 Welcome to NTN Nightly. I am Jesse Leonce. This edition stops stories. Students at the National Sports Academy are urged by Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney to take advantage of the unique opportunity the school provides. The new beginning's transit home creates a pathway for youth at risk and the Lightning Aquatic Swim Club makes a splash in its back-to-school drive. The nation's students return to the classroom on Monday 7th September 2020 as the new academic year opened. The enforcement of COVID-19 protocols was in full effect as the ministries of education and health worked toward a safe learning environment amid the pandemic. Chief Education Officer Dr. Fiona Philip-Meyer has called on parents to help their children understand the protocols and adhere to them. We do have mass breaks. There is a provision for the use of face shields but we continue to speak about the hand washing because we know that our children will interact socially. They should also interact socially but we need to maintain our hand washing as a constant practice which is based on the advice of our health professionals. Dr. Meyer says several training sessions were held with the various stakeholders in order to ensure a safe environment for all. So we've had training for our cooks, we've had training for our drivers who are on the subsidy program. Additionally, the Department of Education has met with the Minibus Association and other members of environmental health as well as the Department of Health all in the interest of looking at our various stakeholders. We've also met with the National Workers Association, the Central Teachers Union you know all of that looking at the various stakeholders our support staff, our teachers, our administrators how best can we pull our resources together with our parents and the wider populace. Chief Education Officer Dr. Fiona Philip Meyer and while the academic year officially opened Monday 7th September a number of schools will reopen at a later date due to rehabilitation works. Monterey Poe Passions combined, Denry Primary and the Larissus Combined Schools will reopen on Wednesday 9th September 2020. Entrepôt Secondary, Marchie Combined and Liseton Combined Schools will reopen on Monday 14th September 2020. In the meantime, Prime Minister Hon. Alan Chastney paid a visit to the National Sports Academy on Monday as the students and teachers ushered in the new school year. The visit follows a tour by the Prime Minister of Schools on Friday 4th September. We have more in this report. Prime Minister Hon. Alan Chastney surprised students at the National Sports Academy with a visit as they settled in on the first day of the academic year. The School of Excellence in Sports is the first and only boarding school on Ireland. Accompanied by officials of the Ministry of Education Prime Minister Chastney interacted with the teachers and assessed the physical works done at the school. Wanting to head directly from the students Hon. Chastney visits at individual classrooms and is chanted with the aspiring professionals. He encouraged them to utilize their time wisely and capitalize on the opportunities that come before them. In times of uncertainty like right now, the most important thing I think is to focus on the things that you know to be true. So things that you don't know, it's okay not to know it. But focus on the things that you do know. So do not use this as an opportunity not to do your stupid work. Do not use this as an opportunity not to focus on your sport. And maintain if you are not doing it already and if you have not figured this out, the only way to be successful in life is to do the best. The visit to the National Sports Academy was preceded by a tour of schools on Friday, 4th September. The prime minister along with the Minister for Education Hon. Dr. Gail Rigobot and education officials spent the day witnessing firsthand the rehabilitation works at the various schools. At the Clinton Mason Memorial School, construction crews were busy undertaking electrical and plumbing works, painting and installing safety and security measures. Theodore Charles is the principal of the Clinton Mason Memorial School. You have a school which has been there for years and yes there is some fencing at the back which is not a hundred percent, but the entrance is just open to everybody and anything. And it was causing a lot of risk issue for our students and our staff and safety was put in serious questions and after writing to the Ministry of Education I'm very pleased that they have actually decided yes during this summer time repair works that they would facilitate us and we are glad that this is really happening right now. Any little bits that's not done I don't think it's going to seriously affect our reopening. Principal Charles commended the prime minister for embarking on the tour, stating that it indicates to students, teachers and parents the level of commitment Hon. Shassane has to the education sector. What the prime minister has done is that he's actually shown an interest in what is happening at the school and I'm very pleased that he came but at least we'll probably like to see him a bit more often at our schools throughout the island. Over the largesse combined school repairs to the roof were being done along with painting and electrical works. Our students will be walking into brand new classrooms with brand new ceiling well lit because I can say I'm quite impressed with the electrical works which has been done. The school is no longer dark it is now well lit. I say hallelujah to this. Our students have been given some brand new furniture as well so when they come in it's going to be a lot of brand new things for them. When I first came the school was a bit dark and coming to the school on an evening but right now with the electrical works which has been done even the outside of the school has some really lovely lights. So this I can say it really leaves the face of the school. And for all schools on island they too have received much-desired facelifts from the Government Information Service. Lisa Joseph reports in. The new beginnings transit home has become the first institution on island to complete aggression replacement training for juveniles at risk. We have a report on a graduation ceremony that was held for the participants. Eight young ladies in the care of the new beginnings transit home are better equipped to kick antisocial habits after successfully completing the first ever aggression replacement training art in St. Lucia. For ten weeks, three days a week the girls were engaged in the three components of art social skills, moral reasoning and anger control. Art is a program based on habilitation in teaching which was never previously learnt. So we have social skills we have anger control and we have moral reasoning. Sometimes we have our kids and we just assume they know what to say thank you, they know how to say but there are some children who have never taught how to say thank you, how to say please. So that is where art come in where we teach them new skills or maybe sometimes skills they have learnt but just way of displaying it. That was art facilitator Maria Flavian. The art initiative falls under the juvenile justice reform project the JJRP at the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice Local Government and Empowerment. The project's social research officer Lavonne Verdon Daisy says efforts have been ongoing to run the aggression replacement training at all institutions that manage juveniles at risk who have displayed aggressive behaviour. The new beginnings transit home is the first institution on the island to complete the training from the JJRP. This is the first session at Transit Home and so you very much trend setters with regards to starting and completing we really hope that this was useful for you we really hope that you continue to use the lessons that you learnt and the friendships that you make and the support that you have to use these live skills. I say live skills because these are things that we don't just need to use this week or that they were only that they were only necessary for the last 10 weeks but that as you continue to feel life that you apply all of the lessons learnt and you share it. Transit Home Manager Avis Inglis thanked the Ministry for offering this special training and commended the girls for the participation and application of the skills learnt so far. Now I know that you have been practicing because the staff would come back and say certain things that children are practicing they are breathing, they are doing such and such and we know that you are practicing. What we want from you is when you leave Transit Home do not leave those skills by the big gate. Take those skills wherever you go those social skills and the other ones take them wherever you go and utilize them because these three areas is going to allow you to change your behaviour to change your mind to change your lifestyle and to reach your goals. Attending the app program it was so nice it was really nice getting to know something new and getting to help my behaviours and I know it will help me in the later life as I go on. Atos is not something I was really looking forward to the first time I heard about Atos like me I don't want to go to that I was in the class it was good I wanted to sleep because in the beginning it was boring for me but afterwards I got the I understand what Atos really was about I would like to say thank you to Antibivia and Antimaria especially for coming up with the idea to introduce Atos to us at the new beginning Transit Home and I would like to tell them that we really appreciated it and it will go a long way in our life not only now and in the class but when we leave the walls of the new beginning Transit Home that we will still embrace it and use it out there and introduce it to our friends and just lend them my hand the new beginnings Transit Home is a temporary residential place of safety for children between the ages of 2 to 16 years who are victims of child abuse and severe neglect and who are in need of care and protection from the Government Information Service Rajvaro Lawrence reporting the processing of passengers at the ferry terminal in Castries has been made more efficient with the installation of a baggage scanner the equipment was handed over to the customs and excise department by the Ministry of Tourism under the OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project more in this report from Lisa Joseph The World Bank funded OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project ORTCP is being implemented in Grenada St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia with one of the key objectives being the facilitation of the movement of tourists within the participating countries using ferries it is against its background that a request by the customs and excise department to the Ministry of Tourism was fulfilled under the ORTCP project manager Dr Lorraine Nicholas noted the importance of the ferry terminal to St. Lucia's tourism travel sector the number of passengers using the ferry service had increased over the years and that the baggage scanner will equip customs officials with an essential tool to inspect customer baggage in a fast and efficient manner the scanner will allow the detection of illegal weapons and other items in much more efficient manner than human intervention also the scanner can be used to scan many pieces of luggage quickly improving the speed at which passengers are processed so we are very pleased that we were able to contribute to expediting the passenger clearance process here at the ferry terminal Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Information Broadcasting Culture and Creative Industries Donald Invite says the ferry terminal plays an integral role in the Caribbean travel markets particularly Martinique, Guadeloupe and Dominica and as such outfitting the facility of the necessary technology and infrastructure will serve the industry well over the past two years there's been significant upgrade in the product at the ferry terminal but of course we know with regards to the physical upgrade there must be a level of infrastructure upgrade to support that with ICT customs they're very dear to our heart as officers of the government service and we know the sort of strive they've been under at this ferry terminal with the volume of baggage that normally comes with the visitors and our returning nationals and how they've been able to process out of our OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness project one of the things for the ministry was to critically assess within the services that are provided within the castries basin especially how we could improve those services and at the same time maintain customer satisfaction at the floor so for us working with customs it was a no-brainer to identify the needs of the ferry terminal and to be able to upgrade it with the infrastructure the technology that is required to support the human resources already given by government Acting Comptroller of Customs Peter Chico welcomed the baggage scanner indicating that the use of technology would improve the department's risk management capabilities Extend Lucia Customs and Excise department has been calling for scanners and non-intrusive technology equipment for quite some time particularly when it relates to the examination of passengers and passenger baggage I am certain P.S. that this donation from your ministry will go a long way in helping the customs department meet its mandate to examine clear passengers, provide that quality service that is always expected of the customs and Excise department The customs officers received training in the use of the baggage scanner by the director of technical services at Sextos Technologies and a baggage carousel has also been provided and will be installed at the ferry terminal From the Government Information Service, Lisa Joseph reports in The Lightning Aquatics Swim Club has made a donation of school supplies to the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment This is the fourth annual charity drive by the club Public Relations Officer Kareta Crooks-Charles says Lightning Aquatics is a family-oriented swim club that is concerned with the development of its members in and out of the pool Like many persons in St. Lucia some of our own members had difficulties because of COVID whether it's losing jobs or getting decreased salaries but we at the Lightning Aquatics Swim Club strongly believe in giving no matter how small and so we are happy that we could put these things together we have over 20 pairs of shoes some are new, some are slightly used we have school uniforms books, stationery, school bags so we are happy that as you rightfully said it may not be a lot but it can put a small dent in the problems affecting some of our parents who don't have clearly we want to thank you we want to express how grateful we are for your effort I as the welfare officer can tell you it goes a long way I still have people calling saying you have anything, can I get so it's well appreciated and it will make a little dent but the issue of COVID and everything that's going on outside I want to thank you very much for pressure on your parents who are trying to get some stuff and for making an effort the Lightning Aquatics Swim Club was established in 2011 primarily to provide recreational and competitive swimming to say illusions of all ages and from different socioeconomic backgrounds the club competes in a number of swim meets locally and regionally on the national swim team the department of health and wellness informs the public that the dental clinic within the ancillary wellness center will be closed from Monday 7th September 2020 to Friday 18th September 2020 this temporary closure is to ensure the health and safety of all staff and clients by conducting deep cleaning of the dental clinic during this time oral health promotion activities will continue to take place and a mobile unit will be established for the care of children adult treatment can be accommodated at the dental clinic at Souffre hospital the public is advised to call to make an appointment at 459-5001 for more information you can call the dental services unit in the department of health at telephone number 468-5314 up next we have Primus Hutchinson with the NTN Nouvelle Aquiat cut them loose the anxieties the worries open up to possibilities accept the uncertainties and cut them loose the bitterness the hopelessness plant a seed of hope in your mind it will grow and flourish in time hold on a little longer life encourages you to grow you have so much to offer look tomorrow is waiting to say hello don't give up on yourself instead reach out for help perhaps it's time to reach out to someone call the health helpline 203 toll free anytime you speak to a professional a message from the Ministry of Health and Dwellness welcome back we now join Primus Hutchinson for the NTN Nouvelle Aquiat Mr. Otta, Jesse Mr. Madam Department of University of Nouvelle Aquiat we have the information of the government of the Nouvelle Aquiat of the Nouvelle Aquiat of the Primus Hutchinson work to transform the L'Opital Victoria to use facilities to treat illness to a certain extent the government says this to address the situation of the corona-pair the work of the facility of the Nouvelle Aquiat of the Nouvelle Aquiat of the Corona this facility has all these needs to protect people who are ill and the public social distance to protect the system to continue to purify the air to always establish the environment to find a good treatment facility to provide treatment for people who are ill or who are infected there is a difference between the treatment to receive medical acceptance and protection for now facilities that have capacity to provide treatment I have these four or five percent that are on the left that I have found rehabilitation under the RVP project to receive treatment and social treatment I have prepared to ensure that all the work of the facility has a good and high protection to prevent infections and to control safety protection and visible information construction work that is done by Scaly Construction Services Limited by Conduit teams Incorporated to receive treatment I would like to say a lot of investment from the RVP to work on electric and polyclinic to provide treatment for people who are ill and have capacity to provide treatment for people who are ill and have capacity to provide treatment for people who are ill and have capacity for people who are ill and have capacity to provide treatment and protection for people who are ill but have capacity to serve these people a space for the support the facility we created by the vostиях for people Madam Brown explained to us that most of the families in the country have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the economic situation, the social problems, the health problems, the family problems, and so on. Madam Brown explained to us that most of the families have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Madam Brown explained to us that most of the families have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We've talked to doctors to see if they can get out of the city and help them get out of the city. If you are not able to come to the health center and say hello to the people to assist you, if you are not able to do that, but if you are not able to do that, just leave them alone and do what they want to do. Leave them alone and do what they want to do. Then I will start to do what they want to do. My name is Brown Mimakiki. The Health Department can offer services. It is a different facility in the health center to assist the people who destroy the health center so that it can be moved to the health center. The health center is for people who die in the health center, people who are panicking, people who just want to come to the health center to buy food, people who have visited the health center so that they can come to the health center to examine the health center. If you are not able to come to the health center you can come to the health center with a lot of coaches, a lot of organizations to assist you in doing that. We have done education by... We have done education in this world and in the public. The Education Department has formed a public with parents who have officially opened the school on September 7, 2020 but it has had several schools that have started working on that. Apart from those schools there are a lot of schools called Moipo and Pacias, the first school of January and Clarishus. There are schools that opened on September 9, 2020. The second school is Andripo, an ecclesiastical school that opened on September 14, 2020. All schools opened on September 7, 2020 because we have apologised and the teachers have instituted all the good things for the school on September 9, but we have Corona. This is our news report. I want to thank Mr. Otam for his invitation. I would like to say that I would like to thank you for joining us today. Thank you. Catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or the YouTube channel. I'm Jesse Réan, signing off for now. Stay tuned for more NTN program.