves to do. When this diverse production of goods in the country started its own activities on Monday to make the public happy and do the operations. When this is a 2014 service and offers the opportunity for this country to live in a country like this and other countries to be able to benefit from this diverse service to develop, for example, the construction, as we call it, the factory, the manufacturing, and the public pleasure a lot. The Prime Minister said that Madam Esther Rigabet explained significant activities to the country in a way that will help them to benefit. By service for all of us, both are key services at least, visitor services, visitors, and people who do not use the services at least, please use the access or shy services with the online, electronically. So it is a great pleasure to present these ceremonies in a way that the economy is set of a whole set of activities. Prime Minister, my name is Alan Chastney. I am from the officers who are addressing this issue in April. I would like to thank all of you for your time and for all of us here today. Thank you very much, Madam, for your time and for your invitation. I would like to thank all of you for your time and for your time and for your invitation. I would like to say goodbye. Messy appeal primus. Well, 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'm Jesse Leon signing off for now, but do stay tuned for more NTN programming. Goodbye.