 Welcome to NTN Nightly, I am Janelle Norville. This edition stops stories. St Lucia's Prime Minister has once again been selected to play a critical leadership role in the region. Government's roadmap to recovery from COVID-19 is dissected and the Department of Education wants against fake news. The 10th Special Emergency Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government has concluded on how curriculum will withstand COVID-19. Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community carry come, met virtually on the 5th of May 2020, specifically to continue their efforts to harmonize their responses to and policies on the multifaceted impact of COVID-19. Heads of Government welcomed a presentation from a regional working group, which indicated that the pandemic was largely contained in the region due to the decisive action by governments to put restrictions in place. They also noted the emphasis by the group that reopening by the member states must be done with the health consideration being the forefront criterion. The recommendations also included suggested criteria for a protocol on the reopening of airports for intra-regional travel. In that regard, Heads of Government established a subcommittee led by the Honourable Alan Shasne, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, to have discussions with stakeholders in the tourism industry, including the hoteliers, airlines, cruise operators and the labour unions to settle the appropriate protocols needed to ensure safety for workers and visitors upon reopening of the sector. This would be informed by a regional public health policy. Heads of Government stressed their determination to speak to the cruise and airline industries with one voice. The Government of St. Lucia has expressed its commitment to continuing capital projects in order to prevent a total collapse of the local economy. This is exceedingly important given that investments and prospective investments in St. Lucia have been hard hit. The issue was examined Sunday evening during a live panel discussion on the National Television Network. More from Anissa Antoine. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a lasting effect on investment and the economy. The COVID-19 roadmap to recovery, the role of investment panel discussion, focused on the review of the economic impact of the pandemic on St. Lucia, whilst charting the road to recovery. The panel of experts wading on the state of the economy, the medium-term development strategy, the support for local investments and St. Lucia's capital expenditure and investments projects. Tommy Descat, Chief Economist at the Department of Economic Development, spoke on the key areas currently being focused on in the medium-term development strategy. We think that some of what we try to achieve are structural, try to remedy structural issues in the economy that has been there since post-independence. Essentially, pre- or post-COVID, these will remain, and so the government needs to still continue these initiatives. However, we see the MTDS now being positioned as coming and giving us stimulus during this time. So it's really about the issue of timing. If we fast-track some of these initiatives, particularly infrastructure projects, we have a very ambitious road infrastructure project and again, building climate resilience to infrastructure. We have a hurricane season just around the corner. So we see the medium-term development strategy now doubling up as a sort of a stimulus in the short term by providing an injection of resources into the economy through capital projects, but also helping us and putting us on a platform that we can have a quicker recovery. The chief economist explained that the majority of the initiatives will be financed through multilateral development banks ensuring transparency in public procurement processes. Descat also noted the importance of ensuring that the projects are labor-intensive. I would like to say that most of the projects are at the commencement of the cycle of the construction fees and that's generally the period where it's very labor-intensive. And so we see that you won't just have projects happening and it's just a few persons. We anticipate that because of the magnitude and the size of the projects that we'll be embarking upon, it will absorb a significant supply of the excess labor that we see in the economy. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Karen Fontinelle-Peter, explained that the Chamber of Commerce is in the process of developing investment avenues for local investors. Private citizens, I'm certain, have projects who are in the stages of negotiation, maybe a government ministry is holding up some part of it. So we need to and we will actually, we are proposing a local investment forum, investor forum, the Chamber that is, where our local investors can come and present and identify those projects that they have in the pipeline and trying to get them started for the longest while. And for one reason or the other, it's being held up, whether it's by the ministry or whatever. So some sort of intervention would be required. So we could get our own private citizens who have those projects to develop, get it going as well. The President of the Chamber of Commerce commanded the government on the measures being taken towards the recovery of the economy post-COVID-19. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Andouan reporting. The arrival of more than 200 St. Lucians who are employed by Carnival Corporation has gone smoothly. The St. Lucians employed on the Carnival Glory and Caribbean Princess were repatriated after weeks at sea. The Department of Health and Wellness on Friday 8th May 2020 received some 219 St. Lucians who worked aboard the cruise ships Carnival Glory and Caribbean Princess. The receipt falls under the government of St. Lucians' efforts to repatriate individuals unable to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals were placed into quarantine for a period of 14 days as per the country's established protocol. Chief Environmental Officer in the Department of Health and Wellness, Parker Ragnanan, explained the process undertaken by the health team. We are doing two things. One is to look at the medical records of the vessels and ensuring that there are no infectious diseases onboard and that's part of the review of the maritime declaration. After that is done, then clearance would be given for the vessel to disembark the nationals. Once the nationals disembark, they would then be screened by our medical personnel here. The screening would take two forms. One is a temperature check will be done as well as monitoring for any visible signs of respiratory symptoms. If anybody poses such symptoms or elevated temperature, they would be managed separately. It is expected that once they have cleared the health assessment that they would then board the transport that is provided specifically for them and they would be taken straight from here to the designated facility for quarantine. Quarantine is necessary for persons who are well with no symptoms of ill health but who may have been exposed to a communicable disease. It restricts the movement of healthy people who may develop a disease after possible exposure to an infectious agent like COVID-19. The individuals repatriated during the quarantine period will be monitored by healthcare specialists including temperature checks and assessment of respiratory symptoms routinely for the entire quarantine period. Minister for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries and Chairman for the National COVID-19 Response Committee, Hon. Dominic Fede, said the government remains committed to getting all conclusions home. We applied a lot of pressure on the cruise lines to make sure that our citizens come home in the quickest possible time. Now we are bearing the cost as a government to do the quarantine. They are coming from the United States and so we want to make sure that they are monitored for a couple of days, two weeks is the quarantine time, 14 days. And in monitoring them, the Ministry of Health officials will get a better handle on their health situation and that will then allow us to allow them back into the community safe and sound with their loved ones. The good news is that a lot of the people which we have quarantined, we see a very low rate of transmission coming from our quarantine facilities. So if the trend continues, this batch of individuals are likely to come out with very limited COVID transmission. So we are delighted that they are home, we are thankful. As part of the national COVID-19 response, quarantine centres have been set up in St. Lucia using various hotels to facilitate the large numbers of returning nationals through the repatriation process as well as any non-nationals that may arrive in the country. Institutional quarantine remains the standard for St. Lucia. We hear from a St. Lucia returning on his experience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe I had a unique experience unlike most of my colleagues because of the departments I work with, I work with guest services. So up until yesterday I was still working. I know that a lot of persons may have had cabin fever and all of that, but then particularly for me it was a very good experience. I know that the company did everything that they could. Before we moved from our respective ships to the Carnival Glory, I mean everybody was free to roam the ship as they would have wanted to. We were provided with meals and everything. The only downside is that when we moved from the other ships to Carnival Glory, because of the co-mingling we had to move up in the level of security. So it moved up to drastic measures where you were quote-unquote confined to a cabin, but you were still given the opportunity to go out, get vitamin D, socialise. Of course we're social distancing. I mean, I'm just thankful to be here. The Department of External Affairs continues working with ambassadors to facilitate the safe return of nationals. This however is done ensuring that quarantine capacity is maintained. The Government of St. Lucia reaffirmed its commitment to getting all St. Lucia stuck abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, home at the soonest. Meantime, Government is working assiduously at providing the best conditions for returning nationals who must be quarantined. Chief Medical Officer Dr Sharon Belmar George says given the large numbers, additional facilities are being organised. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to receive other St. Lucia crews, workers and eventually our returning nationals. Quarantine centres have been set up in St. Lucia using various hotels to facilitate the large numbers of returning nationals and any non-nationals that may arrive of concern. Institutional quarantine remains the standard for St. Lucia. However, in certain cases based on assessments, home quarantine has been facilitated. The Ministry of Health and Wellness be once again asked the public to work with us to reduce the impact of COVID-19. Our returning nationals are asked to abide by the quarantine protocols. We ask their relatives and loved ones to support them throughout the process. Further, if anyone is aware of any individual who has entered St. Lucia through unofficial routes to alert the authorities, all these measures are in place to keep all of us safe. The Ministries also continue in aggressive testing for COVID-19 in the community. As of May 8, 2020, St. Lucia has recorded a total of 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 17 of them are fully recovered and have reintegrated into their communities and one active case is currently in hospital care and recovering well. On Friday May 8, 2020, results for 45 samples were received and they were all negative. This brings a total of 620 tests conducted to date. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar George. The Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations has informed that information being circulated on social media requesting that students of Forms 2 and 4 report to the department for e-book devices did not originate from the Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations and is incorrect. The department's process is that students report their needs to their respective schools which in turn will forward to the department for processing. This process has been working well thus far and allows for students in all educational districts to be reached. All information from the Department of Education will be posted on the department's and government's official websites. This is NTN Nightly. Up next, Primers Hutchinson with the NTN Luffel. 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 of vaccine against COVID-19 and as such, the farming community should adhere to some special recommendations. Ensure that firm clothing and gear is clean. Wash hands thoroughly before harvesting crops. Use face masks and head ties whilst harvesting, cleaning and packaging crops. Use all safety precautions when transporting crops to the markets and depots such as handling crates and crops with only clean hands and covering sneezes and coughs with a tissue or the inner arm to ensure body fluids or droplets don't get on produce and washing hands or using hand sanitizer after using the tissue. More than ever before, your important role as 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 Primas Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle, a Queer All. Monsieur Tarjournel, M.D.A.M. Department of University of Saabilité for information on Governement, Settles, GIS and some of the National Television, PAYA, NTN Caposito Nouvelle, a Queer All. Primas Hutchinson, Department of Police Traffic. I have found good assistance to make the Plicofort Tab and the Nefio Lodge, such as the Colony House, as well as the Gonshime John Compton. Madeleine Cisse, Amad Me, Department of Traffic during your ceremony official, will receive $3,000 in Valais d'Imeb, a lot of necessity to establish a new salary. This foundation, Make It Happen, which makes it possible to make it happen, is your initiative, M. Raquel Diboulay-Chastney, M. Prime Minister Alain Chastney, an organization for police payers who, yes, for this salary, we have the Gonshime Pro for Police Traffic which was established before that, under the WIPON, which was in a bad condition. Second Chief of Police, Wayne Chalry, will receive the foundation to provide assistance to these police traffic. Chalry, yes, M. Diboulay-Chastney, will receive the same salary that will help these police. Also, M. Raquel Diboulay-Chastney, for the M. Tiai Foundation, Make It Happen, to provide these police traffic and provide comfortability to these police, not only for the police, but also for the owners of the official institution, Bordelay. M. Chastney said that it was a pleasure to make it happen, to support and assist these police traffic. M. Prime Minister Ashuteki, it was a pleasure to make it happen, to provide these police traffic and provide comfortability to these police, Make It Happen, to provide these police traffic and provide comfortability to these police, not only for the ones of these police traffic. All of this came from the beginning of the year 2016, M. Raquel Diboulay-Chastney, who is the head of the organization, in order to provide to the police, wheels, Road 365, call premier. Quantity of your point 647 billion dollars proposed for the next year is the cost represented 80% of all expenses 4.5% of the budget approved for 2019 2020 Prime Minister Alain Chastney made a statement about the budget for the next year thank you for your augmentation and the importance of your budget Prime Minister Chastney also said we have 6.6 6.4 3 million for the next year and 4.6 million dollars for the next year for the next year we have 3.8 6 million for the next year we have 12.4 million for the next year Prime Minister Diki proposed to save the budget for global party for tourism present model. When it's for a fair development economy, I know of Guy Joseph, it will play a big part so the River Desk has to be cooperated by the government about the facility in the Bayou. Mr. Joseph, who spoke during the ceremony, he put the facility in the River Desk and the place has to be cooperated. He declared that he would appreciate the great cooperation with the Bayou. He said that the place will be cooperated by the government to facilitate the river. We have been here for a long time. We have been here in Lodzside last, in Jeremy Street. We have been here for a long time. We are happy to have a place here because the River Desk has been built on the land of the River Desk in the Bayou. We have been here on the land of the River Desk and the place has to be cooperated. We have been here for a long time. We have been here for a long time. We have been here for a long time. We have been here Aqueola. We say, Mokafu Pusato. Janelle. Merci. Apil Primus. That brings us to the end of NTIA Nightly. Join us next time at 7 PM with a repeat at 7 AM. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Janelle Norvel.