 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles, this edition's top stories. A new infrastructural planning tool to revolutionize infrastructure development on the island. The Government of St. Lucia continues to monitor the global situation with the novel coronavirus. The first farmers market of 2020 proves an all-round success. All that plus the NTN-Nouvelle-Arcueon. No planning on island will now have an increased focus on evidence-based decision-making thanks to a pioneering software called the NIS-MOD, the National Infrastructural Systems Model. This infrastructural planning tool is a result of a technical assistance mission with the University of Oxford and the United Nations Office for Project Services UNOPS. The National Integrated Planning and Programme Unit, NIPP, in the Department of Finance has partnered with the University of Oxford and the United Nations Office for Project Services UNOPS in the development of infrastructural planning tools aimed at strengthening evidence-based decision-making for the island's infrastructural development. During a training workshop to orient stakeholders to the innovative software, NIPP's Director Howard Wells noted that the unveiling represented a culmination of over two years of intense planning and research. He noted that one of the direct benefits is the breaking down of silos which will lead to increased information sharing to significantly improve infrastructural planning for St. Lucia. Essentially, those tools would now help us to best to analysis where are we right now in terms of our infrastructure, in terms of our planning, and again, as was stated before, it's evidence-based. So we're using evidence, evidence that exists in several areas, right, but compiling those using the software and to help us in making sound decisions, decisions that would help, for instance, in our budgetary planning in the future. Like many other developing countries, St. Lucia is confronted by economic, demographic and climate change challenges which must be navigated. Researcher with the University of Oxford, Daniel Adzhead, stated that the university has put together a number of tools which can help government plan for adaptable, resilient infrastructure. The tool that we've developed is called NISMOD, the National Infrastructure Systems Model, and it's an interdependent tool. So it brings together data from a number of sectors, electricity, water, wastewater, solid waste, and it allows users then to decide how much of each of these types of infrastructures will be required on the island of St. Lucia in the future, and what kind of investments or policies or projects can be built or implemented to meet these needs in the future. Lena Fuldauer, researcher with the Oxford team, spearheaded the adaptation planning component of the National Infrastructure Assessment. This involved understanding the exposure of the national infrastructure to many different hazards. So we looked at a one-meter sea level rise scenario, a four-meter storm surge scenario, as well as flash flooding and landslides, to understand where to spend adaptation resources on across different sectors. She added that St. Lucia stands to significantly benefit from the information generated through the modelling software by applying to global climate funders such as the Green Climate Fund and spending those resources on adapting to the impact of climate change. For the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, Glenn Simon reporting. The Government of St. Lucia continues to monitor the global situation with the novel coronavirus and implement proactive measures. The National Health Security Committee hosted a cross-sectoral consultation to discuss the government's approach to the importation of products from China. Here's Janelle Norfell. A meeting of the National Health Security Committee was held on February 7 at the office of the Prime Minister in an ongoing effort to keep relevance stakeholders updated on the coronavirus. Some matters for discussion included an update on global figures. As at February 9, 2020, there have been 37,558 confirmed cases globally, with 2,676 new cases. China has confirmed a total of 37,251 cases and a total of 812 deaths. Meanwhile, there have been a total of 307 confirmed cases of coronavirus spanning across 24 countries with one death outside of China. Of concern in St. Lucia is the importation of meat and fish products from China. Ministry of Agriculture's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Aurea King-Snack explained that St. Lucia currently has no trade agreements with China regarding meat imports. Presently, St. Lucia does not legally import any meat and meat products from China. We have a protocol in place where any country who is desirous of exporting meat and meat products to us would contact the veterinary authority, risk assessments would be done. We're also guided by the World Animal Health Organization in terms of requirements that is put in place to facilitate the trade in animal and animal products. Presently, we do not have that relationship with China, so no meat and meat products are allowed or permitted to be imported from China. So I could say the public could be rest assured that meat products from China are not coming in legally. We do have the importation of fish though. Most of the fish coming in would come from a lot of the Asian countries, which would include China. So we are in the process of evaluating the situation and see whether or not any restrictions can be placed. Officer in charge of enforcement at the Customs and Excise Department, Cosigin-Fedric, confirmed that customs will continue to enforce current restrictions and inspection requirements on all meat imports into St. Lucia. All meats entered in the country must be accompanied by an import license or what we would call a health permit, so to speak, to ensure that these meats are free and clear of all diseases. And in the absence of any of the mentioned documents, those meats would be detained for the agency, which is the veterinary division of the Ministry of Agriculture. In light of the coronavirus, our vigilance would be increased and we would to ensure that meats on the whole are all screened and to ensure that there is nothing that would pass out. We would rather enter our borders of the country because we definitely want to ensure that our people remain healthy and strong. The officer in charge of enforcement indicated that all meats being imported into the country has to be given the all-clear by the Ministry of Agriculture. All meats are detained irrespective of whether or not they have the prerequisite document because we actually carry out an agency function and we are not the authority as to whether or not a meat should be entered in. So yes, you may have the certificate, but there still may be something that would have escaped. So then the relevant authority, which is the Ministry of Agriculture, would have to sign off on that importation. While St. Lucia has not reported any cases of the coronavirus, the public is urged by the Department of Health and Wellness to practice the standard recommendations to prevent the spread of all viral infections, which include the frequent washing of hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer where necessary. For the Government Information Service, I am Janelle Norvell. Maintime the management and staff of the tourism sector have been engaged by the Department of Health and Wellness on how the sector can collaborate in the response to the coronavirus. Health officials held a consultation session of key stakeholders of the tourism sector. More on this report from Fanel Neptune. The Department of Health and Wellness recently engaged key stakeholders in the hospitality industry in a discussion aimed at implementing a response plan for the coronavirus that will ensure the preservation of the tourism product. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Glenn for Joseph Sears, this dialogue is extremely important as measures will be put in place to ensure staff in the tourism sector educated on ways to manage the spread of the coronavirus. Mechanisms were put in place whereby if the hotels or operators encounter someone who may be having signs and symptoms consistent with the novel coronavirus and especially having a history of travel, how they can best isolate those persons in a designated area and call the Ministry for Supportive Care. Permanent Secretary and the Ministry of Tourism, Donaldine Vite says her ministry remains committed to working with the Department of Health to ensure all procedures at the end, seaports are followed in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Well within the industry we have accommodation properties, we have sites and attractions, we have the transportation sector with taxi drivers, we have the marine based businesses so we're really looking at those persons who are essential to driving the businesses, whether it be on the management level or the operational level but essentially our hope is to work with all those who are essential to any business or any site and attraction, any tourism enterprise who would be responsible for carrying out and surveillance to further assist the authorities, the health department, the security department so that they can be charged with the information to act. Chief Executive Officer of the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, Norrani Aziz, spoke on the importance of educating stakeholders within the tourism sector on how to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. We are comfortable that we have set up a decent plan of engagement that will include general meeting and information sharing, training of trainers who will hopefully roll out to provide more on-site engagement and development of our team members and also to look at the various pieces of communication literature that we can use to strengthen and enhance the transfer of those competencies. The Department of Health and Wellness remains committed to continue dialogue with the stakeholders in the tourism sector, including Ministry of Tourism, the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, and the St. Lucia Tourism Authority. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fenel Neptune. Ground has broken on the southern headquarters for the Water and Sewage Company Incorporated WASCO. The management of WASCO says the new premises in VAFO provides not only an improved workspace for staff, but will also improve service delivery to residents. The Water and Sewage Company WASCO established its view for an office in December 2002 to serve residents of the south from Denri to Miku. It was later established that the lease building could no longer effectively facilitate the increasing demands placed on WASCO's management and staff by its southern clientele. Government acting on the advice of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WASCO decided to construct the new office facility which is expected to accommodate the overall proposed development of the south of the island. Chairman of WASCO's Board of Directors Francis Denbow says it's a significant achievement for the company to own this new building. For some time now we have been contemplating constructing our own office building in view forth. This is to provide a permanent location to effectively deliver our services to our increasing number of clients as well as to provide adequate and comfortable space for our staff. Consequently we approach our line minister Hon. E. Joseph and Prime Minister Alan Chastney for a suitable location to construct this office building. Cabinet rapidly processed our request and kindly donated this parcel of land of just over one acre for this undertaking. WASCO wishes to thank the ministers of this government for the quick response and generous donation. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives Hon. E. E. Joseph is delighted to see the project come to fruition. And I'm happy to be part of a team that made a commitment a year and a half ago when I was addressing the staff of WASCO and I told them I'll be working with the Board with my government and management of WASCO to improve the facility in the south. And I'm happy today that we are delivering on that commitment and I want to express my appreciation to the management and of course to my cabinet for assisting us in delivering on what I call a phase one. Phase one is the south, phase two will be castries. So definitely that is the intention. Mayor of the Vuford South Constituency Council, Orisha Denbo Bolin, says the new building will bring more opportunities for residents of the south. We at the Vuford South Constituency Council expect not only that the new building will accommodate the increased personnel which will be required to support the business growth in the south but that the construction of this building will provide much needed employment opportunities particularly for the residents of Vuford South. The 10,000 square foot two-story building will feature prominently at the entrance of the town of Vuford and is expected to be completed in less than 12 months. The project costs some $7.5 million with financing in part by Bank of St Lucia. And this is the NTN Knightley. We'll be back in a moment. The Ministry of Tourism is working alongside the Department of Statistics to develop St Lucia's Tourism Satellite Account, TSA. The Tourism Satellite Account is an internationally established method of measuring the direct contributions of tourism to our national economy. This will help the government in developing effective policy for the industry. If you are in the business of tourism, the ministry needs your help in collecting critical data necessary for this tourism satellite account. Let's all help to develop and improve our economy. All tourism-related establishments are asked to contact the ministry at 468-5393 before Friday the 28th of February for further information specific to their business. Welcome back. The Taiwan technical mission in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives recently hosted the first farmers market of 2020 in Denver at the Agricultural Extension Office, located opposite of Walton's hardware. Anise Antoine has more on the successful venture. The main objective of the farmers market was to encourage the purchasing of local produce. The initiative forms part of the enhancement of the efficiency of production, distribution supply chains in the fruits and vegetables sector project that focuses on seven crops over a three-year period. Agli Nudovic is the project coordinator for the seven crop project. We know that farmers have the traditional markets, castries markets, the different outnets and so on. So we're trying to explore non-traditional markets for the farmers. So folks are in the communities where the schools could participate more. Today we have a different feature here. We have the school from Clinton Mason School. They involve in the sample, they produce some dishes, so that would be the effinance classes. So they produce some dishes out of the crops. They feature in these crops. So we're looking at ways of preparation that will increase local consumption, as well as the primary sales. Here we also have the nutritionist today with us who's given advice on how these crops can be used, the health benefits of these products we're looking at, and ways and means of incorporating more into the local diet. The farmers market showcased three of the seven crops under the vegetable diversification project, as well as other produce such as honey and local wines. Shen Pinyu of the Taiwanese technical mission noted that this is the fifth farmers market being held in St Lucia. So we try to reduce the import bill in St Lucia of the vegetables and fruits. So that's why we try to improve the production and the yield for the farmers for the seven crops for the seven crops. And except for besides helping them with the techniques, we also bring new technology like the hoop. Local farmers from the village of Dennery expressed their satisfaction with the initiative. Yeah, I'm really happy about what happened because to tell you from here right now to show that I'm a farmer and I'm satisfied with what's happening right now. So far as I can see there right now it is a very, very, very good step because as I can see I see people are coming and buying, people are just buying like that. It's just a market and people just buying stuff and to me it's a good thing that could continue. The enhancement of the efficiency of production distribution supply chains in the fruits and vegetables sector project commenced in 2019 and will culminate in 2021. From the government information service I am Anicia Antoine reporting. And stay with the NTA nightly. Up next is Primus Hodgson with the NTA Nouvelle Arquio. St Lucia, are you ready for the National Independence Parade? Celebrate our independence in a grand way this February 22 starting at the SAAB in VG. Come experience a true St Lucia spectacle with amazing clothes, traditional dancers, musicians and more. Led by the Royal St Lucia Police Force and include communities, ministries and business houses. Join in the excitement and let's show the best of St Lucia. Now is the time. Let's do this together. Welcome back. We join Primus Hodgson for the NTA Nouvelle Arquio. As we be television national via NTA Nouvelle Arquio, as was it all Primus Hodgson. Les officiers médicals qui qualifiaient un assistus tactical ou un secours à un accident. As we be les officiers pompiers qui ressortient au lieu où on paya, trouver l'occasion ou un fossé capacité ou effectivement contrôler maladie corona en huites ici mais à payer cette lycée. Satisfaits par un atelier qui a été assisté recentement. Officiers médical des certes, Dr Glensford Joseph Dickey. Departement certé ni commitment et dédication. Fais assis avec ces officiers pompiers et qu'il y a pour tuer un assistage technical des certes, ni capacité ou point tout pour qu'on s'y occuie nécessaire s'il n'y a qu'à maladie corona tombé associé ici. Selon Dr Joseph, ministre de santé qui a collaboré et puis toute agence qui concernait et c'est pour raison pour exercer salar. Dr Joseph aussi renforcé pour rien qui, qu'on nous toute connaît, l'est l'année qui est venue pour assister au monde qui est tombé malade. Et puis aussi, c'est une qui peut qu'a souffé et puis problème d'expression de la fièvre. Alors, c'est pour eux-mêmes que ces officiers occuient et puis c'est pour question qui est nécessaire pour eux-mêmes et puis c'est signé qui a locationné condition maladie salar et qui met façon pour protéger pour eux-mêmes la famille, égnation, coordenataire ou service des assistants médicale, technique et situation. Le coup, c'est Iranius Henry, déclare qu'il peut plaire et puis étranger la salar parce qu'il ne s'a pas placé ces officiers à d'ailleurs position pour adresser n'importe possibilité maladie corona. Il a chuté qui ces participants m'a dit plusieurs questions, comme c'est eux qui qu'a promis pour contacter tout le monde qui est tombé malade et qui a porté with treatment and transportation with a facility sauté. Alors, si y'a qu'a une situation côté maladie salar, comment c'est si mais c'est eux qui promis d'ouvre et qu'il y a un mauvais wish pour trouver affecté et qu'il a porté wish pour la famille et que le monde, le Partement sauté, a continué pour encourager ces officiers pour qu'il y ait toutes les causes qu'il est nécessaire pour protéger pour eux-mêmes la salar. On parle de ça, le Partement sauté, on parle de direction organisation sauté mondial, WHO, qui a continué pour indiquer public la cause de maladie corona. Officiers des affaires de communication, en ministère de sauté, Ronald Neptune, annonce qu'il n'y a pas de département qui a suivi toutes lesquelles l'organisation n'a jamais été en place et qui a travaillé tous les sevilliers Faut faire si bien que cette liste soit bien préparée pour adresser maladie salar, s'il n'y a qu'à commencer affecté nous. Selon Neptune, le Departement, j'ai qu'à cimer information, à se les établir sur ma média pour qu'il y ait concerné ces diverses precautions qu'il peut payer, ne brisez pas. Departement de sauté, aussi qu'à trois valles et l'autorité pour l'armée et l'héropo, a simplisie slasper, pour renforcer service des affaires sauté, à sa héropo, et qu'au fleur. Nous aussi, qu'à écherne étouillement et puis trois valles sauté, associé des héropoas. Nous aussi, qu'à faire recommandation pour moune assirez, yon moune, un péché juin malade. Nous camérez moune pour assirez, yon laver les maillots, et puis savant, et puis glau, et bien service sanitiser, si savant, et bien glau par avélable. Yon aussi, s'y poser couvert bouche, et qu'n'aye, et puis un t-shirt, et bien had, les cateaux aussi, et bien esténés. Yon aussi, s'y poser couper, assaut, misitant, et qu'à y wester au lieu humaine, qui n'y signent des maladies, problèmes, l'expiration, qu'on tousse et esténés. Yon aussi, s'y poser visiter un docteur, et bien liste trois places et j'ai voyagé, et spécialement, s'y inissine des problèmes, l'expiration, d'y want, et bien après y voyager. M. Madame, nous allons continuer pour plusieurs taux, et puis, cet état-là, qui, quand même, on a un t-shirt n'est fait, un délivrance adverselie, pour ouvert l'année 2020. Bien j'aurais dit à, nous qu'a posé l'attention nous, assaut, couper. M. Chastney, déclaré qu'y, yon ne passe pas ça, il n'y aurait situation, couper. Là, ça s'assoit ici, et que, on n'a qu'à continuer à affecter nous. Bon, c'est bon moi. M. Ladiki, nous toutes, qu'a senti la peine, en chaclayant, j'ai, j'ai, pédie la vie, à des causes de violence, et ajouté qu'il n'a pas seulement qu'a porté la peine pour la famille, mais aussi, c'est une situation qui est, c'est qu'il y a, pédie, yon, qui peut déjà faire bonne contribution pour le développement. M. Chastney, aussi, je vais t'en assaut, et je vais comprendre qu'y, nous passons à continuer pour examiner la situation qu'il y a, sans faire une grande réflexion, à se faire sau nous-mêmes, à conduire la vie nous, à conduire sa femme nous, la famille nous, manier nous, qu'a ajouté pédie la vie, c'est façon à nous choisir pour servir, pour résoler, chicaner, et encore plus toujours, à t'aider nous, pour faire assis, nous toujours trouver huit vaches. M. Chastney, car quand c'est, qu'on nous congne société, fait tout ça qui possible, ou c'est, ou a battre situation ça-là, pardon, qu'il y a d'un gouvernement qu'a implimenté diverses manoeuvres, pour empêcher, adresser, une solution, pour qu'une. M. Chastney, c'est des marches, c'est des marches-là que gouvernement j'appuie, par exemple, à c'est-à-dire aux policiers pour trouver équipement, voire-t-il, parmi-l'autre. Établissement camera, à cet évoire, et présentement, l'année kattiver case, a éclené ça-là, plan à c'est pour établir 6 à 26 caméras, en place, sorti castrui pour gozillé. M. Chastney, please, qui, kattiver officier neuf, police, Operation forensic lab, dos police, pour conceit Velcastrui, apporter limboa pour our day. Operation police marouée, vivaix au action encore, on m'enforcé, système justice paye, et puis plus majestois exige. M. Chastney, déclare qui. M. Agui, la tenue est forte, pour dévahir plan, pour bâtir l'établissement nouveau, pour police l'année passée, kattemem, pour avaler continuer, pour bâtir un premier kattier l'année passée, envier, placement, mise au revoir. Premier ministre l'a annoncé plan pour adouer ses crimes et pour gérer les gênés, pour hédier au hôd chez mes crimes. Il a juré qui, l'année pile et fort, à ce groupe, comme gêne nom, qui en huit, et spécialement, les gênes mamanes, et femmes, à cette commune, et établissement, pour grâmer après l'école, pour engager les étudiants, contre l'établissement. L'établissement, c'est pour l'établissement, pour gérer les gênes, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, pour gérer les étudiants, Michel. Merci au premier ministre, et nous allons voir ce qui se passe. Nous sommes les uns. Fair and breezy, becoming cloudy at times with a few scattered showers. The Atlantic high pressure system will continue to generate moderate to brisk easterly winds and rough seas around the eastern Caribbean region for the next couple of days. Low level clouds drifting along the easterly wind flow will cause occasional showers over the eastern Caribbean islands during the next 24 hours. The tide for Castris Harbor was high at 4.40pm and will be low again at 11.01pm. The tide for V4 Bay was high at 5.47pm and will be low again at 12.28am. The seas locally rough with waves and swells 6 to 8 feet or 1.8 to 2.4 meters. Small craft operators and sea bathers are advised to exercise extreme caution due to brisk winds and rough seas. The sun will rise Tuesday at 6.29am. 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 any time on the Selenucha Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I'm Nisha Charles.