 Welcome to NTN Lightly, I am Genelle Norville, this edition's top stories. Government launches a new initiative to ignite and sustain the Caricum identity. Regional travellers to St Lucia to pay less in departure tax as the island announces a Caribbean travel bubble and tourism transportation operators better equipped to deliver services amid COVID-19. St Lucia joined the rest of the Caricum community Monday in celebrating Caricum Day with the launch of a new initiative to ignite and sustain the Caricum identity. Caribbean community Caricum Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chagaramas, establishing the Caribbean community on the 4th of July 1973. Some 47 years later, Caricum continues to evolve, achieving new feats as it gets stronger. Ambassador to Caricum and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OECS, her Excellency Elmer Jean Isaac, explained that citizens in every member state have a role to play in molding Caricum's future. Like most 50-year-olds, the Caribbean community boasts sufficient youthful vigor to continue to imbue life and energy into our project. While tempering exuberance with the kind of wisdom that is born of trials, hard knocks and varied experience, there is no doubt that as a community of sovereign states, we sometimes have to manage a tug of war between national and regional interests. That is inevitable. But what is most important is that we never lose sight of why we have embarked upon this journey and ultimately the kind of heritage that we wish to create for future generations. The Regional Integration Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with the Caricum Secretariat will launch the IAM Caricum Communications Campaign in St. Lucia. Her Excellency Isaac explained that the campaign is aimed at increasing visibility and understanding of Caricum among citizens of the community. It seeks to engage and assist citizens of the community to locate themselves within the Caricum construct, institutions, governance structure, policies and plans, and to take ownership and participate fully in the Regional Integration Development Agenda. To launch the IAM Caricum Campaign and in celebration of Caricum Day 2020, the Unit has planned a number of activities, including the unveiling of the IAM Caricum Photo Frame, marking today as Caricum Colours Day, interviews, online games and the proper booth where persons can obtain information on Caricum's role, contributions, activities, strategies and the development of the Community Strategic Plan. In designing the 2015-2019 Strategic Plan, the community made a significant effort to include as broad a cross-section of citizens as possible. A similar participatory approach is being used in crafting the Strategic Plan that will govern the movement post-2020. Minister of Responsibility for External Affairs Honourable Sarah Flood-Bowbre highlighted strides made by Caricum. We have taken strides in fulfilling the mandate of Caricum to promote economic integration and cooperation amongst members with actions such as the implementation of the common external tariff and the widening of the categories eligible for free movement of skills and labour. Together we have tackled imbalanced and unfair global systems analogous to the parable of David and Goliath, whether it be through our well-orchestrated advocacy on relaxing the criteria to international funding to reflect the cognizance of the economic and physical vulnerabilities of small island developing states or strategically lobbying the removal of member states from black lists by entities, even after commitments have been made to alter domestic legislation or when current practices are consistent with internationally approved recommendations. To commemorate Caricum Day 2020, the Government of St Lucia launched Caricum Colours Day, an initiative geared towards promoting the Caricum identity and increasing public awareness of the organisation, its institutions and their work. And as the Caribbean region celebrates Caricum Day, the heads of government and the peoples are facing the single largest threat to member states in recent history, the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the lockdown of the islands and the closing of their borders to each other and the world. But as the with Caricum states having flattened the curve, travel is resuming. The Government of St Lucia has introduced new and updated protocols for arrivals from July 9 2020. Travelers will be required to obtain a negative PCR test within seven days of travel. However, a travel bubble comprising Caricum territories that have zero or low instance of COVID-19 cases are exempt from the seven-day pre-testing requirement and quarantine. The Government of St Lucia has also announced a reduction of the 54 EC dollar departure tax for regional travelers. Minister of Responsibility for External Affairs Honourable Sarah-Flood Pobre made the announcement at the flag raising ceremony in honour of Caricum Day. The most recently confronted challenge has been access to equitable and affordable regional travel and in that regard I am pleased to announce that in response to the current pandemic and to contribute to the regional efforts to bolster intra-regional travel, Cabinet of Ministers of St Lucia intends to approve the reduction of the departure tax on regional travel to 35 dollars. Minister of Responsibility for External Affairs Honourable Sarah-Flood Pobre There is good news for travelers from St Lucia to the United Kingdom as the island is among countries on the travel corridor list released by the UK Government meaning visitors from St Lucia do not have to self isolate on arrival in the UK. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Chasne says this is testimony to the success the nation has had in managing COVID-19. The director of the Pan American Health Organization has also commended the island's handling of the pandemic. Dr. Caricia Etienne has cautioned though that the reopening of the economy here and in the wider region be guided by data. The personal, social and economic toll of stay at home orders has strained our region and the political pressure to ease restrictions is palpable. However, the virus cannot be left unchecked. As we are seeing countries, states and cities that do not embrace preventive measures or relax restrictions too soon can be flooded with new cases. This forces us to face a hard truth. We must not abandon what works because of fatigue or political pressure. This virus does not work that way. We need to double down on measures that save lives early on and to deploy them with more precision than ever before. We must let data not passion guide our actions. The power director advises that countries open gradually taking a phased approach that relies on robust surveillance, expanding testing and contact tracing capacity. Reopening is not merely suspending travel restrictions and stay at home orders. It requires implementing a set of public health measures to track new cases and build sufficient capacity to detect and control new outbreaks. These steps include the ample access to timely testing for every suspected case and their contacts. We need tests, but we also need test results to be reported quickly to paint an accurate picture. The isolation of cases. Anyone with symptoms should have the guidance and support needed to reduce the chance of transmitting the disease to others. Contact tracing. This should be in place wherever possible, anchored to a strong primary healthcare system that can help reduce the risk of transmission among vulnerable communities. Tracking health systems capacity. We must ensure that the number of hospital and ICU beds remains sufficient to provide care to severe cases. The ample access to information and PPEs. This includes access to PPEs for health workers and the training to help them reduce their personal risk. And as air travel to St Lucia resumes, the Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries, in collaboration with the St Lucia Tourism Authority, NAT Med and the Ministry of Health made a donation of personal protective equipment to PPE to tourism transportation operators. More from Lisa Joseph. The equipment includes 20,000 gloves, 1,020 cloth masks and 840 hand sanitizers, some of which are locally made in keeping with the ongoing by-local campaign. Officials say with the level of vulnerability of the operators that include taxi and rideshare operators on island, the overall aim is to mitigate any possible spread of COVID-19 into communities. Donald Envite, a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Information, Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries explains that the Ministry has been working feverishly with the various stakeholders to ensure all precautionary measures are taken. In preparation for the resumption of tourism and travel coming in the next week, we are here to present a gift we consider. We consider it also an investment as a measure of getting the taxi sector prepared for the road ahead. One of the things we have to ensure is that we adhere to all of the protocols as designated by the Ministry of Health and as part of that is the PPEs. So these play a fundamental part in terms of the preparation for you who are here today represented by so many taxi operators and associations. Minister for Tourism, Information, Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries, Honourable Dominic Fede, explains the importance of putting these protective measures in place. We have to prepare ourselves because if anything we can see with COVID, it is a pandemic of glorious uncertainties. What obtains today doesn't obtain tomorrow. So there could be a vaccine found tomorrow and then this will all be over. So what we have to ensure is that whenever that time comes, whenever the world is ready to have tourism in a meaningful way again that we are prepared and that's what today is all about. It's just ensuring that you or taxi drivers are ready to compete, that you have the standards in place, that you are not left out of the equation but you are rather included in what we are trying to do to get our country and our tourism sector ready for that eventual reopening. It's only a matter of time. No one can tell when. Matthew Hutchinson, Vice President of Southern Taxi Association, expressed gratitude on behalf of the operators for the donation of the PPEs. And we have to give credit to the government and the ministry for the way this whole COVID-19 situation has been handled. I must say that when you consider the fact that all taxi drivers are in waiting, not receiving a salary, I think with Southern Taxi in particular. I think our members are ready. We know that they are going to be risks but life must go on. I must also say that we as Southern Taxis in the center of the process operating at UNR airport, we have had a number of meetings and that is another reason why we should commend the government officials and in particular the Ministry of Tourism for keeping us engaged and collaborating with us in this effort. The hand in over ceremony of the PPEs took place Monday, July 6, 2020 from the Government Information Service. Lisa Joseph reporting. The Cuban team of medical practitioners who are on island assistance inclusions fight against COVID-19, have successfully completed an English language course facilitated by the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College held a ceremony in recognition of the Cuban medical personnel who successfully completed the first phase of the English as a second language ESL course. The English as a second language program was designed to help the Cuban doctors and nurses communicate with local medical personnel, patients and the community at large while they assisted St. Lucia in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 80 Cubans completed the program which spanned over a period of five weeks from June 1 to July 2, 2020. Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, John Calyxt commended the brigade on completing the ESL course and expressed gratitude to the team for their assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board should be unified in fighting against this global pandemic caused by the global coronavirus COVID-19 and in this regard we cannot underscore the importance of the Cuban medical brigade in their attempts at international cooperation and solidarity, especially in small and urban states like ours, where we have limited resources. Therefore, as a good work gesture, the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, in recognition of the contribution that the Cuban doctors and nurses have made to control the spread of the coronavirus in St. Lucia, offered to conduct an English instruction that would enable more effective communication with local medical personnel, patients and the community at large. Ambassador of Cuba to St. Lucia, his Excellency Alejandro Semancas Mare, expressed gratitude to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College for the opportunity given to the medical brigade despite the challenging conditions. There were many people also with little time available and who needed a differentiated attention because they had different levels of English. But our friends at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College demonstrated that there are no obstacles when there is a determination and perseverance. Then, when I visited our collaborators, they were always busy. I was told, don't bother them who are studying English. Don't bother them because otherwise the teachers will scold them. Don't bother them they are doing the homework. Our doctors, nurses and biomedical engineers became your Cuban students and were able to enrich their heritage thanks to you. The Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Fiona Meyer, stressed on the importance of the mutually beneficial relationship between St. Lucia and Cuba. We embrace the different cultures what Cuba has to offer and what St. Lucia has to offer and where best, most appropriate in the medical field. Can you imagine why you're not feeling well? It's not a time you want to socialize, it's not a time you want to try and translate. And we must applaud Sir Arthur. We must applaud it because as much as we see this as giving to our Cuban counterparts, it is giving back to our St. Lucia's. Sessions continue in July 2020 with a second batch of new learners, as well as continuing participants. The presentation of certificates of completion took place at the Golden Palm Event Center on Saturday, July 4th, 2020. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. This is NTN Nightly, up next, Primers Hutchinson with the NTN Neufel, okay all. COVID-19 is a new pandemic disease as declared by the World Health Organization. It is transmitted directly by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes or indirectly through rubbing the face with contaminated hands. There is still no specific treatment or vaccine against COVID-19 and as such, the farming community should adhere to some special recommendations. Reduce your farm labor to only essential workers. Ensure regular hand washing with soap and water or use 60% to 95% alcohol-based hand sanitizer until soap and water are available. Clean all work surfaces and farm tools such as cut glasses, forks and sprayers with a 10% bleach solution. Ensure that toilets are cleaned thoroughly after each use and sanitize daily. Prohibit visitors to the farms. Limit contact among farm workers and promote social distances, ensuring six feet between each worker and promote a no-hand shaking or unnecessary touch policy. More than ever before, your important role as the gatekeepers of St. Lucius Nutritional Health and Food Security should be taken seriously. When you exercise these precautions, you not only safeguard your health but also continue to allow all St. Lucian's access to freshly grown fruits, vegetables and other local crops. Remember, it is our responsibility to ensure our nation eats fresh St. Lucius Best. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchingson for the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial. Assume puis télévision national pays à NTIA Nouvelle Aquial, Primes Hutchingson. Departement les pompiers, c'est le signe où s'il vous est détruc, haudions, services charitables les pompiers, haudes Toronto, un pays Canada, pour aider, faciliter et faire bataille contre défaits. Ça c'était le 23 juillet 2002. J'ai mené après coup en établissement les pompiers, un vieux fort, éclené par des subventions de département les étrangers en St. Lucie. Positration salaire a venu possible par Effort conseil général, St. Lucie, pour Canada, Charles Francis, qui travaille près et puis c'est le premier Canada pour faciliter le voyage de Troc Salaire pour St. Lucie. Ambassador de Bonne Volunté pour St. Lucie, Ken Cittoli, service business, pour transporter de Troc Salaire à Péya. Deuxième grand chef, le pompier, Monsieur George Victrim, déclaré qu'il posaitation des Troc-là, qu'il fait tout plus facile pour les pompiers faire bataille défaits en St. Lucie. Ça conserve équipement pour gomminer défaits bien chers. Gouvernement, c'est un des nous, bien qu'il possible, mais c'est pas tout de bas, il faut ça faire en St. Lucie. So, let no one aid from lot organization, we can be apreciated because we have a truck to go medifit, but we have a truck to go to a lodge. Yes, assistant will join, because he can be a vendor. Selon Victrim, the Troc Salaire capable of forming a more advanced degui, which is the truck that we presently have. Yon, on a l'échelle, he can extend, we have a hope for a sapier, so sa s'enchaïs au pièce, a building on the kibbehu, so sa goumeni fea adeik, so sa usi an sinonipu meni amundi, sa rescue amundi, as we on se building sa kibbehu, and we can do it optimally. A parmi les officiers qui a doissé sa harmoniancité, chef le pompier, Monsieur Joseph Joseph, mnisez a fae security, as sa s'enchaïs au nom de Helmengl Francis, mnisez la kibbehu, sa scosabilité, sa fae les étrangers, sa si honnouave, saura flotte-bobre, et que posatif le pompier, sa si le pompier, sauit a par Canada, Craig Darkeray. Dibutement à l'éducation, c'est le si, commencez pour Guam, pour assister les étudiants, et puis live ou suivre l'éducation, pour l'année 2020, sa si pour les étudiants, qui cantouent à l'école les enfants, et les colles premiers. Le conseil est pour moi, que toutes les livres qui ont été étonnés, n'est pas un beau condition, et que les livres qui apportent pour assurer la performance et la caractérisation, généralement, pour étudier, supposent, une information nouveau. Le pour moi, c'est pour aussi, pour les étudiants, et qu'ils ne pourront pas m'entraîner, contre toi, pour étudier, de planer par si, c'est pour les étudiants qui ont continué pour Guam. Si, c'est un lot moun, qui carrément, c'est étudiant, c'est étudiant, qui carrément, pour les étudiants, on let the authorization, d'avoir tant de power à ça là, que pour exemple, à ces différents plus des distributions, ça là, qui carrément, pour porter masse à suffisage, à eux, et pour sanitiser les meilleurs, et pour obéder à l'état social. Distribution pour PowerSlimo 8, qui a fait un bioéducation, comme on sait, les six, pour les 10 droits, pour PowerSlimo 7, c'est les 12, pour les 10 droits, à bioéducation, pour PowerSlimo 6, c'est les 20, pour 24 juillet, à bioéducation. PowerSlimo 6, c'est les 27, pour les 31 juillet, à l'école secadère MIKO, en PowerSlimo 4, c'est les 3e à O, pour les 20 2020, en Tizafan, les calls RC, pour PowerSlimo 3, c'est les 3e, en Madao, pour les 7, à les calls Tizafan RC, en PowerSlimo 2, c'est les 10, pour les 14, à O, à l'école Tizafan RC, à PowerSlimo 4, c'est les 7, pour les 20, à O, à l'école Tizafan RC. Colleagues, fellow citizens, for the qualification, for the medical officers, for the public, who have finished the first IIT, this Langash Angli, for the government to the specific organization for the initiative, for the good volunteers, for the medical officers, and for the citizens, to be certified, to be approved, to be certified, to be approved, in Golden Palm Events Center, in Rodney Bay, Samedheli, Kachui, Atelier Addiway, for six months, started the first year, for the second July, for the English state program, to assist the medical officers for the public, to communicate first, and for the medical officers to be certified, because they are sick, but here, they can fight because they are sick, because they are sick, the officers, for the medical officers, for the medical officers, for the good volunteers, to be certified, to be certified, to be approved, to be certified, for the session, to continue, in July, for the second group, to participate, and that's it, we will talk about this, thank you very much, for watching, I have an invitation, to come and consider, what is life, and what is the news, and what is life, and what is life, and what is life, in general. Merci à Pearl Primus, and that brings us, to the end of NTN Nightly, join us next time, at 7pm, with a repeat, at 7am. You can also catch up with us, anytime, on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page, or YouTube channel. I am Channel Norvel.