 Thank you for staying tuned. I just said goodbye, but welcome again. We continue with part two of this NTN special interview special with a senator the honorable Fortuna Belrose minister with Responsibility for culture and the creative industries in part one We did speak on quite a few subjects Within her purview and that is carnival happening next year Also the events that have been scheduled on the roster for this year how it will pan out if at all and also the national cultural policy as Articulated art as announced by the honorable Prime Minister Alan Shasney in his budget address We continue with this interview special Speaking on the income support program and senator Belrose. You did speak a little bit on it earlier But if you just go a little bit more in-depth in terms of how persons within the cultural industries Entertainers tend to benefit from this income support program due to the effects of COVID-19. Well, yeah, thanks In fact very early when we when we Got ignored from the Prime Minister that an effort would be made to support our artists We were able to communicate with the cultural development foundation Who to the lead in terms of mobilizing the various persons in the artistic in the in the artistic community to apply The critical thing is the there is a criteria, you know, it's not everybody that will that will benefit You to to apply it meant that you would have had to show proof That you were employed and as a result of COVID you lost that employment of that income Once they can satisfy that requirement They would receive the support as it is now we have a very structured operation You can apply online or you can actually come into the Ministry of Tourism And sit with an agent who would work with you you understand to complete the application process or verify that your application is okay It has met the criteria you understand and you'll put through you put through the system The payments are supposed to be made from the 17th. When is the 17th Monday? 17th that is today today from today. Well from today from today I think the income support will actually be coming through to those persons and Yeah, we're quite happy. I think all the artists. I think there was some level of Not resistance. There's some apprehension. Yes about the program initially, but I think now it's being beginning to roll out You know people are coming in, you know those persons have not applied initially I think up to last week we only had about just about 2,000 persons were applied from the sector But I think now, you know with the advent of the new advertisements Etc for it and a greater effort to reach those persons on the ground people are now coming into into the free To apply for for the support, but we encourage the artists to come. We know it's a depressing time for them And that's just one addition one means, you know of getting some support small measure of support $500 you know for the next three months And so we just hope that it take advantage of it It's a small amount, but it's it's just an amount to show that we care, you know at this point in time We are small society. We do not have gold and silver, you know, but I think from our government perspective I think we are committed and we very you know empathetic, you know to to the plight of the artists at this point in time And the restrictions are not helping either, you know, because you know in St. Lucia We we St. Lucia's are people who love to go out who love to party love to fit And of course, there's always something happening in our country where the artist themselves get a chance to showcase their skills And so we are it's sad that we cannot do this if we have to do it It has to be in a very controlled environment And so as a government we we understand the plight that they're going through and we will do all we can to Continue to support them. In fact having having said that do I think there's some projects that are ongoing in some communities In in castries east now, we do have the mural being painted by an artist from the community Which will celebrate some of our outstanding citizens in that area and we're looking for ways to Engage artists even from within the creative industries to provide that support for them But at the same time achieve in some of the milestones that we want on the ground with respect to our art in public spaces and in the communities Okay On the ground if you could just give me a sense because certainly you would be going about getting a feel of what's happening in every district Persons who are craft makers Entertainers can you just give me a sense of what they're feeling due to COVID-19 the obvious this displacement is obvious Persons working in the hotels and so on. We're just now seeing the reopening of those high-risk sectors And it's being done incrementally. We're in the pilot phase. Can you speak to what's happening on the ground? What what their feelings are their concerns and how is the ministry are going to address these as best as possible? Yes, well, well, well, I think you would have heard the government's stimulus package So I think every solution who is involved in any one of the critical areas would be able to benefit From what is there? The artist or yeah, I think a lot of them Distabilize to some extent but a lot of them are using that opportunity to produce work You understand and so while while nothing is happening publicly for them They are actually in production mode and they are doing things to keep themselves occupied I think for a lot of them with families the issue becomes school is coming school schools This shouldn't be open and it would require the support again the government being visionary Has taken that into consideration and has provided support You know for parents who are taking the children back into school in September So they support with respect to the school grants the bullsries that is there for them So they just need to apply through the solution social development fund You understand for that assistance and so that can be given, you know to them to support the children through the school through the school system The government too with the with with with the stimulus program has also increased the number of persons who'd be receiving support You know from the from the Ministry of Equity and so that program is also there for those persons who are really in dire dire situation Again, there's just a process of registration and meeting and connecting with those persons in the institutions But yeah on the ground it's tough for them, but they are creative people they know how to survive and Yeah, they're doing what they have to do in the in the in the in the in the hotel industry The seven hotels that have opened up now also providing opportunities for our artists to perform So to some extent the industry is open But of course, you know limited limited numbers in so far as artists performing at the various hotels Artists artisans craft bosons actually vending at those institutions. So it is tough We recognize that it's really sad But I think we are working frivolously to ensure that our society opens up Incrementally so that more and more of them you understand can get the opportunity to go back to work And so that's why we must add here to the protocols, you know and ensure that we do one conform You know all of us, you know to to the protocols because we want our society to open up We want our people to get work We have to live with the COVID virus and so it's important for us to do what is right with respect to the management of that process Because at the end of the day, we all have to live it, you know and and survive in our country And we want to ensure that we do that with everybody on board with us after all we are all in You know this together absolutely When we come back I want to speak about how you know this whole situation of COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of being subscribed to the National Insurance Corporation So when we come back we talk a little bit about that as well as the other Plans and work of the Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries. Stay tuned Sweeteners and colors, too. We consume and we don't spare a thought for the damage that they'll do Damage that they do Think about the children Think about the children How will we say that? 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 St. Lucia and the Ministry of Sustainable Development with funding from the GEF Small Grants Program, UNDP The Good Food Revolution It's not a Thank you so much for staying tuned and we're just having a conversation in between the breaks But we continue with this NTN interview special with Senator the Honourable Fortuna Belrose Minister with responsibility for culture and the creative industries and just rounding off on the whole income support program if you could reinforce the importance of having contributing to the NIC at this time because certainly the Moneys that they would have been able to get at this time had they been subscribed those who now have to come to get the income support program Be part of the income support program from the government of St. Lucia They would be able to benefit more had they been with the NIC so speak to Subscription to the NIC as a way to protect themselves from these shocks such as COVID-19 Yes, and thank you very much for that. I think part of the challenge in our society over the years has been The artist themselves never really saw the value You understand of being part of the NIC or never felt it was necessary or didn't think it was necessary But the advent of COVID has made us Seen the light. Yeah, most persons in the light And so it's important for them to be documented in the system The good thing though is that the cultural development foundation for the last maybe five years or so had been working on a cultural mapping Project and they were able to to develop a database over that time with most of the artists not all But most of them were in that system And so it was very easy for us to be able to to disown from that data in there Who would they active people were with respect to? You know and beneficiaries possible benefit or potential benefit beneficiaries from the from the income support program Both with the NIC and also with the those who are not NIC I think what we want as a government is to ensure that everybody is within that one system With the national insurance system and hence the reason for us driving home the point that people must register Yeah for the income support But part of that is to ensure that they in the mainstream they come into the full with respect to being a part of the National Insurance Corporation That is the one pension plan that we have for our country. That is what we all should subscribe to And of course we know that with the artists they work Some of them find works periodically intermittently, you know, it's not consistent But what we want to do is to encourage them no matter how small it is to put something aside for wet days You must always do that. There's always that reserve, you know I remember as a child growing up in terms of the culture now You know, our parents teaching us that we must put 10% aside, you know for wet days So I I've never known myself to be broke in my life, you know, not that I was rich But I know that we always had to put 10% away, you know It's so if you work for $100 you put $10 away, you know And so when the hard time hit at least now, you know, you have something to fall back on And so that is where we we need to be and our artists now Part of the training I think that has been neglected over time is the training of the business of being in the business You understand of it and part of the the business of being in the business is Understanding that you must have savings for wet days. No matter how as near the income is you must put something away So when hard times hit at least you have something to fall back on and so rather than just the monks and draw You know and spending wildly you need to be able to factor and budget your money And so for us the whole question of helping build the capacity, you know of of these artists And working with them to realize their own personal goals I think that is very very very very very important And that's why we want to restructure the cultural development foundation in a way that it continues to focus on that Critical area of developing our human beings. You understand In in in the arts Wonderful going back to the work of the ministry for culture and creative industries I know you did speak on music development and the film industry as well If you could give us some insight as to the work that is ongoing to bolster these these sectors Yes in the case of the music industry a few years ago Well, not a few years ago. I think it was three years ago We undertook a project with the Caribbean Development Bank and the cultural development foundation And that project of course Was you know part of the project was the development of at least two music studios To assist the musicians and the artists in terms of finding that recording space Where they too can go in and produce their own music We're happy to report that the Grusley studio is currently being Finalized and of course we're also looking at the development of the second studio in the Dennery community So hopefully these two would be on stream maybe before before you end We hope in idea. We don't like what timelines on things because you know We've been there within the system, you know things take time, you know to happen because for me these studios should have been there a Long time ago, but then again the processes involve the location selection of the location Making sure you have everything in place the funding to make sure you deliver it Take time, you know, and so that has been part of the the retardation You know of of realizing of realizing that particular project But the government of Saint-Nicholas committed to the music industry You could see the development of our music over the years and part of the success that we've had in the carnival is our music You know the way people respond To the denry segment the Calypso the Soka music that we produce and of course We have a number of young upcoming artists and I didn't even speak about our brand ambassadors You know, we talked about the Goodwill ambassadors But the brand ambassadors those young people who stand out in our society who get a chance to go out there and represent And when people see them, they truly reflect who we are, you know as a people I think it's something that's that's another component of the program that we have a lot to talk You know, we could we can boast about Recognizing and acknowledging the significant contribution that these young people are making in our society As well as abroad, you know to the development of our country So we've taken that on board and you know in our culture, like I say people we always have difficulty Acknowledging the success of people Inherent in the Saint-Nicholas psyche, you know, we have difficulty acknowledging success But I think with the brand ambassadors program the focus is on trying to ensure brand and Goodwill to ensure that we recognize those models You understand and show appreciation for the efforts that they're making as time goes on in the hope You understand that the rest of the society the young ones will see well Yeah, I can find my place too in all of what's happening. You know if I do well the society will acknowledge You know and recognize the contribution I'm making and not that these people are doing it for that It's just that it's the model that you would want as a society to continue to have your people emulate You know, and so that's that's where that's where we are With this particular program So that was music. Yes. Oh with respect to film Yes, we've had some persons who've been working in film here for quite some time I think that there's need for us to formalize the industry in Saint-Nicholas We do have a local film association But we look into broaden that because we've got through our ambassador program quite a number of our people are involved in film We have Joseph Marcel Who was on the French press prince of billet? Yeah, and also commission of Gordon Williams Who is currently very active and involved in film in the u in the u.s And they have committed to working with us to ensuring that we formalize our film sector To ensure that the country continues to benefit because too many times We have persons coming in here filming taking the best parts of signal shields to the rest of the globe And we're not getting anything as a country, you know for it So I think it's time we capitalize on that And again with my government's thrust of trying to ensure that economically we reap the returns You understand for what it is that we can deliver as a people So that's that's critical for us. So we're working on that aspect as well Okay, we argue for another break when we come back We speak more on the work of the ministry of culture and creative industries But I also want to ask the minister about how she feels how how will culture be able to find its way In terms of the tourism industry how we market st. Lucia going forward things will have to be done very differently So stay tuned for that coming up after this break Overnight growing national unwraps Throughout the COVID-19 virus From the rest of the world in the tiny In this constantly changing environment resulting in sensory overload Cut through the noise and tune in to the national television network The official source of information all facts Thank you so much for staying tuned. We continue with our interview special NTN interview special with senator the honorable Fortuna Belrose and she is the minister with responsibility for culture and the creative industries Quite an extensive conversation we've been having on the work of your ministry In responding to this next fiscal dealing with this next fiscal year More specifically the COVID-19 situation how many have been displaced Within the culture and creative industries. So at this point I think tourism many persons were waiting hoping for the reopening of tourism The the the international flights coming back in But something very critical to that is now that we have to deal with COVID-19 The world has become even more ferocious in its marketing in its Advertising competition of the destinations the tourism destinations and looking at culture It is definitely something that is going to set us apart from the rest of the world It is something unique to us Can you speak to how we're going to tie in Culture to make us stand out among the rest of the world At this time dealing with COVID-19 on what have you. Yeah Well, I think it was very important for us as a country to ensure that we gave the right impression Of our country with respect to the management of COVID because across the world The countries will actually be measured by the ability to handle the COVID virus And I think Senutia stands tall in that respect which added now more global appeal You understand to the visitor wanting to come to Senutia So I think we did a good job in terms of projecting our image internationally and protecting our environment And keeping it sort of pure a free you understand from COVID. Yeah before COVID and even during COVID I think we've done a great job of maintaining Senutia's image. You understand internationally So that's why it's very important for us to to maintain that image And the way we can maintain that is by adhering to the protocols that have been established Because we've gotten the best advice. We've been able to take the best advice and work with it And our country has come through Very tall in in the whole process. It says a lot about our people It says a lot about our culture and how we were able to adapt and respond You understand to this pandemic. So I think we've given a very good impression of ourselves And the honor the the the onus now is on us to continue to maintain that When you look at our society, you look at our communities We're now moving into the the realm of the village tourism And so when people come to visit now, they'll be visiting and perhaps remaining in domestic In spaces, they wouldn't be Well, as it is now, they're not allowed to go Still not allowed. They're still in the pilot stage But they would stay in the beach. They would stay in the north They would probably see what's happening in that area But the object of the village tourism now is for each of our communities to come out Bring out and showcase what it is that is unique to them And people are coming when they come to your country. They come in for that authentic experience You know, what it is that is different about you, you know, and I think each of our communities when you look at our communities across St Lucia Every community is distinct is different If you you listen to the accents alone Across the country and the accent from Monripo is different to one in Dennery and it's different to the one in castries. So we all have some unique features In each of those districts that we need to bring out and the object of the village tourism program is to bring out that uniqueness You understand within all of us all of our districts And village tourism to also allows for the people within the communities to be empowered to take ownership of the industry Within the area and of course deliver, you know, to the visitors who come and visitors not necessarily foreigners But locals too coming into, you know, the various communities to participate in the industry So I think there's a great opportunity for us to showcase and for us to to Build on what we had with our industry before covid But covid has presented an ideal opportunity for us to look deep within, you know, to to bring out In in in a nice unique way, you know, what is uniquely solution, you know And and I think in in talking to the prime minister He always mentions the thing is is not just the authenticity, you know, but you you bring it out with the The boutique the chic, you know, the best that you can bring out You understand in that community, you know, with respect to the product So it it affords many things But I think the key was the way we managed the covid Managing covid internationally They they they has placed your country at a level where people always wanted to come to zenozio Now you have more persons trying to come and in the midst of covid We still have all these thousands of people coming every week, you know So it says a lot about your country, you know If we were in a mess then people would not be willing to come here But people are prepared to come and it says a lot about the way it was managed We need to continue in that vein and we need to be our brothers keeper in this If people are breaking the rules we need to report them There's nothing wrong in that because that's the only way we can continue to maintain a society that is free from covid Okay, and also coming out of covid we've seen so much our creativity I just want to segue into that aspect Creativity with the face masks and so on if you could speak to the potential for that being a new burgeoning industry Yeah, well, well not only that but you see I'm wearing my little um Bi-local Yes, absolutely because across across across our society I think people have recognized the value of investing in things local And so, you know, there's a greater greater thrust to you know to to get involved and Purchase in and looking for those authentic things these little things, you know that can remind you Of st. Lucia and where you are so the creativity is there I think what we want and you would have heard the prime minister in the past articulate about the The cashier's market and the work that happened there and what you would like to see there With respect to the vendors not all vending the same thing but vending, you know real solution products You know and not chinese products or taiwanese products, but solution products That people can be proud, you know to even use at their homes and keep at their homes and give us souvenirs You know, that's what we want to do and so we need to be able to tap into that We've trained the vendors we began the preparation. We began the process Hopefully we'll realize that outcome it takes time You know because first now to have gotten to this point We need to thank people like the folk research center for the work they did I think in the 80s early 80s and early 70s 70s and 80s Laying the foundation through events like the creole heritage Celebrations, you know for people to really appreciate what is theirs And so we see a manifestation of that now with people really wanting You know to to to get things local to buy local to think local to speak local to engage local You know, um, it's a big thing if you can't do it now, you're not in the groove So people like me who not too went in the path to I just have to keep quiet You know as a minister for culture But I think we've gotten to the point where people understand that if you are Lucian There's some things that you must do, you know, and I think that's where we always want it to be So so it's great that we are getting there Um, I think now we just as a people need to take ownership of what is happening You know and and just ride with it and continue to grow and build our country in the way that we ought to build it And I think there's a wonderful platform We saw a high level of patriotism as the world that was watching as st. Lucia was doing such a wonderful job in its response to covid 19 Now every st. Lucia in every crevice of the world. It wants to let the world know that they are That's right. Yeah, st. Lucia and even for those of us who engage in meetings internationally You just proud to give your report on the status of st. Lucia You understand when when when people are counting. Well, what's the death toll in your country? Well, st. Lucia is zero We are covid free, you know, it's just nice to say in an international forum So it left us covid 19 came but it left people like me for a very good feeling Good feeling about the potential of our people and what we can do as a country And that is what the culture is really all about. That's what we need to continue to infuse Let us not be negative. You understand when we see things like that happen We have to commend it. We have to we have to congratulate We have to embrace, you know, as opposed to being disruptive, you know about it We can be critical, but I'm saying let us in the main, you know, recognize that this is a great achievement And continue to support those persons who are pushing that agenda, you know, because it's positive Absolutely. Thank you very much for your time any final words as we wrap up Well, I just want to say to the um the the artistic fraternity that we understand the situation The government is there for you. I think we'll bounce back from this. We will recover, you know All the trends and support systems are there. Our country has done well for covid And we're just hoping now that once the economy picks up that there'll be a boundless, you know, many activities That would allow them to be able to regain, you know and find a way back into the system In the meantime, there are lots of support systems on the ground They just need to be able to work with us, you know And if they have any difficulty come into our ministry. We are there. We open, you know Come in and have a chat with us and we can work with you, you know to find your way Okay, thank you very much for that a two-part interview with a senator the honorable fortuna bellarose Speaking on her ministry a ministry ministry with responsibility for Culture and creative industries. Thank you so much for sitting in with us We do appreciate it and getting an update staying abreast with the work from your ministry the plans for the next fiscal year As well as the response to covid-19 at this time Considering the income support program and what have you for our entertainers our content creators Our persons who work within the cultural industry. So, thank you very much once again Thank you very much and with that we wrap up. My name is jessie leon. Thank you so much for watching Do stay tuned for more ntm programming