 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles. This edition stops stories. September records unprecedented tourism figures with more than 21,000 state-over-visitors. A major initiative aimed at improving cardiovascular health in St. Lucia is launched. The Department of Human Services celebrates St Lucia's centenarians and the NTN Nouvelle Arc de York. St Lucia's tourism sector has recorded another major feat, already basking in seven record-breaking months of increases for 2019. The month of September has proven unprecedented for visitor arrivals to the island, specifically state-over arrivals. Figures indicate that St Lucia received 21,608 state-over-visitors for the month of September, a 15% increase from last September and the largest percentage increase for the year. This figure also surpassed the record set in 2017, 20,049 by more than 1,000 additional visitors or 7.8% in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria that severely affected several other Caribbean islands that month. Most of this growth was driven by the 15% increase in arrivals from the US market and additional 1,156 visitors despite there being no major difference in airlift from that market. The second-largest real growth, 1,144 additional visitors were seen in the Caribbean market, which grew by 25%, owing in large measure to the hosting of CPL cricket endorsed under the Caribbean banner. All other markets except the UK and other parts of Europe, increased by double digits in September, with France and Canada in the lead, with 52% and 43% increases respectively. In more tourism-related news, the World Cruising Club is preparing to host the 30th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, the ARC, to St Lucia. This year, organisers are ramping up activities commemorating this milestone, including a youth component. Anise Antoine has details. Every year, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers attracts over 200 boats and 1,200 people who sail across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to St Lucia. The World Cruising Club WCC has officially announced the 2019 ARC Youth Team. Of the 12 young people participating in the ARC, six of them are St Lucia natives. Anthony Bergas, chairman of the ARC Planning Committee, explained that the ARC Youth Team has been conceived in commemoration of the 30th edition of the ARC and St Lucia's 40th independent anniversary. World Cruising Club have created a unique opportunity that celebrates both the history and the future of the connection between the ARC and St Lucia, and also brings the St Lucia youth and the local maritime industries to the forefront. In essence, the ARC Youth Team will place 12 young people together to sail across the Atlantic Ocean with the ARC this year. But it's not just any 12 young people. The ARC Youth Team is made up of six young people from St Lucia, four from Gran Canaria, where the ARC starts each year, and two from the United Kingdom. The ARC Youth Team will sail west across 2,700 nautical miles on a 72-still challenge of sailing yacht named Challenger One. This journey across the Atlantic Ocean will be an amazing adventure for our young participants, and I'm sure they'll remember it for the rest of their lives. It will undoubtedly be hard work, but at the same time challenging, spectacular, educational, rewarding confidence building and a solid lesson in team building. ARC Youth Team member Chris Anki Flood expressed gratitude to the WCC for granting him the opportunity to be a part of the ARC. When I got into sailing, I was hearing about the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, where every year during December time you'll have thousands of boats crossing the Atlantic, and I sat down and I said, well, one of those days I might get a chance if I keep my head the right, we're going the right path to get the chance to cross the Atlantic, and here I am today, thankful for the opportunity, for going across. If I'm nervous, yes I am, right? I've never been so nervous in my life before, but I've been training from, well not training, but going out Monday to Friday at the resort, sailing out in the Atlantic for an hour with staff and guests, and this is my practice until I leave. The ARC Youth Team is scheduled to leave Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday November 24th, 2019. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. The Department of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization PAHO recently launched the HEARTS Initiative aimed at improving the cardiovascular health of the St. Lucia population, more in this report from Phenel Neptune. The HEARTS Initiative has aimed at improving the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases in St. Lucia. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Millen-Fredericks-June says she's very pleased that St. Lucia is the first OECS country to implement the HEARTS Initiative, which will assist with better blood pressure control among St. Lucia. The HEARTS Initiative will require the active participation of persons who have hypertension, as well as all healthcare workers, particularly healthcare workers in the primary care settings such as the wellness centers, district hospitals, the general practitioners within the private sector and others. The goal is to ensure that persons with hypertension achieve very good control of their blood pressure so that they avoid the complications of high blood pressure. Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health and Wellness, Felix St. Helz says this initiative is extremely important as it will improve cardiovascular health in St. Lucia. In embracing the HEARTS Initiative, we are aware that much work needs to be done to ensure that behavioral change is paramount. The HEARTS modules allow for straightforward information and simple methods which will provide clear guidance to the healthcare staff. These modules undoubtedly will help tremendously with patient education, counseling and management. And we are anxious to assess the changes in behavior, body mass index, blood pressures, blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels in clients over the next few months. Pao advisor for chronic diseases, Patrice Lawrence-Williams, called on stick holders, healthcare workers, policy makers and patients to play a significant part to ensure better blood pressure outcomes. The implementation of the HEARTS technical package is therefore very cost effective. Our economies can no longer sustain the cost of care associated with the management of cardiovascular diseases at the secondary and tertiary levels. The HEARTS package utilizes highly efficacious and accessible antihypertensives at affordable prices designed to improve medication compliance, minimize specialist care and maximize the affordable cost of primary or preventative healthcare. The HEARTS initiative will commence in six wellness centers, Grenovier, Lacroix, Cicero, Babounou, Richfond and Belvie wellness centers. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fena Neptune. The Department of Health and Wellness has received reports of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease at some schools on Ireland. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious viral illness. It is common in infants and children younger than five years old and spreads easily in childcare settings because of frequent diaper changes and because young children often put their hands in their mouths. However, older children and adults can also get the illness. Dr. Michelle Francois is the national epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection. It is contagious. It usually occurs in children five years of age and under. However, adults and older children can get hand, foot and mouth disease. Most persons presenting with hand, foot and mouth disease would present initially with a fever, which would later be accompanied by lesions in the mouth, on the soles of the feet, on the palms of the hands, and it can also occur on the knees and the elbows, the buttocks and the genital area. There is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease. However, fever-reducing medication and painkillers can be used as persons presenting with hand, foot and mouth disease may have pain in the mouth. In such instances, parents and guardians are urged to monitor their children as they may refuse eating. Cool and or cold drinks can be administered to soothe pain. Hot, hot, crunchy and acidic food should be avoided. Persons may not always present all of the symptoms and some people may not show symptoms at all, but they can still pass the virus to others. Hand hygiene is also very important in reducing transmission. Hand, foot and mouth disease is transmitted mainly from person to person contact when individuals get into contact with the secretions from the lesions, as well as if they are in contact with contaminated surfaces or if an infected individual coughs and sneezes. Therefore, persons presenting with hand, foot and mouth disease, it is advised to refrain from going into work or to school as this can further spread the disease to other individuals. If you are unsure about your child's condition or if you notice that signs and symptoms do not improve, we recommend that individuals please go into your nearest wellness facility where you can receive advice and treatment from one of our practitioners. Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually not a serious disease and most persons recover in 7 to 10 days without medical treatment. The following measures can be used to reduce the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease. Frequent hand washing often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers. Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact in sharing cups and eating utensils with infected persons. This infects frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick. Avoid going to work or school until fever is gone and mouth sores have healed. The Department of Health and Wellness urges persons to visit their nearest wellness center for medical attention. And this is the NTN Nightly. Do stay with us. When a hurricane is approaching, safety of life and the preservation of livelihoods is most important. We should take heed. Create proper drainage along the contour of your farm. Harvest and store all crops that could be harvested and if possible to sell any produce, do so. Reinforce farmhouses by using screws or hurricane ties to secure the roof and ensure that it is boarded up. Remove all plastic covers from greenhouses and store properly in your reinforced farmhouse. Secure all official agriculture and farming business documents and policies in sealed plastic coverings. And perhaps consider taking out a crop insurance policy to secure your agro-lifelyhood. Take all possible precautions ahead of a hurricane or tropical storm. This is the hurricane season and we should be prepared. A message brought to you by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives. Welcome back. Ryan O'Brien is out on assignments. He will be here Friday with the latest developments in youth and sports. But we feature the young ladies who gave off their best in the Miss Independence Pageant 2019. Here's Chef Roy Marius. As part of the 2019 Independence celebration, the St. Lucia Independence Committee acknowledged and rewarded the participants who took part in the 2019 Miss Independence and Lucia Pageant. The prize-giving ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's residence on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. I just want to let you know that small opportunities are often the beginning of big enterprises. I know you've had a long wait for us to reward you, for us to recognize you. But as you go on in life, you realize sometimes there are obstacles. But what seems to be an obstacle sometimes is an opportunity to do better. So you have to wait, yes. But it's all worth the wait. Chairperson of the Independence Committee, Rosella King, commanded the girls for putting on a spectacular show. The Miss Independence show held this year was the best attended in years and showcased excellence from 10 beautiful and talented ladies from the length and breadth of St. Lucia. Thank you, contestants, for your participation. Because without you, we would not have experienced a show of that class, caliber, and high standard. Let's have it for our queen. Reporting from the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government, and Empowerment, I am Chevre Marius. The Ministry of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development, and Consumer Affairs will be hosting St. Lucia Business Month from November 1st to 30th. This year's theme, All in Our Journey, Our Future, Propelling Growth Through Entrepreneurship, aims to force and promote an enhanced entrepreneurial culture in St. Lucia. The activities for St. Lucia Business Month will be delivered in partnership with key public and private sector agencies and will include a series of targeted events in the form of panel discussions, workshops, symposiums, consultations, and business-to-business networking sessions. These activities are intended to highlight entrepreneurship and to promote it as one of the key success drivers for our economy's sustainable growth. As part of activities to commemorate St. Lucia Business Month, a media and ceremonial launch will be held on Friday, November 1st to 19th at the National Television Network and TN Studio here in our house, Point Seroton, at 10 a.m. And Governor-General Sir Emmanuel Neville-Snack was recently joined by Prime Minister Hon. Alan Chastney and the Department of Human Services in celebrating St. Lucia's centenarians. More in this report. In adopting social development goals, which seek to realize human rights for all, the Human Services Department hosted an afternoon tea party to celebrate centenarians around the island. The event was held at the Governor-General's residence on Saturday, October 26, 2019. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, Veldor Joseph, commanded the Human Services Department for hosting the ceremony and emphasized the need for more St. Lucia to embrace inclusiveness of the elderly. In St. Lucia, there is no place for negative stereotypes of older persons. The thinking that older persons should remain home, you don't take them out, the place for them is in the home and they should remain indoors, that should not be entertained in our island paradise. Rather, we must look at what we are doing, we must reorganize our community and national planning to ensure that we have adopted a whole of society approach. Again, it speaks to inclusiveness. Everybody is involved. Everybody has a contribution to make. Director of the Human Services Department, Beverly Ann Boyotte, expressed a gratitude to the centenarians who attended the event and made it a success. Thank you very much for your time, for being here with us and for allowing us to celebrate you, to celebrate your accomplishments. In St. Lucia, there is an urgent need to strengthen social protection against the risk associated with aging since our fertility rate has fallen, increasing life expectancy. Reporting from the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, I am Geoffrey Marius. And stay with the NTN Nightly. Up next, Prime Minister Hutchinson is here with the NTN Nouvelle or Coyol. Welcome back. We join Prime Minister Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle or Coyol. Particularly in St. Lucia, the country is the first country to be protected in the country. So, it is necessary to protect it in place because St. Lucia, even if it is directed and protected by the other countries in the north. So, according to the report, it is important to assist the police. As a consequence, Martinique also has to assist because Martinique's government has to take the initiative to protect this country and its people. The Ministry of Justice is here with Sarah Flood-Beaubere to talk about how the criminals in her equipment are well advanced and how these terrorists are... So, it is necessary to protect these police and equipment that, this time, Madam Beaubere declares that technology has to be advanced quickly and that criminals can benefit from it. But, in fact, it is not enough for the Selma government to fight against these criminals who are in power today. The second head of police services, Milton Desi, thank you to the foreigners for this contribution to assist the police. He said that the Nouvelle was very excited and that he was able to place himself in the most important position to continue fighting against these criminals. In addition, I would like to thank my senior, Dr. Patrick Anthony, for celebrating the national ceremony of the Coyol language, Lady Levetue d'Octobre and then Guaco-France for this speech. Since 1994, Coyol has been celebrating and observing every year in Karebla and other Coyol heritage nations. The land is yours, Lady. An observation, it was done by Dominique, Guadalupe, Partinik, Haiti, and this place. The Nouvelle was the Council of the Union. This year, several Cetlicians gathered together to reflect on the significance of the Coyol language so that with a lot of effort that I have made to develop and serve this language, Governor-General Atta Passe Dempollet-Luzi said these big steps that I have made to progress this language in this place and declared that in 1994, we had two regional workshops that were organized by the Cheshau Club and the National Foundation to develop Coyol at the NRDF. These workshops were founded under the language and then under development in 1994. Two, one under development of Coyol at the NRDF. Before we start, it was development with the production of Coyol in the BJP presentation by Governor-General. We have a lot of them. To start a program that will be available for three years, it will be in 2020 that we will start to build Coyol in schools, and then to build schools for three years. I would like to say that the celebration of Coyol in V4 is one that is very active with the people of Coyol who are helping to build all these communities that are in V4. Coyol has the opinion that the mayor of V4 is Mr. Denbo Bolin and that it is a cause to bring this community to summer in V4. During the celebration of last Sunday we called then Madam Bolin that is the mayor because of the celebration When we have a celebration of last Sunday so we have a celebration of last Sunday in V4 when we have a celebration of last Sunday in V4 we have to be able to solve it because we have to do it when we come here to cover all these these vehicles that are packed. So if we go out there or if we go out there if we go out there where the people are packed so after the year 2000 we are still giving away for breakfast. So I think that the more they give in, the more they give in for lunch but we are not going to allow ourselves to bring this whole community in the form of messages because we are going to have the same communities that are in summer except for all of those who are thinking about their churches to enjoy Coyol So, we are going to give We are not exhibiting all of this, we are not alive. The Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Culture of Fortinebel, is also there to celebrate with the occasion to celebrate all of this as a celebration so that we can embrace heritage. The food, the food, all of this is a celebration and I am very happy to celebrate this and I just want to continue to divide this people in all the countries to celebrate a great day. We are not doing this. We are not doing this because we know the idea of crossing this area is important. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming this way之目, and I am very happy My name is newestman L Fig. My name is Mr. Otter, I'm a guard, and I'm also invited to stay here. I also have a lot of news to share with you. If you want to stay here, I always have a lot of news to share with you. My name is Mr. Otter, and I'm also invited to stay here. Partly cloudy skies, occasionally becoming cloudy with some scattered showers, some of which may be heavy in certain locations and isolated thunderstorms. Residents and motorists in areas prone to flooding and landslides are advised to exercise caution. A tropical wave along with a share line will continue to cause increased cloudiness, showers and isolated thunderstorms across the Wynwood Islands during the next 24 hours. A second tropical wave located over the Central Tropical Atlantic is moving westward, near 12 miles per hour or 19 kilometers per hour. The tide for Castries Harbour was high at 5.27 p.m. and will be low again at 12.32 a.m. The tide for V4 Bay was low at 12.28 p.m. and is high at present. The seas moderate to locally rough with waves and north-easterly swells 5 to 8 feet or 1.5 to 2.4 meters. Small craft operators and sea bathers are advised to exercise caution due to rough seas. The sun will rise Friday at 5.58 a.m. And that brings us to the end of the 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 YouTube channel. I'm Nisha Charles.