 Welcome to NTN Nightly. I am Anicia Antoine. This edition's top stories. Saint Lucians have received more than $36 million from the NIC's Economic Relief Programme. Saint Lucia is rated number one in the Caribbean for the national COVID-19 response. And the Ministry of Education presses on with replacing the common entrance examination. Saint Lucians are continuing to benefit from the Economic Relief Programme, administered by the National Insurance Corporation NIC. The program provides financial support to the thousands of NIC contributors who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the NIC has paid out $36.2 million to 15,805 contributors. The Economic Relief Programme provides payment of a monthly sum equivalent to 50% of the insurable earnings of an affected insured person subject to a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1,500. To date, the average monthly payout is $908. Initially making payouts for April, May and June 2020, the NIC extended the Economic Relief Programme for three more months, considering the ongoing adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business sector, including the hotel sector, which employs a significant number of its contributors. The National Insurance Corporation has issued a call to employers to update their portal information, given that hundreds of Saint Lucians are now returning to work following the reopening of economic activity. Head of Group Internal Audit at the NIC, Suwan Chalripane explains. The process starts by the employer informing NIC that those individuals that they would have uploaded for have since returned to work or their lay-off period has ended. Those persons would be paid up to the time they were laid off. In cases where the period straddles, so for example they got their return to work mid-month, so mid-August, when they just returned to work mid-August, there would be process up to August pending information from the employer as to how much they would have been earning for the month of August and that would be seen as the financial benefit that they would have gotten and would be treated as normal up to August. September they would not be entitled to an economic relief because they would return to full employment. McNaughton McLean, Communications Manager at the NIC, says the cooperation remains committed to see the economic relief program through to its scheduled end on 30 September 2020, however expects the number of beneficiaries to reduce as more businesses resume operations. We do anticipate with the reopening of the economy that we will see a reduction perhaps in the number of individual applicants receiving the payout. We don't anticipate it will be a huge number. You indicated 1,000 or just over 1,400 or so from the hotel sector as in comparison to perhaps 13,000, 14,000 employees that are employed in that sector. So while we will continue to make the payouts to the qualifying applicants, we do anticipate with the reopening of the economy that we will see some reduction in the number of persons actually receiving payouts from perhaps July up until September. The economic relief program forms part of the government's social stabilisation plan in response to the COVID-induced economic crisis. As of August 14th, St. Lucia was rated number one in the Caribbean for the national COVID-19 response. In a comparative data analysis of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 10,000 population in the Caribbean, St. Lucia had a rating of 1.4. The island has registered 100% recovery of the 25 positive cases of COVID-19. Minister for Health and Wellness, Senator Mary Isaac says this achievement is owed in large measure to the cooperation of citizens. This is not to say that we are out of the woods, as you know, there is still no vaccine for COVID. And since our borders are open, especially to the US and the UK, we have to continue to be very vigilant in order for us to maintain these ratings and in order for us to continue to contain the virus in St. Lucia. Senator Isaac says while the island's borders are open to international travel, including countries considered hotspots, illegal travel from neighbouring islands can compromise the fight against the pandemic. This is one of the greatest threats to us right now. People sneaking into the country without being tested, without a COVID test and who we are not aware come in and amongst our people here. And of course, as you can see, we have people who are not respecting the protocols. They are having big parties. They are having large congregations of people, people who are not wearing their mask. And these are the people who are putting our country at risk of reintroducing COVID amongst us. I need to caution those people as well as the people who encourage them to come in and hide themselves amongst us. I am appealing to the public, to our people, who have been the greatest part in terms of our accomplishment so far. I am appealing to them. If you know of any such person, you need to report the person to the authorities. Health Minister, Senator Mary Isaac. Training on the implementation of the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment, CPEA, led by the Caribbean Examination Council CXC, has come to a fruitful conclusion. However, the Ministry of Education has been pressing on with the groundwork. All eight school districts will be carrying out further training on the internal components of implementing the CPEA. We hear more in this report. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development is confident that it has developed a comprehensive strategy for the implementation of the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment, the CPEA, which replaces the Common Entrance Examination this September. Officials believe that the CPEA will better afford all students a more rounded education experience as well as enhance access and equitability in education. The Ministry has held a number of fact-finding missions in order to establish best practices. Education Officer for Assessment in the Ministry, Paterson Abraham, speaks under consultations with counterparts in St Vincent and the Grenadines. We had discussions on what were the experiences when they first implemented the CPEA program, what were some of the challenges that they experienced and some of the ways that they went about to battle those challenges and so that has helped us to create our own template as to how we see the best fit to implement this program come September in our schools. The Ministry has created a system of support for each of the eight school districts and officer has been assigned to work alongside education officers, curriculum officers, numeracy and literacy officers, principals and teachers. Training is also being provided to address identified areas of deficiency. Some of these areas are the development of table of specifications when it comes to the development of tests and so what we have planned to do is to carry out additional training with those teachers, with our principals, with our education officers so that the monitoring is very effective and that the successful implementation of the program would be something that we all can look forward to come September of this year. The challenges presented by COVID-19, Mr Abraham says, have been factored into the implementation plan. Many persons may feel that it may be a challenge but we are also taking into consideration the changes in the school D as well as the number of days that students attend school. We are also taking this into consideration in our implementation plan. So I think so far what we have done and the structures that we have put in place would definitely address those shortcomings and see a great success in the implementation. Given the groundwork that has taken place and the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and partner agencies like Camdo, Mr Abraham says St Lucia is well on the way to a successful implementation of the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment Program. From the Government Information Service, Lisa Joseph reports in. In an effort to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Republic of China Taiwan has donated a total of 10,000 surgical masks to St Lucia's judicial workers including frontline policemen and firefighters. The Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan to St Lucia, His Excellency Peter Shen, recognized the important role frontline workers play in keeping the country safe. The Ambassador explained that the donations form part of Taiwan's commitment to assisting the people of St Lucia. For the past few months, the war has suffered from COVID-19. I admire the honorable Prime Minister and the Chinese leadership and efforts of the people of St Lucia during these challenging times. St Lucia has reported a 100% recovery rate with zero COVID-19 related deaths but an accomplishment. St Lucia has been one of the closest diplomatic allies of Taiwan and has always been supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as UN, the World Health Organization. And it's only natural that Taiwan stands by St Lucia, especially at a recovering time like this. The Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Senator Honourable Human Guild Francis, expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of China Taiwan for their continuous support. I want to say that this is not the first donation that Taiwan has given to St Lucia. Taiwan continues to be a very, very, very important and good friend to St Lucia. And so on behalf of the people and Government of St Lucia, we want to thank you for your continued support to assist in our country, not only in these medical equipment, but you have done human service for us when it comes to agriculture, education, and other areas including sports. So again, I don't want to take too long. I just want to thank you very much for inviting us to this ceremony and to thank you for the donation of this face mask, which will go a long way in assisting our frontline officers in dealing safely with this pandemic. Attorney General of St Lucia, Stephen Julian, was on hand to receive the donation on behalf of judicial workers. St Lucia sees Taiwan as a true friend and this donation is a demonstration of it because as far as I'm aware, we are receiving having not even asked. So you've seen the need, you have appreciated the work done by our frontline workers and with your sterling record of where it pertains to COVID-19 and your response, you're world leader in that area. And with our own amourable efforts, we think we would only be strengthened in keeping St Lucia on the right path, protecting our nationals, protecting those who leave home every day and go and serve us to fight the scourge of COVID-19. So we're very appreciative of it. The hand-in-over ceremony of the surgical face masks to place on Friday, August 14, 2020. This is NTN Nightly. Up next, Primus Hutchinson with NTN Novello Quay 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 labour 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 sanitized 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 Lucia's 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 Lucia's access to freshly grown fruits, vegetables and other local crops. Remember, it is our responsibility to ensure our nation eats fresh, St Lucia's best. Welcome back. We now join Primus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle-aux-Couillol. I am from the Cabinet Government, a company called Cabot. I am here to address the situation of the development of Tewi's expectation for the construction of the Kaiwizida Economic Business and for the reverse of the construction costs and for the opportunity to explain to the public the importance of the situation. I am here to declare the name of the company, called Cabot, and the name of the company, called Tewi, which was an agreement that is already made with the companies that have been under Tewi's reservation. The department explained that it was an agreement to cut the net concerns under the Tewi's reservation company, among which is the Board oflden Connaught Counts, Secret Beach, among which is the land ownership set up under the Tewi's reservation company, which was established by the staff of the each of the includes theêter. According to the Department of Health, we have made an assessment, an appeal, and that the government ministries have their own recommendations to consider. The cabinet has returned its recommendations to the Department to review and consider my presentation. According to the recommendations, we have made recommendations to approve an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. The cabinet approved an agreement to approve a social security agreement for 75 years in a condition that the department was established and approved by the government. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to approve an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to approve an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. According to the Department of Health, we have made an agreement to lodge a social security agreement in July 2020. to control the disease. We have a report from the New York Times, the Prime Minister has called for these planes to be used for development and implementation tests for all passengers. We have a discussion with CNBC, the Prime Minister has explained that there will be a chain discussion in the industry of planes to address this situation because it can solve a serious problem for everyone. We have a discussion with CNBC on the 12th of October, and also on the 7th of October. We have a discussion with the media on the financial issues that have been caused and that have been dealt with this action. It is so fast that the corona and the action has been seen by the Prime Minister. We have Alan Chastner, I have talked about the situation of corona with the great economic pressure associated with this crisis. This crisis is 100% free from the corona disease. The police have set up a vilcastry to continue the program of the tests to place them in a position to assist the Prime Minister. This week, the police have decided to follow the tests to learn how to conduct their exercise, to search and search for medical devices, to address the 12th of October to act, and then the prisoners are closed. The prisoners have to be equipped with various services in France. Mr. Frost Chico, the organization of the police has facilitated this before it has been signed. Before that, the police has signed three days of training to communicate effectively. It has been done in collaboration with the Minister of Justice and the Director of Public Prosecution. Mr. Limer, to vilcastry, Peterson Francis, declared that this training cannot continue to place these policemen in the first position of development and that they are more capable of acting and doing their work. Mr. Francis remarked that in this situation these prisoners have to pay as much as necessary to continue this training to make these policemen more prepared to place their positions to address these first situation. The first situation is that these representatives come in and critical to these policemen to vilcastry to receive these training to make them more capable and more responsible to make them more capable to work in this situation. This is the result of our new event. I thank you for your time and for your invitation. I also thank you for the new event. The next one is Aalicia That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7 p.m. with a repeat at 7 a.m. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Saint Lucia government Facebook page or in Ochu channel. I am Aalicia Antwang.