 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles, this edition's top stories. Discussions are underway for an improved action plan to bolster the agro-tourism sub-sector. A concerted effort is being made by the government of St. Lucia to engage nationals in the diaspora. Ballot approves the page-turner for reading month. All that plus the latest in youth development, sports, and the NTN Nouvelle Arquio. Discussions are underway for an improved action plan to further efforts on agro-tourism in St. Lucia. A move both agriculture and tourism officials say is timely, as leaders in the two industries identify areas where they can partner to bolster increased productivity, sustainability, and overall economic performance of both sectors. More from Amanda Faye-Clarke. The agro-tourism agenda-setting meeting brought together key officers at the Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism, local stakeholders including Cardi and the SLHDA, and original agriculture development organizations such as ICA and the OECS, whose mission is to oversee the diversification of agriculture economies. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the CTA-funded agro-tourism meeting, ICA representative in Barbados and agro-tourism specialist Anna Harvey says St. Lucia's agro-tourism actions should center heavily on agro-food constituents and the livelihoods these intended initiatives would impact. We need to be clear on why we are into tourism and who should benefit from tourism. Local communities cannot be an afterthought or a means to an end to protect tourism investments. Tourism cannot be successful without a sustainable food production sector and climate smart agriculture. Agricultural biodiversity and heritage and the culture of food in the Caribbean enhance the value proposition of a sustainable tourism product. Agro-tourism must be integrally linked to food and nutrition security and to the management of chronic non-communicable diseases. Director of Product Development at the Ministry of Tourism Ann Margaret Adams says, St. Lucia's at a juncture where any movement in growing its tourism products must include agriculture features and for this reason calls for simultaneous strategic actions in developing the two industries. Agencies have attempted to develop agriculture and tourism linkages however a coordinated approach is critical to the success of these programs. The Ministry of Tourism is therefore pleased with the partnerships that have been established through this project through CTA, OECS and EECA. I must also mention that strategically the ministry has recently established the Tourism Advisory Committee as a coordinated mechanism for the tourism industry and towards advancing a more integrated approach to tourism development on the island. The committee brings together 17 institutions, government ministries, agencies, private sector organizations and NGO including representation sorry from the agricultural sector. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Barry Morphelicia says, the overall stance of agriculture leaders is a move for diversification of our agricultural economy thus creating niche products which support and complement our tourism brand. Policy must therefore focus on twinning, strengthening and exploring linkages in traditional and non-traditional areas. Our policy will focus on collaborations and activities and will include enhancement of visitor experiences so that they can enjoy, relax, spend time and money for joyfulness and happiness in addition to visiting agricultural areas doing agricultural related activities such as harvesting, planting, fishing and cooking while we in St. Lucia ensure that they do this in a safe and secure environment. It is expected that the revised policies for streamline and agritourism initiatives will also consider building on the opportunities already available through ongoing biodiversity and climate resilient projects, creating a truly meaningful, culturally appropriate and dynamic St. Lucia experience. From the information unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Amanda Fey-Clock reporting. Meantime the government of St. Lucia continues to source markets for the island's new and emerging crops as well as current crops such as bananas. In that regard, Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shastney and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives, Honourable Ezekiel Joseph are currently in London for meetings with Winfresh. The meetings are being held with various suppliers including Sainsbury, the third largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and Waitrose and Partners, a chain of British supermarkets. The government also continues to explore new avenues with the French market with testing of St. Lucia's products in that market expected to begin later this year. During the Prime Minister's absence, the Minister for Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, Lynette Montoute will serve as acting Prime Minister. A concerted effort is being made by the government of St. Lucia to engage nationals in the diaspora, cognisant of the contribution of overseas-based St. Lucia's to their homeland and most importantly the untapped resources and skills they possess. Government is working towards ensuring that they are an integral part of the island's development. Herschel Norval with the first in a series of reports on the St. Lucia diaspora. The government of St. Lucia reaffirmed its commitment to the St. Lucia diaspora with the appointment of an ambassador responsible for diaspora affairs in the person of her Excellency Dr. Joyce Lynn Clark Fletcher. Appearing on NTN's program interview, Dr. Clark Fletcher explained that the diaspora has and continues to contribute to St. Lucia. She noted that according to the World Bank, St. Lucia's diaspora contributes about $35 million in remittances annually. The Union of St. Lucia Associations is a group formed by the diaspora and that group according to the ambassador will also be engaged in the fine-tuning of diaspora policy. Another initiative on the cards is the commissioning of a skills database. Persons in the diaspora will be able to go on this database and register their skills. All the diaspora around the world will make it available to them. It will be on the US Highway website, it will be on the government website. So employers in St. Lucia looking for skills, you know you have a vacancy, let's say a biochemical engineer. Before you just send it out there so that somebody who's a Canadian citizen, no Caribbean roots whatsoever can apply because they have all that skill and apply for it, you would go to your database and see if we have any solutions that match that, any diaspora person that match to what you require. So we don't say we just because you're St. Lucia, but we're saying the database is there. Look for the skills and bring them in. So that we're saying that to the diaspora too. You have the opportunity to return home to those jobs in both government or the private sector. Other benefits include the diaspora traveling to and from St. Lucia for visits, allowing for foreign exchange inflows. Employment created when they build their homes in St. Lucia while overseas and by sharing the St. Lucia culture elsewhere, they entice individuals to visit the island contributing to the growth of the tourism industry. It is for these reasons that the government has decided that it is imperative that connections between St. Lucia Nationals overseas and their homeland are strengthened. As such, the ambassador indicated that the government will be providing opportunities for the diaspora to invest, to use their resources and skills, and to strengthen and develop this inclusion society. They recognize in the contributions that the diaspora can make for our country in our social and economic development, opening up avenues for them to allow them to come in investment opportunities, they're giving them the use of their resources and skills, you know, and all these things to help them return home, making it easier, re-enticing them. This office is set up to bring them home in and a diaspora person is recruited as the ambassador because I know I was out there, I know what my diaspora needs, what they're looking for, I know why I left, and I know that what they want and easier for me to dialogue with them. For this purpose, the ambassador for diaspora affairs has embarked on a sensitization campaign to dialogue, inform, and share with the many St. Lucia associations and groups overseas. The ambassador has visited the St. Croix diaspora and is now going to visit the Mothnick diaspora this week. For the Government Information Service, I am Genelle Norville. Seoul subsidiary of ECFH Bank of St. Lucia has delivered yet another solid performance for the 2018 financial year end. The largest indigenous financial institution on Ireland has successfully sustained its high profit margins from its June 30th first half financial report published last year. Following an optimistic half-year report publishing 13.5 million in profits after tax, ECFH is pleased to announce to its shareholders, customers, staff, and the general public that despite the challenging years, the financial institution's resilience continues to pay off. In 2018, net profit after tax of EC44.9 million was recorded compared to the 2017 year end figure of EC36.9 million. According to managing director of ECFH, Dr. Bernard Lacobbignere, the company credits its successful 2018 financial year to the performance of its Seoul subsidiary, Bank of St. Lucia. It was a profitable year and the success of the bank is the success of all of St. Lucia, of the communities from north to south. It's a success of the people and the businesses that borrow from the Bank of St. Lucia that benefit from the advice from the loans for small businesses and medium businesses and large businesses, mortgages. Advice that the bank provides to people in order that they may achieve their goals and objectives. And so it's a success for everybody. Dr. Lacobbignere also took the time out to thank the bank's management and staff for their efficiency and hard work, which played a pivotal role in the bank's 2018 performance. In a myriad of ways, the bank of St. Lucia is the bank of and for St. Lucia's strong, secure, and profitable. And with your support, together, we will move from strength to strength. BOSL is scheduled to present the details of its 2018 performance to over 4,400 individual shareholders at its 18th annual General Meeting this Thursday, May 16th, at the Financial Administrative Complex at Point Seraphine. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. And this is the NTN Nightly. Ryan O'Brien is up next. Was that an earthquake? No! What do you do if there's an earthquake? Drop cover and hold on. What does that mean? You drop to the ground, take cover underneath a sturdy table or disk, and hold on until the shaking stops. What if there's no table or disk? Stay away from the walls, windows, and doors. Use your hands to cover your head and face and crouch in a corner of the building. But what if you're outside? What's an open space away from buildings, trees, street lights, and utility wires? Drop to your knees, protect your head with your arms, and wait for the shaking to stop. Remain alert to your surroundings. Be prepared to change where you are if necessary to promote your safety. During an earthquake, anything that can move and fall, pots of a building including doors, walls, and windows, furniture, and appliances, can be a hazard. Remember, protect yourself from anything that can move. Do not panic. As soon as you feel the ground shaking, drop, cover, and hold on. This message brought to you by the View for South District Disaster Preparedness Committee and NEMO, and funded by the U.S. Aid Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Thanks, Inisha. Welcome to your segment on happenings in youth development and sports on the NTN Nightly News. I'm Ryan O'Brien. In the secondary school's 40 overs cricket competition got underway Wednesday, St. Mary's College, recording an early group D-win over Babano at the Ballata Plain Field. The match between Castery's Comprehensive Secondary School and Grozile did not take place. Grozile reportedly has withdrawn from the competition. Mico registered a very convincing nine-wicket win over Clendon Mason Memorial. Clendon Mason being dismissed for a Paul 3-16 with Alexis Charles bagging five wickets and Vernon Edward IV. Mico replied with 17-for-1. There was a much closer contested engagement at the PI Plain Field as Sufair Comprehensive batting first and scored 138 in 25.5 overs to where Schroeser replied with 125 in 24.3 overs in a Group A match. Thursday's fixture sees PI versus VFO Comprehensive at PI in a Group A game Archibald plays Grand Evillard La Risseuse Group B Suaira Simmons plays Vidbutai at Grozile in a Group C game and Leon Hess are down to play Cicero Secondary at Ballata in Group D. Matches originally scheduled for the Mendoville Park have all been moved to the Ballata Plain Field. St. Lucia's team to participate in the 2019 Winner Island Schools Games have started preparations for this year's competition which is expected to be held in Dominica. The logistics for this year's tournament will be finalized when delegations from the four competing islands meet in Dominica for a technical meeting May 23rd and 24th. It is expected that the same five events competed in St. Lucia last year will again be the focus of play during the 2019 edition of the Winner Island School Games. These include track and field, netball, basketball, male and female, volleyball, male and female, and football. Winners of the logo competition organized under the Youth Empowerment Project will soon be announced. The competition was held during Youth Month, the duration of April. The selection process to determine the winners is now being undertaken. The entries are being reviewed and the judges will meet to announce the winner and second and third place prize. An official prize-giving ceremony will also be held. Applicants had to be under the age of 35 and live in the communities of New Village, Conway Barnard Hill, and Wilton's Yard. The logo is designed under the theme Enlightened Enrich Empower. And that's the end of our update on new development and sports for today. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Thanks, Ryan. The second annual District 1 Independence Poetry Competition was held recently showcasing the creative spirit of the young competitors. Anise Antwine has that story. This helling of the west from Grozile to the north to V14 to the south, every bit of its two, three, eight square miles is mine to enjoy. In commemoration of Reading Month and St. Lucia's 40th Independence Anniversary, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Parliamentary Representative for Barbono recently hosted the second annual District 1 Independence Poetry Competition. The emerging winner of the Poetry Competition was Samson Charles of Balatar with Jamien Seraphine of Forasso and Carpob Bequestner of Bojice coming in second and third places respectively. This is the second year that Balatar has won the competition. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain, Alan speaking. Welcome to Flight SL40 to success and victory. The weather is good. An un-disturbing trip inside. Please Lord, may there be no hijackers on this flight. Parliamentary Representative for Barbono stated that being involved in extracurricular activities such as this allows students to be well-rounded individuals. I made a commitment last year working with your district education office in Barbono in District 1 that will continue to have this activity. We believe it's a good activity while we have seen football and cricket now in Barbono and we have a number of teams throughout the constituency participating in football and cricket. I am aware that not every child, not every student are interested in football and cricket. They have other interests and that is why when I met with Mr. Sipal and the staff members in District 1 we decided that apart from the football and the cricket what else can we do and today we have seen the second attempt at the poetry competition. Cyrus Sipal, District 1 Education Officer informed that in the following years an annual essay competition will be added to the schedule of Reading Month activities. The whole idea is to get them to learn and this is our motto. We have promised Honorable Minister that the Barbono Schools and Education District 1 we will get every child to learn ladies and gentlemen and this we will do not just by ourselves but it will be a holistic approach. We are going to have the Honorable Minister on board. We are going to have the constituency council on board. We are going to have the judges on board, the firemen, the police, the parents, the media just name it. We are going to have everybody on board because at the end of the day if a child lives primary school and they go to Mr. Fennel or at the secondary school and they have not mastered the basic prerequisites of numeracy and literacy ladies and gentlemen they will not be able to excel at the secondary schools. Participants of the poetry competition received prizes including book vouchers, trophies and laptops. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. And stay with the NTN Nightly. Up next, Primus Hutchinson is here with the NTN Nouvelle Arquillon. The problem starts with finding a suitable spot. It extends to double parking. Offloading zones are ignored thus inconveniencing commercial activity. Handicapped spots are occupied by drivers who use the quick errand excuse. And of course there's the constant fear of parking tickets. In an effort to curb these and other parking related issues, the Castery City Council will be implementing short-term paid parking. $3 an hour can save you $500 in parking tickets. Short-term paid parking coming soon. Welcome back. We join Primus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle Arquillon. Equality is among the names of women and children in the country to develop this site. The Castery City Council has launched a plan to support national development of their quality to form a new name for this site. The Castery City Council will come in 2011 and then the Castery City Council will make an assessment to try to address the weaknesses that the Castery City Council has discovered. Among them is the lack of equal balance between the names of women and the lack of education among the names of women who are under a situation of panic, a situation of fear, and a situation of fear of the children who are under the power of the Castery City Council. The Castery City Council will develop a plan to support this government of $15,000 a year in 2014 to start the project. But it will continue to live in operation until 2017. The Castery City Council will come in 2011 and then the Castery City Council will make an assessment to try to address the weaknesses of women and the lack of equal balance between the names of women and the lack of education among the names of women and the lack of education among the names of women. The Castery City Council will come in 2016 to support the government, to support the government and to support the consultation of the Castery City Council. The Castery City Council will collaborate with the Castery City Council and to support the development of the Castery City Council. This is a special support for the Castery City Council. The Minister of Education, Honourable Dr. Gil Rigo, has declared that the Castery City Council is not only about women but also about the names of women who are under the power of the development of women but also about the progress of the social and economic sector. Dr. Rigo Bout Vettiki, if we don't consider this to affect the names of women who are under the power of the development of women, we will find that the Castery City Council will work harder to support the development of women. Mr. Gwekla, since the 6th of May, you have been engaged in training for the officers at the Department who are under the power of the women and there are civil servants who are the different ministers of the government. Discussions have begun to implement the plan to test the actions of the development of the agricultural and tourism sector. Our officers and the tourism sector welcome the Castery City Council as well as the Kaisa industry to collaborate with them to increase and support the production and economic performance of the Castery City sector. Generally speaking, we have discussed with the Gwek and the different sectors that assist them. The Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism and the Cardi Organization and the Hotel Association and the Tourist Affairs and also the Agricultural Organization and the Tourist Affairs and the Wijuan Organization which is an organization for the Castery City Council of OECS as it is possible to support the economic and economic diversification. Representative Organization and Wijuan are addressing this issue and that it is important to support this to support the life of the people of Castery City and for the government to support a strong agricultural economy to facilitate the development of the Castery City and also to complement the tourism sector and also to ensure that for the authorities to consider to implement the work that has been done on the development of the Castery City for these agricultural initiatives and to do the tourism of Castery City. First Minister, I am Alain Chastney I congratulate you on the establishment of the new Castery City School. The Wijuan Ceremony in Monday will officially open on the 29th of the Castery City School which will be able to resist the moving time Prime Minister Chastney declared that the majority of the Castery City will suffer after the cyclone because the quality of the Castery City will be reduced Prime Minister Chastney said that after the Castery City School will be able to resist the first decrease and to continue to do the work because the quality of the Castery City will be reduced after the cyclone Prime Minister also said that there will be a chance that there will be support for the development of the Castery City to change the residents who can find an effective example if the Castery City has a lot of problems Prime Minister Chastney said that the Castery City School will be able to reduce the rain to serve the Castery City as well as the Castery City. Prime Minister Chastney also said that the Castery City will be a generator to reduce the rain. So, the situation that was made that affected the Castery City in the first place was caused by a trap and by Sophia that was completely caused by the Castery City as a part of the assistance Prime Minister Chastney declared that after that the village will be able to prepare for the generation of the Castery City and the secondary school Prime Minister Chastney said that there will also be initiatives that will indicate the students to appreciate the needs to address the climate change and the effort to battle in all possible ways. That's why we are here today to thank you for your time and for your invitation I would also like to thank you for all the efforts that you have done for the Castery City Thank you for your promise and here's a look at what's happening to us weather-wise. The air becoming cloudy at times with a few showers The Atlantic high pressure system will maintain a moderate easterly wind flow across the eastern Caribbean region during the next few days Low level clouds moving across the wind flow will bring a few scattered showers over the Lesser Antilles during the next 24 hours The tide for Castery's harbor was high at 1.35pm and is low at present The tide for V4 Bay The sea is moderate with waves 4 to 6 feet or 1.2 to 1.8 meters The sun will rise Thursday at 5.36am And that brings us to the end of the NTN Nightly Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7am You can also catch up with us anytime on the Saint Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel I'm Nisha Tross