 Welcome to Nation Beat. I am Jacques Kingston Compton bringing you this brief on the pulse of our nation and highlights around the heart of St. Lucia. A leading international IT firm researches St. Lucia's investment potential, connecting tourism with the innovations of technology for success. One of St. Lucia's most noted journalists has documented his life story. TIPA imparts record keeping skills. Invest St. Lucia in collaboration with Nier Show Americas, a leading international firm that conducts independent research on IT, digital business and contact center outsourcing trends in Latin America and the Caribbean, recently hosted an inward investor mission and career fair at the Harbour Club. A small delegation of investors interested in expanding their outsourcing and contact center companies to St. Lucia were on island recently to explore business opportunities and receive information on St. Lucia's viability as a business location. Another critical component of this mission was a phase one career fair, where successful candidates who were shortlisted following ISL's call for applications were afforded the opportunity to network with established and new international tech service call center companies. The fair was interactive and allowed candidates to meet with potential employers and provide them with copies of their resumes. They tend to have very low attributes. Alana Lansico-Brice is the investment services manager at Invest St. Lucia. When we put on an event like this, it's really to fill the negotiations and discussions with those international investors. So for us we're looking to close business, get them to agree to invest in St. Lucia, negotiate terms of those agreements and then of course start hiring people and get their business on the ground. A second part of this is that we've also invited local persons that are looking for employment to meet with established businesses that are looking to fill in current vacancies. So that is also going on as well. So it's a two prong objective and activity taking place today. So you have investors that are looking at St. Lucia meeting with those interesting persons in the talent pool. And then you also have those persons in the talent pool meeting with already established investors that are looking to actually hire persons right now. Promoting St. Lucia as a premier BPO. The BPO country showcase and career fair was jointly organized with Near Show Americas, which recently carried out an in-depth analysis of St. Lucia's BPO proposition. The report confirmed that the island is well positioned to support this sub-sector. Kirk Loughlin is Near Show Americas' managing director. Our fundamental mission is to really in a sense evangelize the Near Shore opportunity across the spectrum in the Caribbean and Latin America. So what we're doing with St. Lucia is very much in line with the overall drive to enable the investors to have better knowledge about the opportunities that exist. A lot of the information is either outdated or inaccurate or people just don't know they're ignorant. So we're trying to dispel that and one of the great advantages is bringing people to a country where they suddenly really see how valuable it can be. The three-day investment mission also involved site visits to potential locations including real estate owned and managed by ISL. Meetings were also held with key government and industry stakeholders regarding the policies, strategies and overall business climate underpinning this type of investment. The mission comes on the heels of expansion and growth of the sector with the opening of KM Squared's second office, Ojo Lab's growth projection, the establishment of 1-888-GO-ANSE's new office and plans to institute a national BPO policy. An interactive discussion on how the use of technology can promote the business and the diversity of tourism was held on Tuesday among primary school students. The school's outreach is being facilitated by the Department of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting as part of activities celebrating World Tourism Day. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has identified September 27, 2018 as World Tourism Day. The theme for this year's global observance is tourism and the digital transformation. In commemoration of World Tourism Day on September 27, the Department of Tourism will this week host a series of discussions targeting students. Tourism officer in the Department of Tourism, Samantha Charles, says the discussions highlight the contribution that technology has had on the tourism industry. The Department of Tourism has embarked on a series of school discussions in an effort to observe the global theme for World Tourism Day. So Thursday, September 27, is recognized worldwide as World Tourism Day and the theme is tourism and the digital transformation. So in light of the theme, we wanted to engage students in a very lively discussion on technology and digitization and how that has impacted the growth of tourism over the years. Today, we have three primary schools. However, the intention was to have at least seven schools present, but we have three primary schools. More, she combined Methodist primary and Avnerer primary. So the team from the Department of Tourism has been engaging them in some talk about their career aspirations for one in the industry. Their views on technology in light of the advent of social media, Facebook, Instagram, etc. And how has that impacted tourism? What are some of the ways that Saint Lucia has been marketed by virtue of these social media platforms? The aim of the outreach initiative is to improve the students' awareness of the tourism industry. The end product for us is one more information, more awareness of the industry. Yes, this year this is the theme, but every year the theme for World Tourism Day changes. So in addition to the focus on technology and the relationship with tourism, the end product is really to continue to build on their awareness and the sensitization of the industry and to really have them not forget what tourism is and how important it is to Saint Lucia. Twelve-year-old Avidan Passad, a student at the Moshi Primary School said it was interesting to note that students can use social media as an advertising tool. The most interesting part of our talk is when we showed how us children can advertise our country. It doesn't have to be people who are grown up or important people. We can use WhatsApp, we can use Facebook, even YouTube to show the people what we have in store for them. The school's outreach initiative will continue on Thursday, September 27 at the Cicero Secondary and Primary Schools and will end on Friday, September 28 at the Denry Primary and Tender Mason Secondary School. Speakers include the Product Development Consultant in the Department of Tourism, the Senior Tourism Officer and the Marketing Officer for Heritage Tours. For the Government Information Service, I am General Norville. You're watching Nation Beat. Coming up, TIPA impots record-keeping skills. How chemicals and GMOs are not the solution. Use organic and join. Excessive agrochemical use, additives and genetically modified foods are harmful to health and the environment. Join the Good Food Revolution. Grow, buy and consume organic. A message from Rye Saint Lucia and the Ministry of Sustainable Development with funding from the GEF Small Grants Program, UNDP. The Good Food Revolution. Saint Lucia's Trade Export Promotion Agency, or TIPA, is working toward building capacity among its clients. The efforts include a one-day record-keeping workshop that saw participation from 13 clients. Public Relations Officer of TIPA, Jason Darius, hopes the workshop sensitizes those clients to the benefits of record-keeping, such as increased efficiency and access to financial resources. We have recognized that our clients or some of our clients would really take advantage of the essentials of record-keeping. This of course helps with the business in terms of access to finance and keeping the business afloat. We hope to have individualized sessions going forward with the participants so they could have the full benefit of this sort of training. We hope to have more workshops of these kinds for all businesses, from your creatives to your major exporters to even the manufacturing sector. The organization oversees the island's national export development strategy. One of Saint Lucia's most noted journalists has documented his life story. David Samuel's autobiography entitled My Story, Your Voice details the good, the bad and the ugly in his life's journey. My Story, Your Voice, the genesis written by David Samuel. The noted journalist's fame was found as a teenager. Samuel was a singing heartthrob with the True Tones band in the late 60s. The book gives of David insight into Samuel's developing years, which were far from smooth. At the book launch, Samuel explained that his broadcast skills are undoubtedly part of his biographical makeup, adding that his 12-year stint with the tourism industry was telling. He noted how good he feels knowing that his life has had such a positive impact on individuals. I don't think a day goes by in Saint Lucia. It doesn't matter where I am. That someone will come up to me and thank me for, in some way, the impact I've had on them. Or someone who is now an adult would say they started listening to me when they were this height. It's been truly extraordinary, you know, the wonderful things that people say to me when I meet them on the street. So, I thank God for giving me that opportunity and my role to seek answers to myriad questions when interviewing a broad range of people on radio and television. So, I really hope, ladies and gentlemen, that this modest effort gets your nod of approval. My story, Your Voice, includes interviews with former Governor General Dimplek Luzi, former Prime Minister Sir John Compton and Dr. Kenny Anthony, and Prime Minister Hon. Alan Sharsney. The book also features George Audler, who is credited for the political education of thousands of St. Lucia's. Prime Minister the Hon. Alan Sharsney first met Samuel when he was employed at Halcyon Beach Club. I then had the great opportunity of interacting with Dave once more when I was the Minister of Tourism and this time was at the prime of his radio show, The Chairman. And let me say this, that today the excellence and the genuine thought and time that went into preparing for an interview has become a lost art. I have never met a journalist in St. Lucia before, and I've certainly not met a journalist after, that when I went to be interviewed by him, that he was so well prepared. And you always had to be on guard of what questions Dave asked you, because he had this habit of all of a sudden bringing out speeches or things that you had said. And so therefore there was always this setup to get you to say things and then to play it back on you. And it was just a great thing to see. The title My Story, Your Voice, the author explained came about because wherever he went, people always commented on his voice and how it has influenced them over the years. Therefore, he always acknowledged his voice as not really his own, but a God-given gift to be shared with St. Lucia and its entire people. The Minister for Culture congratulated the author. And so we're happy. I saw the stresses. We worked with you in terms of trying to make it happen. And I'm happy the government of St. Lucia was able to contribute to that effort, because that's really our role. Our role is to facilitate, encourage, and of course to ensure that those who are determined to succeed come through. And those who have challenges in so doing, we are also there to provide that support for them. The book was officially launched on Friday, 24 September 2018. From the Government Information Service, I am General Norville. Speaking of the celebration of a respected life, hundreds packed the minor basilica of immaculate conception in castries to celebrate Botham-Chem-Jer, whose life was cut short by a US police officer in his Dallas apartment. While it was a difficult farewell for those who loved him, the high praise that was showered on the 26-year-old provided solace for the Jer family. As we grieve and try to find answers for what happened in Dallas, many of us believe that there is a greater plan. We believe that Botham is in a better place. But many of us are still curious as to what that plan is. What are the possible lessons from this tragedy? One good thing that has happened is that the anger evoked by the tragedy has brought our nation together. We have demonstrated to the world in no uncertain terms that we are family. This is a matter that has transcended political, religious, and other social and economic divide. Botham's dream was to change lives, to change the world and make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race, whether you were black, white, Chinese or otherwise. That was his dream. But like most persons who dream big, his life was cut down prematurely. In this case viciously by wicked hands and those who seek to do evil rather than good. But brethren, be of good cheer. For the God that we serve is a mighty God. And he is able to live out from all evil if he so chooses. He gave us the best of heaven to redeem us. If he desires to give us victory over this evil and heinous act, he can and he will. Graduated in 2008, he won a trophy which we call the spirit of St. Mary's. This is a big deal. The other major trophies like sports money the year and student the year are based on specific criteria. We don't have any real written criteria for spirit of St. Mary's. It is a boy who, while he was at school, was able to touch the lives of as many people as possible. And both of them excelled. At the end of from four, he probably would have already won that award. He didn't even need a final year. That's how effective he was among his peers with the teachers. That's being a student at St. Mary's College. We're very proud of both of you. Graduated an extremely outstanding young man. Consistent in those thoughts about both of them, or that his life held promise, he was mature beyond his years, even at 17. In the face of this tragedy, we celebrate a life well lived that could have such immeasurable impact even now. On behalf of the management, faculty, staff, alumni and students of the South Illinois Community College, I extend some sincere condolences to the family and friends of both of them, Cheryl. As his family felt the love and support of all of St. Lucia, news that the officer responsible for his death had been relieved of duty began to circulate. Dallas Officer Amber Geiger, who is facing a manslaughter charge after fatally shooting the 26-year-old Boatham Juh in his seat as apartment on September 6, was fired on Monday. Boatham's final goodbye was preceded by a homecoming reserved for heroes. Scores lined the route as his body traveled from view fort to castries. Among them were the co-workers of Boatham's father, Boatram Juh. Boatram Juh is the store's supervisor at the Water and Sewage Company, or WASCO. We are here to support and to lend solidarity to our colleague and friend, Boatram Juh, who is Boatham's father. And all of the staff have come here because we care about the family and we want to demonstrate our support for them during their time of bereavement. The staff have been very cooperative. They were very willing to lend support to such an activity. We also had participation in a similar activity in the south. So our southern branch, employees from that branch came out in a like show of support in view fort for this initiative. Meanwhile, the chairman of the OECS authority, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonzales of St. Vinton and the Grenadines, has issued a statement of the killing of Boatham Juh. Prime Minister Gonzales stated that from every indication, Boatham Juh was a proud product of our Caribbean civilization. Bright, God-faring, respectful of others, humane and full of promise. The region, he says, stands firmly in solidarity with the family and friends of Juh and with the government and people of St. Lucia in their demand for justice. The chairman of the OECS says the people of the region are dismayed by the attempts by some to smear the character of Boatham Juh and called upon the authorities in the state of Texas to ensure that justice prevailed in this matter. And Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shastney has welcomed the solidarity of the OECS authority. Like Prime Minister Gonzales, the St. Lucia leader is bothered by aspects of the case. I was extremely disturbed, I think like everybody else, that information with regards to the search of both his apartment and the contents of the apartment would meet public. From a personal perspective, you know, a dead man can't talk to defend himself. And so I was, I think like everybody else, disturbed by that, by that pronouncement. I have to allow the process to take its course. As I said, this is not within St. Lucia's domain, but obviously as the government of St. Lucia and given that this is a St. Lucia citizen, we certainly intend to stay very close to the case and to what is taking place. The Cultural Development Foundation, or CDF, welcomes a new Executive Director. Mrs. Ramona Henry Nguyen has been appointed to head of the affairs of the organization for a period of two years. Ramona Henry Nguyen is an administrator by profession. Trained in the UK, she holds a postgraduate diploma in Management, Banking and Financial Services, a BA Honours in Banking with Economics and Law, and a Master of Business Administration. She is a former dancer who also acted in theatre productions. Among them, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, directed by Gandalf Sinclair, under the direction of Tuta Petrus Compton. She has worked as an administrator at the senior level for the past 17 years, coordinating the operations and human resource departments of statutory bodies and private sector organizations in St. Lucia and the United Kingdom. That's Nation Beat. Join us next time as we field a pulse and heart of our community. I'm Jackington Compton.