 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles. This edition stops stories. Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney presents a comprehensive national response plan for COVID-19. Stakeholders join forces to combat illegal dumping at the Pigeon Island causeway. Babano Primary Schools' literary talent shines. All that, plus the latest in youth development, sports and the NTN Nouvelle Enquyor. St. Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean region continues to monitor the global developments of the COVID-19 virus. Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney called an emergency meeting with the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee, NEBAC, on Friday, 28 February 2020, to brief stakeholders of the disaster management landscape on the ongoing national response to safeguard against the arrival of the virus on our shores. As we hear from Lisa Joseph, the government is making every resource available to protect the nation, including considering commissioning the Owen King EU Hospital ahead of schedule. Representatives from the private and public sectors attended the briefing on the government's response plans for the coronavirus, now referred to as COVID-19. Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney, who chairs the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee, NEBAC, told stakeholders that COVID-19 has forced governments the world over to make tough decisions, as the virus tests the capacity of countries to deal with the outbreak. For countries like St. Lucia with limited financial resources, funding the management of the coronavirus is costly, from purchasing personal protective equipment like face masks and gloves, which have seen tremendous increase in pricing to creating quarantine areas and hospital bed space to accommodate hundreds or even thousands of patients at a time. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney says government is leaving no stone unturned in beefing up St. Lucia's capacity for any eventuality. We do not have the ability to be able to test for corona currently on the island. I've given the CMO and the Ministry of Health the green light to proceed to be able to bring equipment here that we can do that. And there's two types, if I'm not mistaken. One is we can probably get some stuff in immediately where we can do singular testing and then obviously a machine in which we can do the processing on bigger numbers. So I think we're attempting to be able to do both things at this point. Hon. Shastney informed that on Monday, March 2nd, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers would be discussing advancing the commissioning date of the Owen King EU Hospital in order to free up Victoria Hospital for use as a respiratory center for COVID-19. Additionally, all necessary support is being given to frontline workers, namely nurses, fire service personnel and police officers. Is to make sure that we give them and equip them with the things to give them the confidence to be able to do their job. And one is to explain to them what their potential exposure is and how we're going to facilitate it. This is why considering moving to OKU is a capacity issue because it means it frees up Victoria to be a respiratory center. We're even sending a team to Ratt Island because Ratt Island for a long time was considered a place where we would put people in quarantine and it's still actually in the legislation. Given that the US, Canada and countries in Latin America have reported cases of coronavirus, Prime Minister Shastney candidly noted that he cannot say that COVID-19 would not come to Senutia shores. However, the country can prepare for it and that means creating an environment that would limit the ability of the virus to spread. The cruise industry is reeling and they're reeling because there's just not a consistency. So in fact, we're having a phone conversation today specifically with them as a region in terms of how we can address some of the difficult decisions that we're having to be made. And what we can do to minimize the risk on the ships in order for the countries to be able to facilitate the arrivals of those ships on a more regular basis. But up to now, the state has had to make a decision based on the information that it has and it has to, the positions that we've taken are one of extreme caution. Several agencies and governmental organizations have already mobilized to create a COVID-19 Coordination Committee. The National Health Security Committee has also been activated. From the Government Information Service, Lisa Joseph reports in. And as the coronavirus continues to remain an epidemic around the world, the Department of Health and Wellness is working assiduously to ensure the public are sensitized on ways to prevent the spread of an infection. Moindesh report from FNNeptune. Although St. Lucia has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the Department of Health and Wellness is calling on the public to take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of an infection. Health Educator of the Bureau of Health Education, Nadesh Smith Lambert spoke on the standard recommendations an individual should practice to minimize the spread of an infection. So the Ministry of Health and Wellness would like to remind people out there to remember, as often as possible, to wash your hands with running water and soap. In the event you do not have running water and soap, you could use hand sanitizer with an alcohol base of 60% and up. We would also like to remind persons that if you use tissue to sneeze or to cough, you should throw away the tissue into a bin. If you do not have tissue and you really need to sneeze or cough, you do it in your inner elbow. We would also like to remind persons that you could practice cleaning down your surfaces with a little disinfectant just to ensure that any viruses that are on the surfaces are gotten rid of. Smith Lambert also provided guidance on when and how should a person use a mask to control infection transmission. So a medical mask is not required for members of the general public who do not have any respiratory symptoms. You wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing or if you are taking care of somebody who has respiratory symptoms such as coughing or sneezing. Masks are also only effective when used in the right week. So you would also have to incorporate hand washing so you wash your hands with running water and soap. The Department of Health and Wellness encourages businesses and workplaces to ensure hand sanitizers are readily available and accessible to customers and employees. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fennel Neptune. The National Conservation Authority, the NCA, on the morning of Saturday 29th February 2020 joined partner agencies and businesses operating along the Pigeon Island causeway in a massive cleanup exercise. A number of organizations collaborated efforts to channel their appreciation and pride in the community into a major cleanup initiative between the Robert Duvaux Drive and the Landings Resort and SPA. The aim was to address the dumping in the area, a practice that is not only unsightly to St. Lucian's and visitors alike but also illegal. The initiative was born out of an established Landings Environmental Committee, Executive Assistant at the Landings Resort and SPA and the Co-Chair of the Environmental Committee, Camille Huggins, said having conducted several cleanup initiatives along the same area now is the time for action. In the past we have also collaborated with the National Trust to do several cleanups but the fact that we have to do it so often means that there needs to be more awareness of what is happening here and the fact that it should not happen. It is illegal, it is an eyesore and we need to put a stop to it. The only other thing I wanted to add is we will be erecting cameras, surveillance cameras as well and the idea is we're going to, as much as we're going to try and prevent the dumping, the illegal dumping, we also want the public to know that should, after all of this, they still continue to dump, there will be cameras strategically placed and located to catch the individuals and they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. General Manager for the National Conservation Authority Jacinta Lee lamented the indiscriminate dumping of garbage in the area. Individuals were dumping not only household waste but commercial waste as well. The General Manager indicated that the little wardens were instrumental in ensuring individuals refrained from such behavior. However, she noted that everyone should be responsible enough to dispose of the waste properly. This is called Lempoli Zodi. Casteries was clean, a clean city. You throw a cigarette butt, you were charged. We need to bring back the little wardens. We really need to because if not, things will just get worse and worse and worse. There are so many national cleanups, so many community cleanups. That's not right. That's not right. If each person takes responsibility, we won't have to be taking our Saturdays to come around to clean up after people. You notice at the back there and these are contractors that have been paid to dump garbage and instead of going to the landfill, they just dump it there. That shouldn't happen. Commercial Services Officer at the National Conservation Authority Lydia Cox warned that the impact of indiscriminate dumping is far-reaching. Sometimes I think people have that notion that look, we want us to clean for guests, for tourists when they come to our country, but we forget that how we can have a negative impact on our lives and even the country's economy. Because if we continue to litter, then we can have the outbreak of diseases. It will put pressure on our health system. It will put pressure on the country because the government will have to find money to deal with persons getting sick because of litter around the place. I want to employ a solution. I want to please ask solutions to less have some national pride. Take away your waste. Your garbage is your responsibility. If you come to the beach, you have an activity, take your garbage, tie it up, put it, place it in your vehicle, take it with you and dispose of it properly. Heavy-duty equipment was on sign to dispose of the bulky commercial waste dumped on the causeway. Environment, health and safety manager for Sanders Grant, St. Lucien, Vinicia Durant, explained that the initiative was a long time coming. We've been advocating for this for a while. We've had many cleanups. We've even taken on a project earlier this year and if you look along the roadways you would see some signs that we've erected just to help persons to know that guess what? You don't need to dump your garbage here or you need to ensure that you keep the place clean. So we're all in on that. However, we have taken it a step further and so I am very happy that we've joined forces with landings as well as other NGOs and the government has taken the initiative as well to ensure that we try to clean up this space because this is the entrance to our national landmark and we want to ensure that when persons come on this causeway that they feel a sense of pride. So it's a part of a step-by-step process to get involved in a beautification of the causeway and we're happy that we're a part of it. A number of entities collaborated to make the cleanup a success including the landings resort and SPA, National Conservation Authority, St. Lucia National Trust, St. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority, PKF, CLICO, Sanders Grant St. Lucia and the Grozile Constituency Council. The cleanup campaign was six pronged and included creating awareness through the use of the media networks, the cleaning up of the community in partnership with other organizations, clearing up of overgrown brush and the removal of trailers and empty containers and the erection of signage placing boulders along boundary lines and the installation of cameras and lighting followed by a beautification undertaking. From the Government Information Service, I am General Norville. And that was me of the Grozile Constituency Council, James Edwin. And this is the NTA Nightly. Ryan O'Brien is up next. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Welcome everyone to your segment from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports on the NTA Nightly news. I'm Ryan O'Brien. The 2020 under-19 interschools male and female volleyball tournaments organized by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports will serve off this week. Contesting among the males are Sufra Comprehensive Secondary, Schroeser Secondary, Castries Comprehensive, St. Mary's College, Leone's Comprehensive, Cicero Secondary and Arthur Lewis Community College. 2020 female group comprises Sufra Comprehensive Secondary, Castries Comprehensive, Leone's Comprehensive, St. Joseph's Convent and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. The plain venues will be the VG Multipurpose Sports Complex and the Mico Community Court. Matches will be best of three competition format. Due to the number of teams registering, each category has only one group. At the end of round one, the first and second places for each category will advance automatically to the finals round for the gold medal or the 2020 male and female championships. In the opening round of men's matches, Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, Castries Comprehensive takes on Cicero Secondary whilst Arthur Lewis Community College plays against St. Mary's College at the VG Multipurpose Sports Complex. In female competition, Wednesday, March 4th, 2020, St. Joseph's Convent comes up against Leone's Comprehensive at 1 p.m. and at 2 p.m. Sufra Comprehensive takes on Castries Comprehensive also at the VG Multipurpose Sports Complex. Minister responsible for youth development and sports, the Honorable Edmund Estefan, has emphasized government's intention to continue its decentralization policy as far as facilities are concerned with the ultimate aim of seeing the further advancement of sporting success by St. Lucian sportsmen and women. Minister Estefan made the remarks recently while welcoming home a five-member swim team that competed successfully at the Juana Swimming Cup held in Lima, Peru. What we want to do is to decentralize sports, not just swimming, but all the different sports and have facilities around the island, okay? Whether it's east, north, west, south and we are planning to have a pool on the east coast, we are also planning to put one in the south and in the west and all of you know that there is a 50-meter pool coming in Grosile. So this is going to decentralize the sports and make it very, very, very, very big and this is going to bring even more success to the swimming federation. And with that, we have come to the end of your segment from youth development and sports for today. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Thanks Ryan. Babano Primary School showed its literary talents at the third annual poetry recital competition for schools within the Babano constituency. The Babano constituency has for the last three years engaged its student population in poetry recital competitions at the primary school level. The competition seeks to foster self-expression, self-confidence and a number of other skills which will prepare these students for life. This year the competition took on new meaning when students at the secondary school level performed. We stand in unity for our sweet setlity fighting tooth and nail for our nation's prosperity with a purpose for our time, togetherness or ever on our mind. We plead for infinite unity for this is the time. At the helm of our passion is the health of our nation, seeds sown from segregation destroyed. Our people unite, our love deployed. We work together in spirit and mind for this is the time. Addressing the gathering was the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives who is also the Parliament representative for the Babano constituency Honourable Ezekiel Joseph. He says events like this serves as an opportunity to expose the talent of those within the constituency. The main fact that you have agreed to participate you are a winner because not many of us have the courage to come on stage and to perform and if I can say based on our past two experiences Babano has a lot of talent. Babano Primary is shown brightly at Sunday's event capturing first place and third place for once on primary took the second place prize. Saint Lucia and I promise you will forever be hooked. Why, why, why, why, why girl some may see you as just another but to me you are like no other. Your lush green forest seek my breath away. That's why I want to be with you night and day. Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Jerry Polkot, two Nobel laureates we adore. But I'm sure right here in Saint Lucia there are about 24 more. 24 Nobel laureates! Unbelievable, I know the right here on the island who just need to ask shit for you. Let's invest in our country. All for what? Arriving in our independence. A new tooth fairer sir. Last year's competition was won by the Ballata Primary School. The competition forms part of Saint Lucia's for the first independent anniversary celebration. And stay with the NTA nightly up next Primus Hutchinson is here with the NTN Nouvelle Arquéon. How do I decide which telecommunications service provider to use? When choosing a mobile, landline, cable TV and internet service provider or changing the one you currently use here's what you should think about in order to get the best service to meet your needs. Why do I need the service? What is the quality of service offered? What are the rates? Are there hidden charges? How much can I afford to pay for the service? What are the customer service obligations of the provider? Not satisfied with the service? The choice is yours whether or not to use the service. This message is brought to you as a public service announcement by Ectel, the NTRC and this station. Welcome back. We join Primus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle Arquéon. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Department of State University, for the information about the government of this station, GIS, for the NTRC Nouvelle Arquéon. And thank you, Primus Hutchinson. Apart from these two activities, you can celebrate the first anniversary celebration of this station. It was a ceremony to honor the ambassadors of the good volunteers who I appointed to represent this station in our country. This was the official presentation of their medal to honor and excellence for these ambassadors. Second and foremost, the Minister of Tourism, Donaldine Vite, I would like to thank the ambassadors who assisted and supported the efforts and images of this station. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. We'll bring some scattered showers over the Lesser Antilles during the next 24 hours. Tides for Castries Harbour, low at 3.51 pm, high at 10.39 pm. Tides for Viewford Bay, low at 5.18 pm, high at 11.46 pm. Seas are slight to moderate with waves 3 to 5 feet or 0.9 to 1.5 meters. The sun will rise Tuesday at 6.18 am. And that brings us to the end of the NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7 pm with a repeat at 7 am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Saint Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I'm Misha Charles.