 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles. This edition stops stories. Original workshop aims to equip countries with the skills to better measure standard of living and poverty. The ECCB unveils a blueprint of its development strategy for 2020 and beyond. New methods being introduced to fishers to safeguard them while at sea. All that plus the NTN Nouvelle Arquée Homme. Original workshop on qualitative data analysis has sought to equip institutions across the region with the skills to measure the standard of living and poverty, going beyond simply measuring gross domestic product and to measure the health of the population. This as the OECS commission undertakes the Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment Project. The project is being done in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and has brought regional stakeholders to St Lucia for the workshop. Director of Economic Affairs and Regional Integration at the OECS Commission, Jacqueline Emanuel, says the project depends heavily on data and statistics. Traditionally, measures of poverty and of standard of living, that inform policy formulation have been quantitative. For example, household expenditure, unemployment rate, GDP per capita and poverty expressed as income level. In recent times, however, there has been a thrust to move beyond not just quantitative measures of poverty, but also beyond measures that link poverty to only income. No doubt, you have heard about the call to eventually measure well-being and go beyond GDP, because over time, the limitations of GDP as a welfare indicator has become more and more apparent. Emanuel says that having qualitative evidence to complement quantitative data helps us to understand the underlying cause of poverty. GDP does not adequately capture our real stories. Many of our countries in this region are classified as middle income based on our GDP per capita. However, GDP does not capture our vulnerabilities. And the fact that, for example, every year from June to December, our economic and social fabric is threatened by adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes, heavy flooding and storms. The timing, purpose and value of the PPA training warrant repetition. Understanding poverty from the perspective of those who are experiencing poverty gives us tremendous insight into the real life challenges. It enables us to better understand well-being and it allows us to use the valuable information to design targeted and timely interventions and poverty reduction policies. The Caribbean Development Bank's Albert Ellis spoke of the organization's approach to the projects. The bank's approach to this program is based essentially on the following principles. One, that poverty is multi-dimensional and should be examined in a comprehensive manner, and we heard that earlier. The assessment of poverty should be highly participatory and opportunity should be given for a cross-section of the society to participate in this process. So it's not only about an interviewer or an enumerator coming to your door to collect information from you. It is about having opportunities to do focus group discussions, to have community meetings, to hear the voices of those persons who are deprived. Very importantly, as is set out in the objectives of this workshop, there's a recognition that local capacity must be developed as part of the program and in doing so, participants must be equipped across various institutions and organizations with the requisite skills to conduct future poverty assessments and to monitor changes in quantitative and qualitative poverty indicators over time. And that was a representative from the Caribbean Development Bank, Albert Ellis. Building on Sir Arthur Lewis's economic model of industrialization by invitation, the ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine is providing insights into a blueprint on a forward-looking development strategy for 2020 and beyond. Antoine was the featured speaker at the Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Lecture as part of the 2020 Nobel Laureate Festival. St. Lucia's Nobel Laureate Festival is being held under the theme Celebrating Excellence, Vision 2020. The Festival aims to celebrate the island's two Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott. The Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Lecture is one event on the calendar of activities and this year was delivered by the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Timothy Antoine. The Governor, standing on Sir Arthur Lewis's model, industrialization by invitation, some 70 years later offered some thought on a forward-looking development strategy for 2020 and beyond. Antoine explained that while some progress has been made in the region, it is still not where it ought to be and therefore socio-economic transformation is necessary. He highlighted some of the indicators. So remember the target for growth in our region is 5%. That's our target approved by the Montreux Council, finance ministers, most of whom are prime ministers. 5%. Not since the 1980s have we hit that target when we were averaging 6%. And if you look at the dark blue line which is the ECCU, St. Lucia is the light blue, you will see that that line has come down and down and down. And it coincides with the loss of preferential access, sugar and bananas. It coincides with countries that are contracting more debt. It coincides with loss of confessional financing as we graduated from low income to middle income. And it also coincides with some fiscal proglyphosy. And we have to acknowledge that at times the governments have not been on their best behavior where fiscal matters are concerned. The Governor attributed this to a number of factors including low and declining productivity, limited fiscal space which has constrained the size of the government's capital programs, inordinate delays in the completing of major projects and slow implementation of structural reforms including legislative reforms to address the issue of access to credit. Antoine highlighting the need for technological transformation explained the importance of legislative reforms to the growth of a country's economy and improving the lives of its citizens. A guy who is fishing ought to be able to fish, use his smartphone and take a picture of the fish while still on the ocean, have that scent uploaded and sent so that by the time he reaches the shore that is already sold and the money is in his account. That is the appropriate use of technology for the fisherman. So my point is that technology can enable all sectors. So this nonsense narrative that we some are leaving our culture behind, that's not true. That's a nonsense narrative. Technology can enable all sectors, all sectors to be transformed and to new business models to emerge if we are ready to embrace its potential. Held at the Finance Administrative Building on the 23rd of January 2020, the lecture was entitled, The Socioeconomic Transformation by Invitation and Innovation. For the Government Information Service, I am Janelle Norville. A week-long session for the training of trainers in fishers at sea safety took place at the Belju Hotel last week. The session's aim was to teach and bring awareness to new methods implemented for the safety of fishermen. The Ministry of Agriculture's Amanda Faye Clark tells us more. Fishers safety is at the forefront of the fisheries department's agenda. Contest fishermen have lost their lives due to the lack of training in proper safety precautions while out at sea. The fisheries department in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, and the Fish Safety Foundation of New Zealand, culminated a week-long intensive training workshop to give various stakeholders in the regional fisheries sector the training necessary to be better equipped to train other fishers and colleagues. Chief Executive Office of the Fish Safety Foundation Eric Holiday, whose organisation was procured to facilitate the training, says, One of the achievements realised thus far under this intervention, which forms part of the ongoing Sisyphus Fish Project of the Department of Fisheries, is the launching of the online platform which will place timely information under latest developments in safety practices in the hands of fisheries practitioners and trainers. The work that we do through our foundation is directly funded by a number of organisations and because we are, luckily, the one-of-a-kind organisation in this field looking at fishing safety globally, the FAO had heard about us, they then contacted us, spoke about this mission and we were really interested and often negotiations we agreed that I would come here for two or three visits, we would speak with the fishers, speak with officials, speak with trainers and get some idea of the level of training and the materials available to trainers for the safety of fishermen. We did that last year and then spent some time putting together a new package and the purpose of this workshop is to introduce that to these trainers and then assist them on an ongoing basis to deliver what we've committed to providing information on a continuous basis and updating that. But it's really about developing the skills for the trainers and then providing them with the tools to carry out the task. Regional coordinator of the CC4Fish project, Iris Monero, explains that any intervention which will safeguard the interests of fishers will have far-reaching benefits for the sub-sector. This training is part of the portfolio of activities of CC4Fish so as a result of climate change we're expecting an increased frequency as well as increased intensity of storms and hurricanes in the region and as fishing is already known as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world that is only going to add to the unsafety of fishers in the region. So one of the aspects that we're working on under the CC4Fish project is to improve safety at sea for fishers. CC4Fish was launched in the eastern Caribbean to address climate adaptive strategies to protect preserve and build resilience of its marine and fisheries resources. For St. Dusha this translates to the introduction of measures for the safety and security of all fisheries livelihoods and amendments to policies that allow fisherfolk empowerment and which guide the future development of the fisheries economy. From the Ministry of Agriculture I am Amanda Fiqloc reporting and this is the NTN Nightly we'll be back in a moment. The Independence 41 Gospel extravaganza 2020 kicks off our independence celebrations on Saturday 1st February 2020 at 7 p.m. at the National Cultural Center under the theme now is the time let's praise reflect love give thanks come join us for a night of inspirational pieces featuring gospel groups singers dancers and musicians from various denominations around the island take in an amazing production building on the origin of Negro spirituals as we worship together now is the time let's do this together welcome back the Victoria hospital is continuing work to improve the quality of endoscopic procedures to its patients by undertaking hands-on endoscopic training more in this report from funnel Neptune nurses and surgeons in the endoscopic unit and the operating theater recently participated in an endoscopic workshop aimed at expanding their skills and capacities to incorporate more advanced endoscopic techniques at the Victoria hospital consultant surgeon at the Victoria hospital Dr. Ali child says she's very pleased with the training as it allows them to enhance the quality of endoscopy at the hospital. Dr. Maria has come to sort of facilitate our endoscopy this week in the past he's come and done endoscopy but what he's done on this occasion is watch us do endoscopy and it what it means is that it means that we have gone to the next level we're able to do more advanced procedures and he's acted as our mentor this week so that we can do it he knows that the work that he's put in over the years has come to fruition and he can just watch us do the work now. Consultant gastroenterologist at Bradford teaching hospitals Dr. Solomon Maria says he's very satisfied with the level of endoscopic work undertaken by the doctors in St. Lucia. In this workshop my main aim was to provide support for the local doctors so over the years the local doctors have made fantastic improvement in the endoscopy skills and this workshop's aim was purely to take it to the next level so for example I have been able to support Dr. Charles in doing some polypectamines and Dr. Kabyi in doing some advanced procedures called ERCPs. The Bradford teaching hospitals also donated equipment for the endoscopy unit and operating fees of the Victoria Hospital to the tune of five hundred thousand EC dollars reporting from the communications unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness I am Fidel Neptune. The life's work of veteran calypsoanian Marilyn Lady Lynn Baptist was put on display on Thursday January 30th 2020 at an exhibition highlighting her 30 year career. The exhibition formed part of this year's Nobel laureate festival let's take a look. 30 years in Calypso has been ups and downs and good and bad and I've enjoyed it I've had my ups and downs and I've been able to conquer it so as a as a full grown woman the 30 years of my life that I have placed in put into Calypso I think it is something that the young people should try and follow and stay with the NTN Knightly up next is Primus Hodgson with the NTN Nouvelle Arquillon Saint Lucia are you ready for the National Independence Parade? Celebrate our independence in a grand way this February 22nd starting at the Sabin VG. Come experience a true Saint Lucia spectacle with amazing clothes, traditional dancers, musicians and more led by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and include communities, ministries and business houses. Join in their excitement and let's show the best of Saint Lucia now is the time let's do this together welcome back we join Primus Hodgson for the NTN Nouvelle Arquillon Café, preparation, purpose of the IBG for the year 2020 Minister of Business Ability for Economic Development Honourable Guy Joseph, this Café is full for the year here and for the next year this is 2020 there are so many here Honourable Guy Joseph, these are the marches that I have in place to review and explore all the possibilities available to establish the authority of aviation operations that are capable to provide service to this community Minister Joseph Makeki, he knows this here, his mum was a little bit surprised here but I know it's a diverse group of people who are here to express their love for the government of Jacob, already exploring a lot of possibilities Honourable Joseph, I also advise all of these people to participate and cooperate in this year 2020, according to Mr Joseph this information is very easy to make a plan for this time to come Minister Ladecki, he should be concerned because this year we are making a blessing to make a plan for this time to come, which will come, if not Minister of Economic Development Claudia Simonoel, who is the Minister who is following a lot of developments this year, I have done a lot to treat my flu, such as the corona disease that has continued to spread to the earth according to the World Health Organization it is said that the disease that has spread to the whole of China has spread to the whole of the country this year, the authorities are here to work with the regional and international agencies who have contributed in the best possible way to address the corona disease Chief Medical Officer of this year Dr Sharon Belma George declared that corona can cause the world to suffer and then go home with a lot of more serious diseases that are a problem of hope the world also suffers from a bad disease, a bad headache, a fever because it is a very critical problem of pneumonia, which is the cause of death according to Dr Belma George, the great wish of the people of this country is that the department should consider all the conditions necessary and the preparation to deal with the first disease of this year's population according to Dr Belma George, all the conditions I have in place are for education to work in this way with the public because the country's work is the place with the most riskable risks the same goes for the department to advise the public to always wash their face, cover your mouth and then wash your face close to your face and then serve the people of Vietnam who have helped you the people of Estonia and all those who are far away who have died without the help of Estonia and all those who are here to help you if you have any more problems, then let us know if you have any more problems, then let us know that's all for today we have finished continuing to address Prime Minister Shashne in 2020 and thank you very much for your service service for this year Prime Minister Shashne, you have made a commitment to make sure that all the facilities you receive and the service that you have redecorated in our Prime Minister Shashne will be able to help the people here to inspire them to inspire them to go to the hospital to start the operation for the first time in this way according to Prime Minister Shashne the majority of the equipment that you have is strong if you have to arrange it if you have to replace it Prime Minister, we know that we have a facility to cut away discussions for the hospital to work and to help to address all the problems that exist in the first place in the hospital the facilities that you have that have been provided to the people who are not able to go to the hospital and who are not able to go to the hospital are not able to go Prime Minister Shashne I want to make it as soon as possible to make sure that all the things that exist that exist will be available to the people that are not able to go to the hospital Prime Minister Shashne thank you very much I want to thank the hospital for this opportunity to continue to help the people here Prime Minister Anoseki it is time to start the operation as soon as possible according to the government according to the government for the next few years I want to make it as soon as possible I want to make it as soon as possible as soon as possible I want to make it as soon as possible So, before we begin Prime Minister Shashne I want to thank the Prime Minister for his service and for the agreement as well as the way that he works as a service and we also want to thank the Prime Minister for the facility that he has been to detect situation Thank you to our Prime Minister and here's a look at what's happening to us weather-wise. Fair and hazy becoming cloudy at times with a few scattered showers over the southern portion of the region. Elsewhere, fair to partly cloudy and hazy with brief isolated showers. The Atlantic high pressure system will continue to generate light to moderate easterly winds across the eastern Caribbean region during the next few days. Weak and stable conditions will cause a few scattered showers to develop over the southern portion of the region during the next 24 hours. Tides for castries harbor, low at 2.15pm, high at 8.19pm. Tides for Viewford Bay, low at 3.42pm, high at 9.26pm. Seas moderate with waves 4 to 6 feet or 1.2 to 1.8 meters. The sun will rise Saturday at 6.31am. And that brings us to the end of the NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Salinusia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I'm Nisha Trouse.