 Welcome to Nation Beat, I am General Norville bringing you this brief on the pulse of our nation and highlights around the heart of St. Lucia. St. Lucia is among small island states pressing for action at the UN climate summit. Students get involved in controlling the Rodent population on Island and a look at how the recently launched EyeGuide project will affect the ease of doing business. St. Lucia and the rest of Caricum states is participating in the United Nations climate summit in Poland through December 14. It is arguably the most important event on climate negotiations since 2015 when the Paris Agreement was drafted. The Poland climate summit is being held only a few weeks after the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change published a special report with an unambiguous message about the urgent changes that need to be made during the next decade. The goal is to contain global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Don Pierre Nothoniel is St. Lucia's Deputy Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer. It clearly articulates that 1.5 is very much feasible and it gives actions with regard to renewable energy, the freezing out of coal, interventions in the transport sector, etc. So indeed it is saying that 1.5 is feasible and that is very important for us. But on the other hand it also gives a very sad story that we are so far away from where we need to be. We are on a trajectory towards 3 to 4 degrees of warming and we also realise that according to the IPCC report that by 2030, between 2032 and 2050, we could actually reach 1.5. That would be very unfortunate for our small and developing states, our livelihoods, our people, our very survival. Ongoing meetings over the next two weeks at the COP24 will be fundamental for countries around the world to really show their compromise to get the ball rolling on what they committed to in Paris three years ago. The Boys Training Centre is now better able to provide quality oral health services to its children. More in this report from Fonelle Neptune. The oral health of young boys at the Boys Training Centre is expected to be improved as the Rotary Club of Grosely recently handed over a replacement of portable dental equipment to the institution. Minister for Health and Wellness, the Honourable Mary Isaac says she's delighted that the Rotary Club of Grosely is committed to investing in the health of our nation's children. The newly donated equipment is an upgrade to the mobile dental programme and it has made it possible to resume operations right here at the Boys Training Centre. Once the programme is completed here, other schools in the constituency, including the Neutranji Tome, will be approached to receive care as well. So what you are getting here is a very important gift. Representative of the Rotary Club of Grosely, Matthew Render says his organisation is dedicated to making positive changes in the community and supporting the mobile dental programme. The mobile dental programme was launched in 2005 to provide free dental screening to primary school children throughout the north of St Lucia. The programme is operated by the Department of Health and Wellness, whose staff visit the various schools on a weekly basis to educate students on basic oral hygiene and administer a quick check-up including assessment, cleaning, fluoride application, fillings and extractions. The cost of administering the screenings is covered by the Rotary Club of Grosely to the tune of around $10,000 a year. Manager of the Boys Training Centre, Wang Sansan, found the Rotary Club of Grosely for its contribution to the well-being of the boys. With your generous contribution to the centre, I'm hoping that our boys will feel more confident because they will have proper dental care at their disposal. I know it's expensive, dental care is very expensive and for our boys to have it for free, I think that's all we could ask for for Christmas. The portable dental equipment was replaced at the cost of U.S. $9,000. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fenel Neptune. The recently launched investment guide or eye-guide project according to Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, Kuiper's Senior Advisor for Investment Promotion, Suzette Hudson, could have a significant impact on the country's ease of doing business ranking. She indicated that the notable jumps or falls in countries' ease of doing business ranking is indicative of the many policy reforms related to investment issues being undertaken by the various countries. Hudson highlighted the consequences if appropriate steps are not taken. Now, if our countries do not make the changes needed to ensure that investors are not turned away or they're not disenfranchised or they're not frustrated, then we will find that we will continue to fall in the ranking and we will also continue to fall in terms of our investment. We believe that this particular project will help us because it will provide the information that investors need and that's all investors really need. They want to know how do I start a business? How do I get my construction permit? How do I get my licenses? What are the processes for approvals? How long will it take to get stuff done? How much will it cost me? All of that goes into their final decision-making. If we can present that information to them easily, instead of them having to go and search for it, then it puts us at an advantage. With the implementation of the I-Guide officials are hoping for the creation of transparency and ease of access to information, all of which are expected to increase investments. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's economists Ian Richards explained the benefits other countries have attained following the implementation of the I-Guide. That's the kind of feedback from those who have been very active on this. They very much appreciate the guide in terms of the information it provides and their ability to update the information as well. The other part of this is also allowing the investment agency to position itself very centrally with regards to other government departments and to understand and map out the whole experience for investors. And we found the feedback we have from investment agencies, this is a useful way to do that. Richards explained that often, each ministry or agency involved in investment and investment promotion see things from its perspective and not that of the investors. By providing this information in one central location, the I-Guide will be bridging this crucial gap, allowing for a free flow of information. This is Nation Beat. Coming up, students get involved in controlling the Rodin population on the island. Welcome back. A sitting of the House of Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, 2018, with papers to be laid by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service, the Honourable Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour, and the Honourable Minister for Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment. Parliamentary approval will be sought for the Minister of Finance to borrow the sum of EC $32,400,000 from the Bank of St. Lucia Limited for the purpose of financing the 2018-2019 budget, as well as guarantee a loan in the sum of US$100 million from the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China Taiwan by the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority for the purpose of financing the Hironora International Airport Redevelopment Project. Authorisation is also being sought for the sum of US$50 million to be borrowed from the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China Taiwan for the purpose of financing the Road Improvement and Maintenance Program, the Infrastructure Repairs to Schools and the Housing Development Program. Tuesday's sitting is scheduled to commence at 10am. The sitting of the Senate is scheduled for Thursday, December 20, 2018, at 10am. Students around the island were guaranteed the opportunity to tap into their creativity and become involved in efforts at controlling the Rodent population in St. Lucia. The Environmental Health Division in the Department of Health and Wellness recently hosted a rat trap competition allowing students to make cost-effective and innovative Rodent control mechanisms. The competition was aimed at raising awareness on leptospirosis and providing students with the opportunity to play a part in reducing the impact of Rodents on the population. Environmental Health Officer Shalita Charles says she's very pleased with the level of student participation and also parents and teacher involvement in this activity. The number of traps we saw submitted, like I said we had over 44 traps submitted, to me it was a true testament of not only how creative and innovative our students are, but it also showed the dedication of parents and teachers. From the crafting and construction of the traps, we could see that parents helped their students. During the judging process we heard a lot of, you know, my mummy helped me, my daddy screwed in the screws and my sister helped me. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Millyn-Fedrix Jean says it is important that students are knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of leptospirosis. Sometimes it may look like a simple flu or viral illness, I'm the headache, the back end, muscle aches, but it can also progress with high fever. The urine can change color and get very dark or very bright yellow, bright orange. The eyes can change and get yellow. And we know that if it's not treated it can actually have fatal consequences, but we want everyone to know and children remember that leptospirosis can be treated. It can be cured. So if you or anybody around may observe your family members, if anybody has those signs and they're home taking their little medication etc. They're not getting better. Encourage them to go to the health and practitioner where they can get an antibiotic to cure them and prevent them from getting worse with these diseases. Joshua René of the Oddsah Combined School took first place in the Radtrap competition while Viany Plum of the Dame Kulet-Luisie Primary School came in second. Third place went to Antonio Philip of the Dame Kulet-Luisie Primary School. The Innovative and Creative Radtrap Award went to Tarnisha Jules of the Canon-Laurie Anglican Primary School. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fenner Neptune. That's Nation Beat. Join us next time on NTN at 7.30pm with a repeat at 7.30am and on this station as we fill the pulse and heart of our community. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Janelle Norville.