 Welcome to NTN Nightly, I am General Novel, this edition, Stop Stories. St. Lucia commemorates World AIDS Day, a antelase-increasing connectivity and creating a greater network in the region. And St. Lucia celebrates another centenarian. St. Lucia joined the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day. The day has been recognized since 1988 and is observed on 1 December. The theme for 2020 is Global Solidarity Shared Responsibility. This year marks 45 years since St. Lucia registered its first documented case of HIV. UN AIDS 2019 figures indicate that there are 38 million persons across the globe with HIV AIDS. As of September 2020 in St. Lucia, there are 834 persons known to be alive with HIV. Only 349 of those persons are taking treatment for HIV. Dr. Gail Gajada is the Senior Medical Officer in the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Department of Health and Wellness. We have come a long way since 1985 from a period where the only treatment on offer was multivitamins. Now we have antiretroviral treatment also known as HIV medication that allows persons who are infected with HIV to live well and live long. We have rapid testing for HIV, a finger prick, a few drops of blood and 15 minutes is all it takes to determine whether you may be infected with HIV. Persons can get assessments and treatment at our Public, Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinics or privately from physicians who are experienced in HIV management. Testing can be requested at any of our community wellness centers or at our partner civil society organizations such as United and Strong Incorporated and the same Lucia Planned Parenthood Association. Dr. Gajada urged individuals to get tested as knowing one's status is very important. She noted that while many strides in testing and treatment have been made, stigma and discrimination regarding HIV continues. She explained that they should not be as no one is immune to HIV and one cannot become infected by touching, kissing, hugging, hand shakes, sharing food, sharing a seat and so on. If you are sexually active and do not use condoms, you are at risk for getting HIV. There is a well-known saying, man knows thyself. You are responsible for yourself. Protect yourself. If you have HIV and have not started treatment, we are available to get you started. Testing is free and treatment is free. If you have HIV and have not told your partner, protect your partner, use condoms, tell your partner they need to know, they need to get tested. This brings up another well-known saying, you are your brother's keeper. Please, hear and remember this. Persons who are infected with HIV can live long, productive and healthy lives. Dr. Gajada called for individuals this World AIDS Day to pause for a moment, reflect on HIV and what it means to you. Let us all find our light in this continued fight against HIV, she urged. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development, Eastern and Southern Caribbean, officially concluded the Climate Change Adaptation Program, CAP. St. Lucia and eight other states in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean benefited from CAP, as it strengthened the adaptive capacity of the region to climate variability, with a focus on improved data capacity necessary for decision making, modeling of adaptive approaches towards a scarcity, and building the institutional capacity of countries to develop sound proposals to access international climate financing. Five C's in a closing ceremony November 18th, Executive Director Dr. Colin Young signed all parties for their contribution toward the projects during the four-year life of the program. While time does not permit me to recognize the individual efforts of so many persons and partners who played a pivotal role in the successful execution of the program of activities, I wish to use this opportunity to commend the sterling efforts of the team at USAID, including the then Mission Director Chris Cushing, or Stalwart Mansfield Blackwood, who so willingly and ably worked with us, always with a calm demeanor and a smile, to ensure that the project met its objectives. And of course, the regional representative, Mr. Clinton White. I must also acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our many country focal points and colleagues, and all of our regional and international partners such as CIMH, NOAA, Sutron, Maya Island Air, the Karakama Secretariat, and others who will continue to play vital roles in our ongoing resilience-building efforts. Main achievements of CAP include funding for climate information digitization and the establishment of six data nodes, expansion of the regional modeling and data capture network through the installation of five-coil reef early warning system stations, 50 automatic weather stations, training in the use of the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool, and the acquisition of an airborne life detection and ranging system. CAP was funded by USAID with a US $10 million grant. Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy is Joaquin Montserrat. Among other notable advances, the CCAP program has improved our understanding and capacity to predict the impact of weather systems, as well as monitor the health of coral reefs that serves as buffers to protect coastal areas. We now have 13 automatic weather stations and five coral reefs early warning stations in the eastern Caribbean. I myself had the privilege to be present at the handover ceremony of two of these stations in St. Lucia last February 21st, when travel was so much easier. The CCAP has also helped the region access financing from the Green Climate Fund. Barbados became the first country in the region in 2018 to receive funds from the GCF for programming, receiving over $27 million to set up a foldable tank systems to back up current water generation systems. Car beneficiary member states are Antigone, Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Neves, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines and Suriname. The use of information technology, research and data gathering in AP culture was discussed as the 10th Congress of Caribbean Beekeeping Associations continued in St. Lucia. As we hear in this report, Caribbean beekeepers are increasingly incorporating new applications and technology in monitoring the health and productivity of bee colonies. But first to Jamaica where efforts are being geared towards getting more communities involved in beekeeping. Like most Caribbean countries, the beekeeping industry in Jamaica holds much promise. Despite the many challenges, the industry has proven lucrative for some beekeepers. We produce somewhere in the region of about 2.2 billion Jamaican dollars, which works out of about 16 million US dollars worth of honey. Hugh Smith, Jamaica Chief Plant Protection Officer says there are efforts to get more communities involved in meeting the growing demand for local honey. The way forward, increased partner production for beekeeping products by community members improved the whole institutional capacity. St. Lucia's presentation focused on the incorporation of technology in developing AP culture. The use of software applications and data gathering were critical keys to success. There were major 2-2-3. There were major advantages to the installation of hive monitors and hive management applications. So we can collect data remotely and it wouldn't have any big strain on the bees. And using your hive management app, whilst you're doing your standard beekeeping inspections, you can collect data at the same time. St. Lucia's beekeeping expert, Richard Mathias, provided a rundown on the installation of hive monitors on the island. We positioned 40 of them around the island along with four gateways. The hive monitors were able to capture hive temperature, hive humidity, brew temperature, flight activity. And from monitoring the flight activity, you can use this information to send various types of alerts. Data gathering is also critical to modern-day beekeeping, especially in light of climate change. But to be useful, the data has to be as accurate as possible. And you need to constantly check the data that is being logged to make sure that the values you get are not erroneous and something didn't go wrong with the sensors. Based on the presentations, whether it be in the Caribbean or India, it was clear that beekeepers face similar challenges. Poor hive management, pest and disease, lots of foraging areas, climate change, and probably most importantly, the productivity of the queen. It is anticipated that this Congress in the Caribbean will play a part in refocusing beekeeping as a critical response to climate change, food security, and poverty alleviation. From the Government Information Service, I am Jesse Lyons reporting. This is India Nightly. Please stay with us. One of the eight universally recognized rights of the consumer is the right to satisfaction of basic needs. This means that every consumer has the right to basic goods and services that guarantee survival. This right includes adequate food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, water, and sanitation. Welcome back. Air Antelis announces plans to create increased connectivity and a greater network in the region. The airline launched its inaugural service to St. Lucia in 2014 from Guadeloupe and Martinique and says there is much more on the horizon. However, it is currently monitoring the industry given the unprecedented times and waiting out the COVID-19 pandemic. Air Antelis has announced plans to increase connectivity and create a greater network in the region. Air Antelis Chief Executive Officer indicated that the objective is to develop new air traffic passages. The airline recently commenced the English network connecting St. Lucia to Dominique and Barbados with Antigua to be added soon. The CEO explained that in the long run, the airline will be looking to gain connectivity to hubs to connect with the United States of America and Canada. St. Lucia is one of the most important destinations for the airline. We have been flying to St. Lucia for the last seven years. Sometimes we, before the COVID-19, were even nearly a daily flight to St. Lucia. And our objective is to develop air traffic passages to and from St. Lucia on regional routes between the English, the French, the Dutch and Spanish and also on transatlantic routes connecting European air traffic via Guadalupe and Martinique. Air Antelis considers it its duty to allow Caribbean people to enjoy their best air service between islands and to promote the tourism industry, one of the major revenue earners. It is for this reason that the airline is looking to expand beyond French-speaking territories and as a result has built a strong international network that is divided into three parts, French to French routes, French to international routes and intra-international routes. St. Lucia Tourism Authority's Marketing Manager for the Caribbean and Defence Christopher Gustave welcomed the initiative. I would like to thank Air Antelis for the contribution in connecting St. Lucia to the Caribbean, especially the French Antelis, which is St. Lucia's number one market in terms of visitor arrivals in the Caribbean. As Annie indicated, we really value them, especially we really value this relationship, especially in the times of when St. Lucia puts on events. As you know, St. Lucia is one of the leading destinations in the Caribbean for events and we really appreciate them for flying in people for jazz, for our carnival, for our routes on Seoul, etc. Another thing that we're extremely happy about is that we now have a direct flight to Barbados and Dominica and hopefully we will be able to get many more direct connections in the future. Air Antelis began flying to St. Lucia in 2014 from Martinique and Guadeloupe and has transported up to 10,000 visitors per year via these routes. St. Lucia celebrates the life of Deriso resident Veronica Tobias Severin as she achieves a milestone becoming a centenarian. Hermadi Mark tells us more. The government of St. Lucia celebrates the life of Veronica Tobias Severin, a centenarian from the community of Deriso who celebrated the milestone of 100 years on 26 November 2020. Fadia Andrew from the Division of Human Services presented Tobias with tokens of appreciation and congratulated her on her long life. On behalf of the government and people of St. Lucia I would like to congratulate you on the occasion of your 100th birthday and give you this token of appreciation of your life and your contribution to life in St. Lucia. And I'm not finished, hold on. Tobias is a mother of seven and finds joy in the company of her children and grandchildren. The official from the Department of Human Services lauded the Tobias family for their contribution to Veronica's ability to celebrate 100 years. And I just want to join everybody else on congratulating not just Miss Tobias but also her family because to live to 100 years is testimony not just to her individual strength but the strength of the Tobias family and commitment to each other and that is perhaps one of the greatest causes for celebration especially today in our current situation. So let me just once again take this opportunity to wish Miss Tobias and her family well congratulate her family on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Veronica Tobias in her earlier years was an active contributor to her community as a community healer and through her membership in the Church and community groups including the Legion of Mary, the Laros group and the Dairy Soul Mothers and Fathers group from the Government Information Service Hermione Mark reporting. The Department of Health and Wellness informs the public of the new opening hours of the pharmacy at the Grosile Poly Clinic for the period Monday, November 30, 2020 to Monday, January 4, 2021. The pharmacy will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm. The Department of Health apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. For more information, please contact the Grosile Poly Clinic at 450-9661 or 450-9696. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Janelle Norville.