 Welcome to NT and Mike Lee, I am Genelle Norville, this edition's top stories. St. Lucia's Chief Medical Officer cautions against relaxed attitudes towards the COVID-19 protocols as global cases rise again. The Plainview Combined School opens its smart classroom under the ICT in Education program and the winners of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports logo competition. St. Lucia's Chief Medical Officer has cautioned against relaxed attitudes towards the COVID-19 protocols as the nation registers decreases in new cases of the coronavirus. The caution comes as several countries around the world are experiencing increasing COVID cases. On a global level, the new cases of COVID-19 have increased for the eighth consecutive week with more than 5.2 million new cases reported in the last week. An 8% increase in deaths was also noted last week. The countries reporting the highest number of new cases include India, United States of America, Brazil, Turkey and France. On a regional level, Martinick registered 871 new cases in the last week with three different variants circulating. Dr Sharon Belmar George says this resurgence in the last four months is driven by the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and inconsistent use of public health and social measures. While the Ministry of Health continues the COVID-19 vaccination process on a daily basis across the island, the CMO is urging the public to continue practicing prevention measures. The Ministry of Health, we thank the public for their cooperation in adhering to the measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission as we manage our third wave. The Ministry of Health, we continue to monitor the global and regional situation and to strengthen protocols to ensure evidence-based measures are used to guide the recommendations and the protocols as we continue to live safely in a COVID-19 environment. The Ministry of Health, we alert the public that we are still at high risk to community outbreak due to the following. The high risk of international tourism markets, the illegal entry of persons from countries of high risk who are roaming in communities, the non-adherence of citizens to home quarantine, the non-adherence of visitors to hotel protocols, the reduced use and poor use of the face masks in public places, the increased mass crowd events noted across the island, the non-adherence to establish protocols at business places, the crowding of public buses without mask use. Dr. Belmar George is calling on all St. Lucian's to help maintain the gains thus far to ensure the continued safe reopening of the country. Meantime, the Director of the Pan-American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa Atien, is concerned that the Americas is experiencing a setback with the pandemic. Dr. Atien says the tragic milestone of more than 3 million deaths from COVID, nearly half of them in the Americas, is a reminder that we must do more to protect each other because this virus continues to be a threat in every corner and community across our region. In the last week alone, the Americas reported more than 1.5 million new COVID cases and nearly 40,000 deaths. Cases in Canada are still growing, particularly among young people in their 20s and 30s. And in the United States, infections are on the rise after weeks of declines. Nearly every country in Central America is reporting a rise in infections. Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic continue to drive most infections in the Caribbean. And many smaller island nations like Aruba, Belmuda, and Curacao are reporting a rise in COVID-related deaths. The recent volcanic eruptions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have led to evacuations with thousands of people currently living in shelters. More than 137 COVID cases have been reported in shelters thus far, and we expect more new infections in the coming weeks. In South America, cases are accelerating in Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Uruguay. Argentina has also seen a rapid growth of new infections and has assumed the third highest case count in our region. The PAHO Director says it is imperative that individuals take the COVID vaccines to bring cases under control. Dr. Etienne, however, notes the challenge with anti-vaccination messages. Misinformation, she says, is one of the most serious threats to public health, and it is most damaging when it fuels vaccine hesitancy. Because unreliable information spreads quickly, PAHO is collaborating with tech companies like Twitter, Google, and Facebook to address fake news and to ensure that the public can easily find accurate information. But we all have a role to play in stopping these rumors from spreading online or in conversations. When we read or hear something that seems outlandish or impossible, it probably is. Before sharing something, we owe it to each other to check the source and confirm that the information is true. This is only common courtesy, and if you have a doubt, please don't spread it. Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa Etienne. The Embassy of Taiwan this week presented equipment to the Plainview Combined School to facilitate the opening of a smart classroom. The initiative forms part of the ICT in Education program supported by the Government of Taiwan. More in this report. The opening of the classroom she explained sets the foundation for the development of technological competencies required to succeed in the global environment. To the students of the Plainview Combined School, today's gift is an investment in them. You are the future and we wish to ensure that you possess the requisite skills necessary to navigate this very dynamic digital space. We believe in the ability of your teachers to integrate the use of technology into your everyday instruction. And we trust that you will be receptive and excited to learn through varying approaches. The equipment provided includes Chromebook laptops, projectors and an educational interactive television. This will aid in ensuring that students have access to IT equipment and are ready for the online learning environment. Taiwanese Ambassador His Excellency Peter Chen. The reopening of school does not underscore the imperativeness of incorporating ICT into the education system for the future. At the time that we hear about coding, robotics, drums, e-business, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, open courses on a daily basis. Today's event makes sure that we are smart and strategic in providing the resources that are necessary in teaching and learning in the future. Principal of the Plainview Combined School Ella Thomas-John says the classroom and the equipment received will be put to good use. Presently, distributed learning is the desired approach for teaching. Therefore, our attention should focus on how well we can use the ICTs and how best to develop, utilize and leverage students' brain power. Through its use, we promise that as the phenomenal school that we have proven and continue to be and as our motto enunciates, we will crave for knowledge, crave for wisdom and determine to sail through our future conquests in this smart classroom. We also thank you for the additional component of teacher training. Acknowledging that planning to teach virtually is different from planning to teach in a physical classroom, teacher training is paramount. The Plainview Combined School is the only southern primary school included in the smart classroom program. For the Government Information Service, I am Jesse Leons. The Department of Finance has developed a Citizen's Guide to the 2021-2022 budget, which provides a clear, concise and simplified presentation of information on the estimates of revenue and expenditure. This forms part of the government's communication strategy, geared at fostering greater accountability and transparency of the operations of government through increased access to information in the public domain. The Department of Finance is mandated to provide oversight and management of the preparation of the annual estimates of revenue and expenditure, also known as the national budget. The Plainview Combined Secretary in the Department of Finance Esther Rigobot said the department has seen the need for greater public awareness and education on how the department delivers on its mandate. It's the responsibility of government agencies to communicate with the wider public, their work program, what they're doing, the initiatives being undertaken, and how that will be of benefit to them. P.S. Rigobot made those remarks in reference to the publication of a Citizen's Guide to the 2021-2022 budget produced by the Department of Finance. She said the guide has simplified the somewhat intimidating over 600-page budget document filled with numbers, figures, and estimates. We found it very useful to develop and publish a document that's very easy to read and understand, so that the average person, whether it be a student, educator, a nurse, doctor, police officer, a farmer, fisherman, regardless, can go through this document within a short period of time and get an appreciation of what's contained in the government's estimates of revenue and expenditure. The Citizen's Guide, she explained, provides an outline of the budget process. The agencies involved in its preparation, the legal authority, links to supporting documents such as the Governor General and Prime Minister's policy statements, among other pertinent information. It will delineate the expenditures by ministry or department. It would show what the total expenditure is expected to be for this fiscal year, and also where the revenues would be derived from, both from tax revenue and grants and other loan facilities, as well as bonds and treasury bills. So that is a form of educating the public, and the average Saint Lucia needs to get a better appreciation of what government's revenues and expenditures comprise of, and we hope that this guide will do just that. The Citizen's Guide to the Budget has been published on the Government of Saint Lucia's web portal, the Department of Finance's website, as well as on the social media pages of the Government of Saint Lucia and the NCPC. For the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, Glenn Simon reporting. Youth Development and Sports Minister Hon. Edmund Estefan continues to emphasize the role of youth in national development and the commitment of government to harness and utilize this quantum of the population for such. In his contribution to the debate on the 2021-2022 Appropriations Bill, he referenced the professionalization of youth work as part of this effort. This unnoticed profession work is particularly significant in the context of COVID-19, and so our youth workers go out there and even virtually they administer youth programs to our young people. And I will leave that there. Youth work is well and alive on this island, and we have about 20 youth workers on island working in the communities to help our distressed youth and so on. And even those who are not distressed to at least guide them to safety and to bring programs to them for their development and for their upliftment. The Minister recognized the work of the Youth Service Corps and their contributions to the advancement of communities. He says the program also presents participants with development opportunities. We have volunteers all along the island, and I can give you some of the areas that they work. It's a situation where together with employers, the government pays some of the salary, the employer pays some, and those persons are engaged in employment. And in a lot of instances, those individuals are retained by those employers. Honorable Estefan encouraged members of youth organizations to exercise initiative and hold their executives to account. Meanwhile, cash prizes were awarded to winners of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports logo competition. This latest venture of the ministry is part of an overall thirst to enhance its image and increase visibility. Brian O'Brien from the Information Unit filed this report. This is of a logo competition organized by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports to enhance its image. It was presented with their prizes during a ceremony held at the ministry's conference room recently. In the last few months, the ministry has embarked on a number of initiatives to increase its functioning and public image. It is the ministry's hope that the logo will create a refreshing new look to help connect with the youth, support and align with the youth of the nation, and give the ministry an image that young people can identify with. Minister responsible for youth development and sports, the Honorable Ed Monaster, was on hand for the presentation. Once we continued to use the code of arms for all government agencies, we felt it necessary to brand the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. So, against this backdrop, we threw out that challenge that you took with open arms. And we are told that about 70 individuals on Ireland responded to the challenge. And as far as I'm told, well, I should say as far as I can see, that it's a beautiful logo. And I'm sure the whole of St. Lucia will embrace it. Stuart Cauldron emerged winner of the competition and received the cash prize of $1,000. Second prize went to Neil John, who was presented with $500, while Brandon Scott was in third place and received $250 for his submission. From the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, I'm Ryan O'Brien. This is Ntia Knightley, up next, Primers Hutchinson with the Ntia Nouvelle of Aquaiol. The dentist was really nice and she told me that my friends should get rid of food in between your teeth, which can protect you from getting cavities. No way! So after I eat a drink, it's a good idea to rinse out my mouth with water. Yes! Make sure to spit out the water after rinsing because swallowing will only bring the germs into your body. Remember, water is an easy and cost-effective way to instantly boost your health and a healthy body to fight many diseases including COVID-19. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchinson for the Ntia Nouvelle of Aquaiol. Mr. Jota Janelle, Mr. Mdm, Department of University of Sabilité for Information, a government set to see, that's GIS, as well as the National Television of the Ntia Nouvelle of Aquaiol for Primers Hutchinson. As the coronavirus has increased in the country for eight weeks, I have discovered more than five million deaths in the past week, particularly in a country like India, America, Brazil, Turkey and France, which has made this a great success. I think it's a pleasure for the country to move to a new place, which is the worst because it has already existed. One of these countries, which is also the destination, is Martinique, which has recorded almost 9,590 deaths in the past week, including three different cases of COVID-19. In this case, the Ministry of Health has noted that the total number of cases of COVID-19 is more than 4,600. The total number of cases of COVID-19 is more than 4,300. The number of cases of COVID-19 is still critical, and the total number of cases of COVID-19 is still active. This is why I have registered twice the number of cases of COVID-19, but the Ministry has continued to exercise the vaccine every day. The Ministry has noted that I have observed the reduction in the number of cases of COVID-19. For the people who have had a lot of problems, there are many people who have visited this clinic. The Ministry has noted that I would like to thank the people here for continuing to support and support the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry has noted that to continue to live in different situations, there is no need for a large CPI in the land that is forced to follow these recommendations to try to protect the people here. The Ministry has noted that we still have a lot of cases of COVID-19 in the international tourist area. The people who have had a lot of cases of COVID-19 have had a lot of cases of COVID-19. The people who have had a lot of cases of COVID-19 have had a lot of cases of COVID-19. The people who have had a lot of cases of COVID-19 have had a lot of cases of COVID-19. The citizens also have been able to follow the way the hotel has been dressed. People who have had a lot of public masks have had a lot of public services. The people who have had a lot of activities have had a lot of public services. Plastic businesses have had a lot of protocols and we have been able to travel around the public without having to serve the people. continue all the activities that are necessary to protect the workers from COVID-19. This also affects the workers who are not able to provide resources for the workers of the same kind. The Ministry of Business, Investment, Industry and Cosmetic Services, that is the name of Bradley Felix, declares that the Chamber of Commerce is calling for the Ministry to assist the workers except for those who are working to achieve this in reality. Minister Felix Anoseki, the government of this country will assist almost $4 million in the government of Taiwan to help this type of business. To make it possible for this to happen, but despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of this country will help the embassy of Taiwan to assist this type of business. When the country is able to do this, 3,000 business workers will be able to do it. As the embassy will give Taiwan its services, Peter Shen will be able to do so. We will thank the government for their support, especially for the Prime Minister Alan Shaslee and Bradley Felix, who are here for you. The government will not have to do this work with the Ministry of Business. On this matter, Minister Zaffer and Associate Secretary Henry, We must see particularly say to business to your to your to your to your to your to your to your to your to work like a fet. The chauffeur auto, kicker atway, XRT, current, can be for serving mussel shimé, concrete, key and windward island gases. You can encourage the chauffeur auto to serve lot wood, which is easier because it is also seen to affect a lot of things, and also the people who engage in projects that can be used to assist. Minister of Construction, Ecstasy, Ecstasy, and then affect the public. Thank you very much. The chauffeur auto can continue to work like a fet. Before we finish, I would like to say that the vaccine has started since the last year. The vaccine service has been published in Paris. It has been published in Paris. It has been published in Darren Summary Cricut Grounds. It has been published in Philip Marcellier Grounds, VFO, Darren Summary Cricut Grounds, Voséju, Sports Complex, as a grounds for La Vigie, Multiple Center, Barbono, Wellness Center, Fisheries Complex, Swazé, Multiple Center, Miku, and Wellness Center, Jack Mell. I also want to thank Mr Otir for providing me with this opportunity to talk about the next episode of our channel. Messier Pill Primers. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7pm. You can also catch up with us anytime on the same community, Facebook, Facebook, YouTube channel, I'll see you in the next video.