 Welcome to the NTN Nightly. I'm Misha Charles. This edition stops stories. St. Lucia's Prime Minister and Chairman of Caricum, Hon. Alan Shastney, to lead the region's fight against blacklisting. The Ministry of Education and Care collaborate on providing additional opportunities to students. The ECCB offers technical assistance to improve competitiveness in the OECS. All that plus the latest in youth development, sports and the NTN Nouvelle Arquéole. St. Lucia's Prime Minister and Chairman of Caricum, Hon. Alan Shastney, will be leading the Caribbean community's response to the fiscal demands placed on member states by the international community. Of primary concern is the blacklisting of Caribbean countries deemed to have harmful tax regimes as recently determined by the European Union. This poses significant threats to Caricum countries which depend heavily on their financial services sector. Belize and Trinidad and Tobago remain blacklisted despite Belize's commitment to take corrective action by December 2019 and the fact that the government of Trinidad and Tobago lacks the parliamentary majority under the country's constitution to undertake the required legislative reforms. Antiquan Barbuda, Barbades, Dominica, Sincates and Neves, St. Lucia, the Bahamas and associate members Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands are on a grey list, a monitor and watch list. Caricum Secretary General, his Excellency Ambassador Irwin LaRocque maintained that member states have a sovereign right to determine their fiscal policy. The arbitrary impositions of rules by countries and groups of countries other than the OECD with respect to tax governance and anti-money laundering without meaningful consultation with the affected states is unacceptable. This is made even more insidious when similar action against larger economies has had to be withdrawn. Such behavior undermines global rulemaking and the multilateral system which we as small states depend on to ensure we have a voice. It is in the context of such a system that we welcome the election of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to United Nations Security Council. The Caribbean community has been reaching out to the EU members and to friendly governments to support and intercede on its behalf to halt the negative impacts of blacklisting which include reputational damage and an assault on the economies of member states which are focused on resilience building. On the 18th of February 2019, Romania's Minister of Public Finance invited Caricum Ministers of Finance to book arrest for dialogue on the issue. The community fielded a mission to Brussels the following day. St. Lucia continues to recognize growth in tourism arrivals in 2019. For the five-month period, January to May, the island recorded 185,568 stay-over arrivals, a 6.1% more than the same period last year which makes this the largest number of stay-over arrivals ever recorded in the island's history. The tourism climb is also taking place against increasing airlift to St. Lucia, more from Anicia Antoine. The tourism industry in St. Lucia continues to experience a steady increase in visitor arrivals in 2019. According to the Minister for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries, Hon. Dominic Fede, the increase of 1246 airline seats has been instrumental to the growth in arrival figures. The minister informed that new airlift will also be added in December this year. We are getting ready to accept the American Airlines expansion into the Chicago market which would have given us increased capacity in that area significantly in addition to the United Airlines flight. So that is all good news and we anticipate that our forward bookings are going to be very strong. The minister highlighted the ongoing efforts being taken to maximize economic penetration and to ensure that St. Lucia remains competitive. You would have seen the renovation of the market preparatory stage which has already commenced. You would have seen the relocation of the vendors. We would have trained about 200 vendors to be part of this new initiative that we are doing to ensure that we can advance greater economic penetration in the sector. We are opening up new beaches all over the island to make sure that we better manage the capacity of cruise ship passengers. Minister Fede informed that the government is better in conditions in the city of castries due to the steady increase of cruise ship visitors. There's still a long way to go in terms of how we manage the flows of people from one part to another. We are also in the process of pedestrianizing the William Peter Boulevard and as well working on some logistics in the city of castries to ensure that we better manage the traffic flows when there are very heavy cruise ship days so that we can have a better intermingling of tourism and local residential coexistence in the city centre. Third year today, tourism arrival figures suggests that there is a steady increase of approximately 6%. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antwan reporting. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development is expanding its relationship with the Centre for Adolescent Renewal and Education Care. As we hear from Janelle Norville, the Centre has agreed to accept students who perform below average at the common entrance examinations with the objective of providing them a second chance. On the heels of the announcement of the common entrance examination results, the public was urged to refrain from becoming exam focused. Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Honourable Dr Gil Rigabet indicated that while results are significant, there are even more pressing matters requiring attention. Dr Rigabet highlighted a significant development to be fully implemented in September 2019. That is an opportunity for remedial intervention for those students who have not performed at the expected level. I want to thank Care headed by Dr Mason for that collaboration where the Care Institute will accept some of our students who have capitalised on the opportunity that we have created for that kind of intervention, maximising on the well-established approaches and successes at Care. I want to encourage parents to embrace that opportunity. I know sometimes we like to bracket students. We are quick to indicate what they cannot or cannot do. The Care Success story is that regardless of where you are upon entry, that Care can make a success story out of you. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Michelle Charles recently announced that the Centre for Adolescent Renewal and Education, Care, agreed to accept 50 of the students who obtained between 9 and 30% in the 2019 common entrance examinations and allow them to follow the Junior Life Program at the Care Institute. The Minister for Education also urged parents to take advantage of the opportunity for the Government Information Service, I am Genelle Norville. The World Bank Group has been invited by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, ECCB to provide technical assistance to address regulatory issues within the OECS countries. This is in an effort to improve the investment climate and enhance competitiveness of key sectors in an effort to enhance private sector investment in the OECS. Two technical officers from the World Bank Group were recently on island to conduct a scoping mission as part of an advisory project which seeks to address regulatory constraints within the OECS. One of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Strategic Goals 2017-2021 is to support OECS member countries to rank in the top 50 in the World Bank Doing Business Indicators. Lars Graver is the Senior Private Sector Specialist with the World Bank Group. We have been invited by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to look at some of the regulatory procedures and regulatory constraints that affect doing business and private sector development in several of the OECS countries. We have been visiting a couple of your neighboring countries and speaking with both the public and the private sector in order to get a more complete picture of what are the challenges that businesses face when they interact with government and learning more about perhaps where we can lend a hand in providing some international good practices and some advice for reforms that these countries may want to undertake. The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, NCPC, has been instrumental in coordinating the St. Lucia leg of the visit of the World Bank officials. The director of the NCPC, Fiona Hingson, explains. So our role as NCPC is basically to facilitate that process, that public-private dialogue process where they meet with stakeholders within the public service and the private sector as well. And many of the constraints identified included starting a business, getting licenses, accessing concessions as well as constraints that the private sector have, especially when it comes to exporting the products in relation to certification and standards. Hingson noted that this project fits perfectly with the mandate of the NCPC, particularly as it relates to the ease of doing business agenda. Addressing those regulatory constraints definitely impacts on the business performance, so it helps them to become more productive and it also helps them to remove the bottlenecks that they experience on an everyday basis so they can become more efficient in the business operations. The World Bank senior private sector specialist said recommendations emanating from this project would include long-term, medium-term and short-term solutions. People are very interested, especially in short-term solutions, what we call stroke of the pen reforms, where a leading officer can simply by stroke of the pen decide that this procedure is going to be made faster or this information is going to be posted on the website. So these are the short-term recommendations that we can provide and on which government can quickly take action. Then there are the longer-term solutions where we may suggest well, your legislation could be improved in order to be in compliance with international best practice, but we recognize that that may take a longer time. The solution leg of the World Bank project dubbed improving business regulations within the OECS for increased competitiveness was conducted July 1st to 2nd 2019. For the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, Glenn Simon reporting. And this is the NTN Nightly. Ryan O'Brien is up next. One of the eight university-recognized rights of the consumer is the right to be heard. This means that every consumer who is dissatisfied with a good or service has the right to lodge a complaint to the provider of that good or that service. This should be the first point of lodging a complaint. Ensure that the receipt as proof of the transaction is available. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Thanks, Misha. Welcome everyone to your update from youth development and sports on the NTN Nightly News. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Winners of the CARICOM 10K held here in St. Lucia, organized by the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports have spoken about their experiences during the 2019 staging of the event. The Vincentian pair of Junior Ashton and Linda McDowell were overall winners in the male and female categories respectively. The event was good weather and everything. It was very good. I enjoyed it. What was your strategy going into the run? Were you able to assess the feel even before the start? Well, my strategy was to... My strategy was when the start was to just go to the guys and just hold it there and 8K. I was supposed to just go in the lead from there and accelerate but it happened so when you have a plan B, plan A you must have a plan B. My plan changed in the race because the anti-gun guy made me have to change my plan. I make my move at 7K. I have to make my move at him early and I just stay in the lead from there. Were you familiar with many of the competitors in the race? How often have you all competed against each other? Well, I never really competed again. Only the Lucia guys are familiar with Winsport and Dupri. The only two are familiar within the race. The other guys was Junior Athlete. Here's the first male finisher, Junior Ashton, as he spoke to the NTN Knightley. Female winner Linda McDowell has dominated the event in the recent past, copying her fourth title. It was a really cool route. It's just that I just started recovering from the flu so I had to give it the best that I can. Compared to the other territories in which you had to run, how do you compare this route? It's basically a very flat one. How does it vary from the others that you've had over the four years that you've won? Most of this was a lot of flat, a lot of corners, a lot of bends. It was a pretty cool route for us. And your other competitors that you're up against, I'm sure you're quite familiar with most of them? Yeah, most of them. How long have you been running and what's your experience like in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for running, especially among women? Well, I'm the top female distance runner in my country and I've been running since I was a little girl. Karikom Tenke, female champion, Linda McDowell. Karikom Secretary-General Irwin Lerocke has underscored the importance of the Karikom Tenke saying that it sends a strong signal to member states that it is crucial for their populations to continuously be aware of healthy lifestyles in combating non-communicable diseases and the seriousness of staying active. We have to keep on promoting a healthy lifestyle. The incidents of NCDs seem to be on the rise. I don't have the exact figure, but... and I know we also celebrate Karikom Health Week, I think, on Wellness Day. And again, I've witnessed that in some of the member states. Karikom Wellness Day also exhibits, also has some athletic walks and stuff. I'm encouraged doing walks. I try to walk every day, I don't always get to it, but even if you could just do ten minutes, the doctor told me four times a week minimum. It doesn't have to be anything strenuous, but just to keep your heart pumping, it helps because especially as you get a little older and you begin to realize that you're paying for all what you may have done as a youth, I think it is very, very, you must do this. And as I said, the incidents of persons with younger and younger people are now having diabetes and we seem to be consuming so much of these sweet boxed drinks and corn curls when I see all the lovely fruits here. When I came in yesterday, I went to the store market, I got my bananas, I got my mangoes. We have to eat our fruits, we have to live a healthy high stat and we have to keep on promoting it, but I know it's receiving the attention of the health ministers across the region and certainly the heads of government, the heads of government have made a declaration on non-communal diseases and continues to receive reports. The last heads of government meeting in Grenada, we had a special session devoted to that, I think that was about a year and a half, about two years ago. So we're working on it. The CARICOM Secretary-General also noted that there was increasing awareness among the grouping that make up CARICOM on the need to maintain a focus on health issues within the individual territories. And that's how we wrap up our segment from youth development and sports for today. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Thanks Ryan. The ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway through the organization of Eastern Caribbean states, OECS, her Excellency Ingrid Molestad presented her credentials to the Director-General of the OECS, his Excellency Dr. Didikus Jules on Monday, July 1, 2019 at a ceremony held at the OECS commission at 1.4 Turing cash trees. Ambassador Molestad outlined several avenues of cooperation that Norway is keen to explore with the OECS, especially in the area of marine management biodiversity preservation, the effects of climate change, and the elimination of marine litter. Both parties agreed to work as expeditiously as possible in pursuit of common objectives and deepening relations. And stay with the NTN Nightly. Up next, Parmus Hutchinson is here with the NTN Nouvelle Arquio. One of the eight universally accepted rights of the consumer is the right to safety. This means that consumers must have the right to be protected against products, production processes, and services which are hazardous to life or health. Such products and services must meet established national standards. These standards give the consumers the assurance that the product is safe for use or consumption. Welcome back. We join Parmus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle Arquio. Mr. Tarnisher, Mr. Madam, the Department of Universities of the United Nations of the National Television of the NTN of the Nouvelle Arquio. Mr. Parmus Hutchinson. This way, I continue to experience and honor the quality of the tourists I visited for the past six months I have come to see this recorded 185,678 stars visiting the Equestria Hotel. hotel. That was 60.1% plus the same period that last year. Saturday, it's the largest limo tourist that I have registered to stay in the country in the history of tourist affairs. After that, the total population of 24.8% and 2.2% of the limo tourists went to England in the past week. During that time, the population of Germany increased by 6%. The city of England, Laplace, Lattea, increased by 6.3%. The population increased by 12.4% for the first time in the year. And I agree that this activity was important for the park. The caribbean area was divided into parts so that no more than 5.5% increased by 2,732 people visited. I agree that this activity was spectacular and the most travel of the caribbean was among others. As a result of that, the total population of 24,354 tourists visited was more than 6.4% that last year. So, in 2019, I was able to find more than a year, just as I was able to find more than a year to live here. That's because I came to work, but I was able to accomplish more than I already had. That's because of the limo tourists that I visited this year. I have a concept that I also want to implement, like the tourist authorities, that I hope for more tourists to visit. That's for Carnival, Mocky Refest, Expectac, Roads and Soul. The authorities have continued to present this activity to the country so that we can have 15 different ways to have fun and enjoy, and for the citizens of the tourist area to visit this place. The residents of Carnival Village are now able to develop their skills, to have the advantage of working at Avilab, as I have found in the establishment that I have built this village to help address this ability. This initiative has made it possible for us to work harder, so that we can teach the youth and adults in the Carnival Village the opportunity to serve as a computer to facilitate the different ways of employment among others. Directed by Elevation, the Minister of Education, Léonel Marseille, to the residents of Corpoanqui, so that we can place ourselves in the right position to advance our ability to develop a diverse product that will help us improve our lives, and at the same time contribute to the economic development of the village. Léonel Marseille, as I have found in the establishment that I have placed myself in the right position, it is even necessary for the land to be able to be educated, so that we can complete the work of the village. I also want to take this opportunity to participate in the Artic Universe, so that I can be able to do the quality work of the village, so that we can place ourselves in the right position, so that we can have the technology that Avilab, so that we can be able to engage in diverse tasks, so that we can be able to work in the right position. I am also an initiative of the Cuba Nation, which I have given the opportunity for the adults to be able to do diverse tasks, so that I can be able to establish a program that will be able to pay for the land. I also want to add that the Minister of Tourism, Dominic Fede, has mentioned that innovation is not only for the people of the community, but also for the people with disabilities, because it is also important to be able to provide services to the people with disabilities. I also want to абсолютно clarify the opportunity to participate in the Artic Universe, so that we can be able to have a better understanding of the health care of the people, but also to allow them to be able to be able to contribute to the people who are adapted to the economy and to be able to serve the village. I also want to thank the Minister of Tourism, Dominic Fede, in the village of Canarii. The chief secretary of the Karikom, I would also like to welcome the members of the private sector of the civil society, to deliver this to the members of the community of this past week. I would also like to welcome the private sector of the regional sector, which I have designated as an institution of the Karikom community and I hope that it will be finalized by the end of the year. This institution is established mainly to support the implementation of the CSME. The chief secretary of the Karikom of the private sector of the CSME has continued to open the development facility to this day. The chief secretary also agrees with the organization of the work of the association to open this facility for the organization of the private sector of the Karikom. I would also like to invite the Chief Secretary of the CSME to take this opportunity to present it to you. I would like to thank you, P.L. Primes and here is a look at what is happening to us, whether wise. Only fair, hazy and breezy, occasionally becoming cloudy with a few showers. A tropical wave located over the central tropical Atlantic is moving westward near 17 miles per hour or 28 kilometers per hour. This wave is expected to bring scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over eastern Caribbean islands on Friday through to Saturday. Two other tropical waves located over the eastern and far eastern tropical Atlantic are moving westward at about 17 miles per hour and 28 kilometers per hour. Tides for castries harbor low at 4.01pm, high at 10.53pm. Tides for Viewford Bay low at 5.28pm, high at 12.00am. The sun will rise Thursday at 5.42am. And that brings us to the end of the NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7.00pm with a repeat at 7.00am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Saint Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I'm Lucia Truss.