 Coming to you from RGIS Studios, I am Anicia Antoine and this is your Midday News Brief. The Mayor of Castries has worshipped Peterson D. Francis last week who set a trade mission from the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, TTMA. The meeting focused on expanding trade relations between Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia. It follows Mayor Francis' visit to Trinidad and Tobago in May 2019 where he met with leading business people, members of the TTMA and local mayors in an effort to improve trade, business and cultural ties between the Twin Island Republic and St. Lucia. Mayor Francis believes the more Castries engages with the world, the stronger the local economy will be. With the target of 45% reduction in serious crime by 2022, Prime Minister Honourable Alan Shastney says government is inching closer to making that goal a reality. For the Honourable Alan Shastney, tackling crime needs a holistic approach, including biffing up surveillance, increasing police presence in the communities and dealing with the problems plaguing the judicial system, head-on. During a recent pre-cabinet press briefing, the Prime Minister revealed that some $11 million will be spent to fully install CCTV cameras in Castries. An increasing crime prevention and detection is expected as the government seeks to have a stronger police presence in hotspot areas. Honourable Shastney says that the initiative is already paying dividends. The judicial system, however, needs a multi-tiered approach which the Prime Minister says would require more time. Citizen safety has been emacked as a key area needing urgent attention in the medium-term development plan for St. Lucia. Much-needed relief is on the way to residents of Castries Southeast as local contractors bid to implement drainage and slope-stabilisation works. The works are part of the DVRP's effort to prepare St. Lucia for more frequent, heavy rainfall events and stronger hurricanes as anticipated with climate change. The EC for $0.3 million project is expected to last for 12 months and will generate employment for schools of residents in the targeted communities of Country Village, Hotser, Badeshausset, Belet, Bexon, Mack, Tertmack, Forestier, Deer Bar, Sarat, Labai, Crownlands and Mon Rouge. The deadline for tendering was June 14, 2019 with signed contracts expected over the period July to August 2019 and commencement of works thereafter. The remaining 31 packages for Marsha, Denry South and Mikwood South will be tended this summer. This has been your midday news brief. Thank you for watching.