 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I Am General Novel, this edition's top stories. Johan and Dujor's Algas Organics is on the verge of a major breakthrough in the US market. Wasco pumps the message of conservation and sustainable use ahead of World Water Day. The Saint-Nutra Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union celebrates its achievements. All that plus the latest in youth development, sports, and the NTN Nouvelle de Cléon. The Ministry of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs has congratulated Saint-Nutra Youth Entrepreneur Johan and Dujor, owner of Algas Organics for receiving the 2019 Commonwealth Youth Award. Dujor was among four young entrepreneurs and the only Caribbean national who obtained the coveted award on March 13, 2019. This company, Algas Organics, converts agasum seaweed into biofotilizers and household chemicals, abating the detrimental effect of the seaweed's hydrogen-sulfide emissions. During the last few months, Algas's plant tonic has garnered heightened interest in the regional and international markets, particularly the US. Export's inclusion has been assisting Dujor in breaking through the US market. Sunita Daniel is the Chief Executive Officer. We spoke to some members of the Miami Chamber of Commerce who have agreed to look at using Mr. Dujor's natural product at baseball fields and you would understand where the grass comes in in baseball fields but also for us to look at using them on golf courses in Miami. So that's really important for us. Meanwhile, as successful as Algas Organics has been in its operations, the company on its own does not have the full capacity to eradicate the agasum invasion along local shores. Prime Minister the Hon. Alan Shasne says a coordinated regional approach is needed to combat the problem. Over the years, the agasum seaweed has been making its way to the Caribbean from the agasum sea, causing great expenses to governments in the region. While the species is not harmful to humans, its removal is time-consuming, expensive and can damage the beaches. Incoming rafts smother sea grasses and coral reefs, while fisherfolk struggle to get in the water as the agasum also tangles up their motels, engines, nets and lines. Prime Minister the Hon. Alan Shasne indicated that despite the best efforts of Algas Organics, the invasion of the agasum seaweed remains a perennial issue. In Martinique, some of the coastal communities on the Atlantic side are actually considering moving. That's how serious it's gotten. This is a huge cost to our countries, notwithstanding the success of Mr. Dujon. I want to again congratulate him on winning the Commonwealth Youth Award for this region. I think that's for Canada and the Caribbean. That his project still is not an advanced stage that it's going to be able to deal with this project, this problem in its entirety. The invasive seaweed has been successfully utilized by Algas Organics to make fertilizer, but the Prime Minister explained that this is not enough to rid the region of the species. Prime Minister Shasne disclosed that a regional approach is required. However, he lamented that it appears the situation will worsen before it improves. So we're seeing that with the continuation of global warming, the amount of agasum that's detaching itself from the agasum sea and making its way down to Brazil, and when it gets to Brazil the phosphates from the Amazon River are enriching the agasum and so it's becoming a new entity in itself when it starts coming up our coasting and it's much more enriched and obviously you can see it's thousands and thousands of acres of agasum is making its way up from Brazil to the rest of the coast. So it's something that's collectively affecting us. The Prime Minister described the invasion of the species as a crisis requiring urgent attention. The commitment of the government of St. Dujon to the overall development of public sector workers and agencies is unwavering. Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security, Senator Honourable Herman Gale Francis says this is evident through provisions that have been made for the St. Lucia Fire Service over the last two years. We have employed 80 fire officers, 50 officers have been promoted, including actually making a fire chief and a deputy. If you remember the impasse in 2014 after the Commission of Inquiry, there was a hiatus and four years we had an acting fire chief. We have corrected that, we have an actual fire chief now and a deputy. Several officers have received specialized training both locally and overseas. Unprecedented, never before has that number of officers been able to go overseas on training. All stations have been renovated and safety procedures have been enhanced. Minister Francis says critical attention is being paid to the development of structure for the fire service as recommended by a 2014 survey report. Like one that we should have a commissioner for the fire service, cabinet men and cabinet said no, we didn't agree with that. They also said that we needed to make the fire service an essential service. We are looking at the pros and cons of doing that. But if you are an essential service, then you have the opportunity to go on strike. You give notice, you have your 21 days or 7 days notice and you go on strike. But if we remove you from the protective services and put you under essential services, how does the Protective Services Act assist you? If you get injured, you lose a limb, you lose an eye, where are you going to be covered? So we don't just say things, you have to think through some of the things that we ask for. And that is why we actually put you under the Protective Services Act so that we will take special care of you in that area. Senator Herman Gil Francis says he is also keen on ensuring gender parity in the promotions process. The Water and Sewage Company co-operated WASCO joins the international community in the annual observance of World Water Day on Friday, March 22, 2019. For WASCO, the key message this year is the conservation and sustainable use of water in the workplace and at home. In commemoration of World Water Day, the Water and Sewage Company, WASCO, in collaboration with the Caribbean Water and Sewage Association, hosted a panel discussion focusing attention on the importance of water. The day is being celebrated under the theme, Living No One Behind, a concept of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Jason Ernest is the Acting Director of the Water Resources Management Agency. There are eight targets in SDG6. And one of those targets I should point on is the Integrated Water Resource Management. And this is what we as an agency are currently pushing because we're working with all the sectors, all partners, because we realize that water is a finite resource. And there are many players that look to access that water. And in our vision is basically looking at using that water in an equitable and sustainable manner. Eighty-five percent of St. Lucian households have access to clean drinking water. Jim King, Water Service Manager of WASCO, stated that the country is on target with the goals of the United Nations. To achieve that, WASCO has embarked on many different projects in the different communities. No community has been left out from bringing water down to the community of Bhutto in Sufre to actually increasing the size of our lines within the Rodney Bay area. We have embarked on projects around the island and some of the projects are actually ongoing and some to start in the near future. Water World Day is annually celebrated on March 22nd. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Chastney will travel to Florida for a meeting with US President Donald J. Trump on March 22, 2019. The Prime Minister welcomes the opportunity for dialogue on deepening the relationship between the Caribbean and the United States. Specific areas of the Prime Minister's focus will be security, energy and expanding trade and investment opportunities. This is NTN Nightly coming up the latest happenings in youth and sports with Ryan O'Brien. For effective chemical treatment of Black Cegatoka, practice routine preventative maintenance of all tools and equipment, especially the mist blower, to ensure proper functioning. Clean sprayer after use and service the machine regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer. Whenever you are using pesticides to control Black Cegatoka disease, personal protection and safety measures must be followed. Spray operators must always wear proper protective gear. Be for or when handling pesticides, put on your overalls, respirator, goggles, boots and gloves to avoid contact with the skin, inhalation and ingestion of pesticides. For more information on how to treat and control Black Cegatoka on your farm or in your backyard garden, contact the Black Cegatoka Management Unit at 451-5091 or 515-894 or email bpmu at canvw.lc. This message is brought to you by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the International Cooperation and Development Fund of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sports. Hello once again. I'm Ryan O'Brien if you update from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. Close to 600 athletes from 10 schools participated as Southern Qualifiers were completed Tuesday as the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports gets the preliminaries held before the semifinals and finals of the annual Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Championship and that comes off at the Dharan-Sami Cricket Ground next week. Competitors came from the VFOR Comprehensive, Beanfield Comprehensive, Trissel Secondary, Sufray Comprehensive, PI Secondary, Anjir Secondary, Ground Evier Secondary, Stanley John Odlam Secondary, Miku Secondary and Kendall Mason Secondary. They competed in both track and field events including 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 1200 and 1500 meter events, Discuss, Javelin, Shotput, Long Jump and High Jump. Northern Schools Qualifiers will be held at the Dharan-Sami Cricket Ground Thursday and Friday. With a pole vault program currently being undertaken here to revitalize the event, we take a look at some of the island's history as it relates to pole vaulting. From the late 1990s to the late 2000s, Dominic Johnson represented St. Lucia at numerous world-class events including three Olympic Games. From 2009 to 2014, four young St. Lucia men represented the nation at the Carrefta Games, earning six medals including two gold medals. Two of these young men went on to university scholarships. Rick Valsen from Rosalie Secondary won an NCAA Division III National Championship in 2014 while also representing St. Lucia at a Commonwealth and Pan-American Games. Mickey Ferdinand of Miku Secondary eventually combined his pole vault abilities with the high jump and is now enrolled in a scholarship at Texas A&M University. With the inclusion of the boys and girls pole vault in the secondary schools championships, the girls will have an opportunity to learn a new and unique sport that has a history of success for St. Lucia whilst striving to represent their schools at the national level, an opportunity that has not existed in decades. With facilities in the north and south of the island and plans for new national and regional clinics to be hosted over the next two years, the sport has never been in a better position to provide opportunity for our youth. The series of clinics in 2019 and a similar pattern of clinics in 2020 will lead the way towards the establishment of a formalized avenue for school sports and provide an opportunity for success for youth around the island. And as we close, let me just inform you that the offices of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports will be closed Thursday and Friday to facilitate some air quality improvement works there but staff will however be based at the Darren-Sami Cricket Ground to assist with the execution of the northern qualifiers. If there is an urgent need to have a matter addressed, you can access staff members at that location. I'm O'Brien. That's your update from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports today. Thanks Ryan. The St. Lucia Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union celebrated the achievements of staff for the long-standing service and outstanding performance at end of year 2018. The company's annual awards ceremony was held last week at the St. James Club Morgan Bay. We have more in this report. When it came to identifying the individuals who went above and beyond the call of duty, the Board of Directors and Management of the St. Lucia Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union left no stone unturned. Over 15 of its members received awards yesterday for playing a key role in the company's growth and development over the last financial year. President of the Board of Directors, Zephren Francis, expressed his immense pride in the accomplishments of his fellow members and offered a few words of encouragement for maintaining the standards and even setting higher ones for the company. Today is your day. Some will shine more than others. But remember, you're all a part of it. The award ceremony today is just a start of many things to come. It's a way of saying thank you. We are here today to be part of your celebration. We are here to commend you. Awards were presented to members for the outstanding performance in at least five different categories, including team member of the year, employee of the year and teller and loans officer of the year. Some awardees were selected by the employees themselves. Receiving the award, I was totally happy also for the other awardees. I'm happy for them and I hope they continue to do good in their work so they can get another award in the other year. Well, it feels good. I'm fairly surprised. I wasn't expecting an award and it was a pleasant surprise. The company also took the opportunity to say a proper farewell to one of its longest serving members who recently retired. It's a good place to work. It's a good environment. The heads, they treat you good. They laugh with you, they crack jokes with you. I myself, I was a custodian and then I got the training. I was very, I did not want that at the beginning, but I didn't go in. I appreciated that. Treasurer of the Credit Union, Ivor Daniel, closed the ceremony by commanding staff once again for contributing to the satisfactory numbers published in the company's annual financial statements. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. Stay with NTIA Knightly up next. Primers Hutchingson is here with the NTIA Nouvelle. Everyone is at risk for getting a foodborne illness. While most foodborne illness cases are mild and go unreported, long-term health complications and even death can occur from a foodborne illness. Foodborne illnesses are caused by contamination of food at any stage of preparation. If you are a food handler involved in home-based food production, meat, fish, chicken or a big shop, as a food vendor, how you prepare food can put your customers at risk. Do you know the risks and how to avoid them? The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards can help you. For more information, contact the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards at 456-0546 or email SLBS at candw.lc or visit the website at www.slbs.org.lc Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, making quality and standards our way of life. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchingson for the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial. Thank you so much, General. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to inform the government of the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial on the national television and NTIA Nouvelle Aquial. I would like to thank Primers Hutchingson. During the session, Prime Minister Alain Chastney and the media for the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial announced their intention to encourage other people to take care of their food. I would like to thank Guadeloupe and Martinique, who have found my association, to take care of it. And then, Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, to discuss the march that will take place in these countries, when it comes to paying my taxes on the whole business of the country. Prime Minister Chastney declared that I would like to thank the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial with a lot of help to approach Prime Minister Martinique and Guadeloupe to make arrangements for the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial and then Prime Minister Macron. I would like to thank the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial with a lot of support and a lot of time to make an event for the NTIA Aquial to bring in the country that is where NTIA Nouvelle Aquial is. I would like to thank the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial with a lot of support and a lot of time to I have made an announcement that I will develop several T-1s to build a residence. One of my T-1s is about 11 T-1s and about 6 T-1s in Denry. According to the executive officer for the company, Mr. Roderick Sherry, the development of these T-1s is about 9 T-1s and 26 T-1s. According to the investor, the T-1s is about 4,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s. The T-1s is about 4,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s. According to the executive officer for the company, Mr. David Desi, the T-1s is about 5,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s. The T-1s is about 5,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s. The T-1s is about 7 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s. According to the executive officer for the company, Mr. David Desi, the T-1s is about 7 T-1s for just 12,000 T-1s. According to the executive officer for the company, Mr. David Desi, all the colleagues, organizations, sects, and public events to help them participate and then to initiate their success. This is what we call coffee, as you can see in the work, observing the second anniversary of the process to follow the theme of all of us together to make good news and to help you a lot, exactly, to pay for this, to have a better place to live. We have announced that we will have a public health service that will provide public health services. With Godzilla, I have been doing this for 26 months. So, the service that was available, normally, for my salary, was provided by an agent care unit. This change is necessary to do the cleaning of the place. I also have a notice that I have been doing for a special service for those who don't want to work. This is a wellness center for the clinic. I have been doing this for 12 months. This is a service that I have been doing for the clinic in Godzilla. If you don't want to receive more information, you can call the clinic. This is called CAT-Sexio-Nefsis-Session. That's all for today's news. Thank you very much for watching. Thank you for your invitation. If you want to receive more information, you can call the clinic. That's all for today's news. Monsieur Pil Primus, here's a look at what's happening to us weather-wise. The Atlantic high-pressure system will maintain a moderate easterly wind flow across the eastern Caribbean region during the next few days. Low-level shallow clouds drifting with this wind flow will bring a few showers over the islands during the next 24 hours. The tide for Castry's Harbor was high at 3.34 p.m. and will be low again at 9.30 p.m. The tide for Vier 4 Bay was high at 4.41 p.m. and will be low again at 10.57 p.m. The seas slide to moderate with waves 3 to 5 feet or 0.9 to 1.5 meters. The sun will rise Thursday at 6.07 a.m. That brings us to the end of the NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7 p.m. before we repeat at 7 a.m. You can also catch up with us any time on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am General Norvel.