 Welcome to NTN Nightly, I am General Norvel, this edition's top stories. St. Lucian's urged to take the necessary precautions as regional authorities won off dengue outbreaks in 2020. The National COVID-19 Response Telephone Committee approves first beneficiaries and St. Lucian's provided an opportunity to acquire residential and commercial property at a reasonable cost. The Ministry of Health and Wellness have indicated that St. Lucian has recorded an increased number of cases of dengue fever in 2020 when compared to 2019. The public is urged to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito breeding as regional bodies have warned that dengue outbreaks are expected in 2020. Alicia Antoine begins our broadcast. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has launched its vector awareness week of activities to sensitize and engage the public on the importance of source reduction as an effective means of vector control and prevention of vector-borne illnesses. Dengue fever, together with associated dengue hemorrhagic fever, is one of the most common vector-borne viral diseases affecting humans. Aedes aegypti, the urban yellow fever mosquito, is also the principal dengue-carrying vector. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging members of the public across the island to take the necessary steps to ensure that the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquito is contained. Dr. Michelle Faswa is a national epidemiologist. The mosquitoes, as previously indicated, they live among humans. They live in fresh water. They live in our homes, and they are daytime feeders. So when you get a bite from a mosquito, you usually look at the mosquito and see these white lines on the legs. And during the day, it tends to be the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dengue is found throughout the tropics, and it's mainly affected by rainfalls and humidity. So you find in areas where you have high levels of rainfall, you tend to get more breeding of the mosquitoes, as well as in places that have rapid urbanization, places that have developed suddenly and do not have the measures in place to control waste disposal, etc. The national epidemiologist noted that there has been an increase in the number of cases compared to last year, with 41 cases of dengue having been recorded to date. Dr. Faswa also noted that original authorities have warned that dengue outbreaks should be expected in 2020. We've also noted for this year to date that the age group most affected would be the 5 to 9. So our kids are being affected, followed by the age group 10 to 14 years. But there has not been any difference in the sexes. The areas that we have noted with highest prevalence, and that is not just numbers, but based on the population of these areas, we have noted that the areas of Raidwee, Monroe Road, Castree City in general, Millette, Old Victoria Road, Monnier and Tuapitaw areas have the highest prevalence of cases of dengue reported to the Ministry of Health. Dr. Glenford Joseph, a medical officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, highlighted the importance of taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of dengue as the dengue virus and COVID-19 share similar symptoms. You can have what is called the co-existence in country and the co-infection where one person is impacted by both COVID and dengue as observed in other countries. As a result, it is important for us to take all measures to prevent the transmission or spread of dengue and COVID-19. If you think based on your symptoms that you have either dengue or COVID-19, it is important that you take the necessary steps, the necessary measures, protecting against the transmission of COVID-19 while you seek medical advice. The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to encourage individuals to maintain the public health and social measures that have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of the public. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. The Telethon Committee has begun issuing proceeds from the National COVID-19 Response Telethon. The Royal St. Lucia Police Force and the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association are the first approved applicants to receive checks to go toward their respective efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jesse Laos tells us more. A check of $267,000 has been issued by the Telethon Committee to pay for expenses related to the National Meals Programme. The initiative is a public and private sector collaboration that has seen nearly 19,000 hot meals being prepared and distributed to those in need since the pandemic forced the closure of the country and displaced many lives and livelihoods. Spare-heading agency the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association SLHTA expresses thanks to the private sector partners for responding to urgent need. My thanks also to the private sector who extended very generous credit lines. The project started sometime in April, wrapped up a number of weeks after that and still they were patiently waiting for these funds to be made available. And so I really thank them for digging deep and for standing by St. Lucia when we needed them the most. So my heartfelt thanks to both SLHTA members and non-members alike from the private sector community who gave generously. Thank you very much for the check and I assure you that it will be dispersed with haste. Aziz adds that the true heroes of the National Meals Programme are the volunteers, hospitality workers, uniformed brigades, volunteer St. Lucia and members of the general public who selflessly braved the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, showing up in kitchens to prepare meals and distribute to those in need. The National Meals Programme launched on Easter Sunday forms part of the Social Stabilization Plan announced by Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Chastney. The Royal St. Lucia Police Force is another recipient of telephone proceeds. $34,000 has been approved for the procurement of personal protective equipment for police officers. Expressing thanks, the Acting Commissioner of Police Milton Daisy accepted the check on behalf of the RSLBF. I am pleased to receive this check, which would go a very long way in purchasing very needed personal protective equipment for the members of the RSLBF. As everyone knows, we are on the front line from day one. We are still there and I want them to continue to be there. That is the officers and I would not like to see officers serving members of the public and not prepared. And that is in terms of having the personal protective equipment, which includes face shields, the face masks, the sanitizers and so on. Because you never know in general policing who you are going to encounter. Finbur Cotter, accountant in the Ministry of Tourism, handed over these first check disbursements from the National COVID-19 Response Telethon. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donald Invite, assures transparency in the process of approving and disbursing proceeds of the Telethon. What the ministry has done in the administration of those funds was to set up a small committee which has been sanctioned by the Cabinet of Ministers. And this committee is responsible for receiving, screening and approving in principle all of the applications will come before the Ministry of Tourism to ensure consistency and congruence with the intention and the principle behind the collections of the fund. The checks were handed over in a live presentation on NTN Monday 3rd August 2020. For the Government Information Service, I am Jessie Layance reporting. St Lucia's premier investment promotion agency, Invest Inc. Lucia is making good on its promise to give every St Lucia an opportunity to acquire ownership of residential and commercial property at a reasonable cost. During its rebranding in 2019, the entity highlighted a number of projects to be rolled out, including several residential developments, get-towards engaging nationals and creating opportunities for employment, ownership and investment locally. Invest Inc. Lucia remains dedicated to enriching the lives of citizens by giving them a chance to acquire ownership of residential and commercial property at a reasonable cost. During the agency's rebranding exercise in 2019, ISL fashioned new strategic statements towards socioeconomic development in St Lucia. This includes developing programs that enable land ownership by St Lucia in order to improve the socio-economic return on assets. ISL's contributions to land development were repeatedly underscored in Prime Minister Alan Sharsney's 2020-2021 Budget Address, referencing land and rationalization on the agency's lands as well as three fully serviced developments in Boazoli, Borsho and La Fag. For the fully serviced developments, ISL covers road infrastructure, utility connection and development control authority qualifications for residential and commercial use before putting the properties on the market. ISL's aim is to generate between 500 and 600 new landowners, either by development or land rationalization. At the beginning of 2019, ISL announced the Boazoli Residential Development as Prime Residential Property, approximately 8.43 acres of sloping land and compromising 25 single unit residential lots, ranging in size from 3,800 to 8,400 square feet. The development garnered interest from the constituents of Dennery and its environs and by December 2019, it was completely sold out and the new owners were handed over their lots. ISL is also looking into other initiatives that will target the middle-class spectrum, exploring options such as multi-family offerings in which case persons can purchase their unit within a duplex or apartment complex at a lower reasonable cost. This includes the Boazoli Land Development which has been designated for both residential and commercial use, which makes it a very attractive option for potential landowners. The multipurpose prime property is approximately 20 acres of relatively flat land and comprising 59 lots, ranging in size from 5,000 to 26,000 square feet. The lots consist of 4 multi-family lots, 5 commercial lots, 2 institutional lots and 48 single-family lots. Sizes are prepared for marketing to the higher end or middle-class buyers, especially young professionals. With 5 commercial lots, there are opportunities for economic activity in our development as large as the one in Boazoli. Sales for this development were halted during the country's initial responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, ISL has recommended processing applications for this development and it is about 80% sold. The newest land project for ISL is the La Fag Development in Choselle. The La Fag Development is another project that offers both residential and commercial use lots, ranging in size from 4,193 to 26,000 square feet. Originally, this development had an estimated completion for the first quarter of 2020. Although progress was hindered as with most economic activity in St. Lucia, ISL is pleased to be back on track. The development will be done in four phases as opposed to the original three and three contractors from the Choselle area are working towards its completion. ISL will be announcing the La Fag Development groundbreaking in the coming days. Anyone wishing to apply for ISL's land sales can find application forms at either its castries or viewport office. From the Government Information Service, I am Anicia Antoine reporting. Emancipation Day is celebrated annually and commemorates the abolishment of slavery throughout the British Empire by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which came into effect on August 1st, 1834. Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations Dr Fiona Meyer, explained that it is important that the youth pays more attention to the history, to understand where they came from and where they are going. The Chief Education Officer said it should be a time of reflection with the guidance of older people to appreciate who they are as inclusions and how they can move forward and benefit as a people. In commemoration of this day, the Ministry is partnering with Goodwill Ambassador Tash Weeks to host an initiative. Young people out there are invited to be creative, to share a song, a bit of poetry, some art. The posters are all out there, lots of things that young people can do. And so we want them to present those bits of creative ideas that they have uploaded onto our Facebook page. We will identify what our Facebook page is and they can find those posters all over. There are age criteria. So for the younger ones, we have something in lower primary, middle primary, and upper secondary as well. We just want to encourage everybody to think what does emancipation mean to me as an individual, as a national of St. Lucia. And our young people, we assume you have a bit of time now on your hands. We encourage our parents to support them and to present those creative bits that can then be uploaded and can share what emancipation means to those individual children. Teachers signed to the T-Vert unit of the Ministry of Education, Delphian Natrium, indicated that youth aged nine to 21 years are invited to express their thoughts on emancipation in a creative way. Creativities encouraged and interested individuals can submit various art pieces, whether it be in the form of a painting, drawing, video art, a piece of weaving or textile print, a sculpture or craft, a song, poem, dance, video performance, a short story or spoken word. We're looking for young persons to really reflect on the whole idea of emancipation. Often we look forward to a lot of events, cultural events, and we want to go the sort of party, sort of atmosphere to it. But we really want students to reflect. We know they've been out of school, formal classroom settings for quite a while. A lot of them are quite creative, both in the visual and the performing arts. So we are trying to engage them to reflect on the idea of emancipation and what it really means to them, but to do so through creative expression. Submissions must be sent to Voice and Power 2020 at gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is August 15. Submissions can be made as an individual or with friends, and all are reminded to include their names, school, age, and a short description or statement on the art piece. And this is NTNightly, up next, Primers Hutchingson with the NTNouffel of We All. The effective management of the marine resources depends heavily on compliance. To ensure that these resources continue to thrive and provide the best local seafood, fishers, vendors, and consumers must be aware of the fishery seasons. Hair is the season chart for lobster. Adhere to the schedule. Help maintain a thriving fishing industry for all of us. This has been a message from the Department of Fisheries. Welcome back. We now join Primers Hutchingson for the NTNouffel of We All. This is GIS and National Television of NTN, Caposito-Nouffel of We All, Primer Hutchingson of Primers Hutchingson. Since July 28, 2020, the National Association of National Resources, which is the first NIC, has been able to address 1,673 applications. I had already thought of 1 million dollars. This is a low-programme of government assistance for people who are losing their jobs as a result of the corona virus. I was able to communicate with the NIC organization, Mark Norton McLean, to advise the clients I have applied to make sure that all the information is sent to the North. This is why I have always provided the NIC with the necessary information to help the officers address effectively all the claims I have made. This is the first facility I have applied to. McLean declared that the first facility I have applied to is the NIC Client. According to McLean, all the employees who have submitted the NIC Epidio to the information will be able to place their employees in the NIC organization. McLean declared that the NIC Salar will be available on October 1, 1667. This is a good project I have registered and that I have also found available. But I have always been able to make room for the work application. In any case, I would be happy if this would be 119. There are also the employees who are able to send information to me, but it is 612. And also, McLean has 700 employees who are able to send applications to me. Even after 18,000 applications that I have found assistance for my NIC, the organization has continued to facilitate me in a way to help the clients who are experiencing these problems today. Chef Group Audit NIC, so-and-shall-repain, explained that the clients can also benefit from a lot of benefits that I have received from the NIC. So-and-pain continued to explain, for example, if a client finds a maternity benefit of $800, and now we receive $1,000 of benefits from the government assistance program, then we will find $200. Because I have already received $1,000 of the benefits that I have received from the NIC. So-and-pain also advised the clients who are working in the NIC to provide information regarding the situation, such as your presence, say, if you are working, if you are not working, to help NIC to assist you in the first year. The Department of Public Health provides public advice to all of the clients not to encourage the action and agenda of the work with a lot of animal that have been brought to the public. Officers who are able to help the public to cut these animals off, such as Charles, are able to provide all the quality of the animals, especially leptospirosis, and also the animal that has been brought to the public. If you are working, because the people who are working, they are not able to provide the animals. So, animals called leptospirosis, hunter fever, salmonellosis, rat bite fever, toxopasmosis, all of these animals are not able to provide the animals. So, it is certainly more common for leptospirosis to be brought to the public, and also the Ministry of Health to teach them about the disease. A lot of people who are not able to provide the animals, are not able to provide the animals. So, they are not able to provide the animals, because they are not able to provide the animals. They are not able to provide the animals, but, they are able to provide the animals, so that they can serve the animals to the public. So, they are not able to provide the animals, so they are not able to provide the animals. Welcome to Charles, with the leptospirosis, I am Mary Malady, I consider it to be a flu disease. I consider it to be a disease of maltaitla, of the fever, of relashma, malbudin, of the flu, and I feel it is a serious disease. I think it is a flu disease, it is not a flu disease, it is a seleptospirosis disease. M. Zell Charles, who started public life when he was ill. He went to see a doctor as soon as possible and had no chance to serve women. I went to the institution to help with the ability of young boys in society, the Boys' Training Center, who went in the direction of Jinn, for example, Nishiz and the law, Mr. Wang Sonson, who did public life, including the officers who employed him. I went to the institution to help with the ability of young boys in society, not for advertising or recognition, but only for passion, to assist young boys who deserve all the support and assistance in life. There is no discussion at all, but Mr. Sonson said that to help young boys who are looking for benefits, young boys are not only for passion, but also for young people. We are going to make a change in this environment. But the environment that comes with us, it will not change. The environment that comes with us, it will not change. The environment that comes with us, it will not change. So, it seems that we are not doing the same thing, but we are trying to change the life of the young boys, so that the environment is not changing. We are trying to change the life of the young boys, so that they don't have to be aftercare. So, to change, we will still have to do a living, a uniform, so that we will be working, so that we can afford to work. We will be doing everything. So, my mother came, she was a bit shy, she was not going to stigmatize her. Yes, yes, yes. You need to try a day or a piece of a day to solve this problem for society. Thank you, Madam. I am very happy to be here with you. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for the invitation that I have received. I wish you all the best in your life. And I wish you all the best in your life. Thank you. I wish you all the best in your life. Thank you, Pearl Primus. And that brings us to the end of NTIA Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Gulfman Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am General Novel.