 Welcome to the NTN Nightly, I'm Nisha Charles, this edition's top stories. The Government of St. Lucia has reiterated its commitment to the general welfare of all St. Lucia workers. Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney welcomes the accession of Guadalupe to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. The Ministry of Agriculture now has increased capacity in soil diagnostics. All that goes to the latest in youth development, sports, and the NTN Nouvelle Arquéon. The Government of St. Lucia has restated its commitment to the general welfare of all St. Lucia workers. Shaping the core of its policies is the boosting of morale and the improvement of the productivity of the state. The reiteration comes as public sector unions and the Government negotiating team continued dialogue on collective agreements. The meeting was held Thursday 14th March with all representatives expressing satisfaction with the talks. Nicole McDonald is the Senior Communications Officer in the office of the Prime Minister. The Government has addressed several long outstanding issues related to health and safety of employees within the public service and at our nation's educational and medical institutions. This is an ongoing process which will require continued dialogue with all stakeholders and the commitment of the requisite financial resources. The Government reaffirms its commitment to the process of engaging workers and looks forward to the expeditious conclusion to the 2016-2019 public sector wage negotiations. The Government remains confident that the Cabinet appointed Government negotiating team, the GNT, and the negotiating parties can reach consensus so that together we may move forward. The Government encourages all involved in the ongoing negotiations to be responsible and allow the process to continue in a manner that will be beneficial to the continued development of our nation. The Government is aware that the GNT has been meeting regularly with the various Union representatives and also has several meetings scheduled with the parties involved in the negotiations. The Government notes that the responsibility for successful negotiations lies with all parties acting in good faith to reach an outcome which takes into consideration the current economic climate and improves the working conditions of all workers. And that was Senior Communications Officer in the office of the Prime Minister, Nicole McDonald. Prime Minister Hon. Alan M. Shasne on Thursday 14th March attended a special meeting of the OVCS Authority for the accession of water loop to the organisation of Eastern Caribbean states. The accession of water loop comes four years after Martinique's accession to the OVCS. Leaders of the organisation of the Eastern Caribbean states OVCS held a special session on Thursday at which Guard Loop was admitted as an associate member of the sub-regional grouping. The items on the agenda included exploration of the mandate of the OVCS, the regional council of Guard Loop's cooperation strategy and the priority areas of collaboration between Guard Loop and other OVCS member states. President of the regional council of Guard Loop, Ari Chalice, expressed gratitude to the organisation for facilitating the achievement of such a feat. He also highlighted priority areas for Guard Loop, such as education, healthcare and energy, to name a few. The accession of Guard Loop to an associate member state of the OVCS took place with the signing of an agreement. For the Government Information Service, I am Janelle Norville. Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shastney has expressed condolences to New Zealand, following the shocking mass shootings targeting two moths in which at least 49 people were killed and at least 20 injured in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. In a statement Hon. Shastney said, quote, As a country, we condemn these deadly acts and stand in solidarity with our grief-stricken friends in New Zealand. The world remains deeply shocked by the senseless act of violence and in this time of great sorrow and hardship, we pray for the continued strength and courage of the people of New Zealand and for the speedy recovery of those injured. End quote. The Lusha's fisheries sector has received some much-needed aid for the procurement of essential equipment and official ceremony for the exchange of notes between the Government of Japan and the Government of St. Lusha for an amount of US$1.8 million. Here's Anise Antoine. In November of 2018, the Government of Japan informed St. Lusha of its intention to provide grant aid under its Economic and Social Development Programme. On Wednesday March 13, 2019, the two countries exchanged notes which saw the equivalent of US$1.8 million being allocated for various supplies and equipment within the fisheries sector. The Deputy Head of the Mission for Japan, His Excellency Yoshinori Yakabe, says the grant is designed to enhance the island's fisheries sector. With this grant, the Government of St. Lusha will procure officially related equipment such as storage coolers, fish aggregating devices, and a long-liner vessel to improve the operational efficiency and hygienic environment which is essential for the fisheries industry. This will also assist the Government of St. Lusha in achieving its policy objectives in food security and nutrition. Notably, the Government of Japan will also contribute to this country's fisheries sector through the project for strengthening sustainable use and management of coastal fisheries resources in the Calicom countries. The Prime Minister of St. Lusha, the Honourable Alan Shasne, signed the Government of Japan for their incredible support to St. Lusha over the last 40 years in the areas of fisheries, disaster risk reduction, and education. It's always meaningful when you receive assistance from a country that is a legend in their own time in these areas. So everyone is very acutely aware of the prowessness of the Japanese for fishing. And we're very grateful at this particular juncture when we are seeing a shift in our Government's policy towards fishing that we'd be receiving this level of support at this time. It is our Government's intention to focus on improving the ability and the capacity of the fishermen to fish and helping them to identify new methods in order to be able to catch more fish, but more importantly also to get more value for the fish that they're currently catching. Building the supplies for the local fisheries sector will be platform and countertop digital scales, coolers for fish storage on ice for landing sites, biogas digester and energy converter, and tablets for real-time data collection. From the Government Information Service, I am Anissia Antwan reporting. Meantime the drive to increase capacity in soil diagnostics and advisory services for agriculture concerns and research inquiries moved forward with the presentation of equipment by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund to the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. The distribution of reagents to the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Agriculture marks a new era in the implementation of sustainable crop production strategies to ensure healthy, fireable crops and extension of the Agriculture Ministry's mandate to bring about nutrition and food security. The head of the Taiwan ICDF, Mario Shen says, the concerns about the health of a people should start with considerations about the quality of the soil our crops are grown in. According to him, having the capacity to conduct soil testing and other diagnostics arms the farmer with additional tools to ensure they repose some harvests, and by so doing, only products that are safe and which can be viable will be seen on the market. The reason why we can increase or encourage each of the farmers, you can bring your soil sample, now we can analyze the diagnostic, your soil fertility, and we can rationalize application right for the rider to your farm. Head of the Research and Development Division, Hannah Romain, in thanking the ICDF for their donation says soil health is inextricably linked to the wellness of a people, and as such the work being undertaken by her division is also critical to the socio-economic development of St. Lucia. These materials or reagents will go very far towards assisting us in meeting our work program, the requirements of the work program. On a daily basis, our technicians are out there to ensure that the foods that are grown out there, that the soil status, the soil health, the nutritional status of the soil is in the ideal condition for the successful growth of a crop. We've been working over the years tirelessly to improve under production of our foods and today we see that this step that we've taken is to ensure that our labs are properly equipped and that our technicians have the ideal reagents required to ensure that we are able to conduct proper diagnosis of our soil status. Ms Romain added that this move is timely as agriculture officials continue their intervention to improve the banana and to ensure its viability on external markets. And that was Amanda Faye Clark of the Ministry of Agriculture. This is the NTN Nightly coming up, the latest happenings in youth and sport with Ryan O'Brien. Pamela, I noticed that you built your retaining wall on my property, you'll have to give me my land back or compensate me for that. My contractor isn't dumb, I trust that he will not build anything on your property. Where is your proof? Let's go to court. This situation does not require you to go to court. Looks like we have to go through mediation here. Mediation is a way people resolve conflicts like this. Someone, a third party, comes to speak to both parties. This person is called the mediator. The mediator is impartial. He or she makes sure that communication between both parties is effective and efficient. So the mediator is a judge? No, the mediator is not a judge. Mediators, unlike judges, do not decide cases or impose settlements. Let me get a mediator to handle this retaining wall and that kitchen. Kitchen? Yes, your kitchen also falls on my land. Let me call the mediator. Welcome back. We join Ryan O'Brien for the latest happenings in youth development and sport. Welcome once again to your update from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports on the NTN Nightly. I'm Ryan O'Brien. Scores of the nation's youth turned out Friday morning for the launch of the mentorship program organized by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports at the Coconut Bay Resort and Spa. During the launch, a welcome address was delivered by Director of Youth Mary Wilfred and District Education Officer Stephen O'Geese. Program consultant Dr. Zyphus James also spoke at the opening. Director responsible for youth development and sports, the Honourable Edmund Estefan, delivered the keynote address. Participants in the program have been drawn from the VFO secondary, MECU secondary, Trousel secondary and the PI secondary school. Plans are continuing for the staging of the upcoming interschool Struck and Field Meet and the Inter-District Primary Schools Athletics Championships. Northern qualifiers set for March 18th and 19th at the George Auditum Stadium. Northern qualifiers March 21st and 22nd at the Darren-Sarmy Cricket Ground. Inter-school semifinals and finals are scheduled for March 27th and 29th at the Darren-Sarmy Cricket Ground while the Inter-District Primary Schools Athletic Championships are set for April 3rd, 2019. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports is inviting all concessionaires interested in vending at Inter-Sec and Inter-District Primary School events at the Darren-Sarmy Cricket Ground to a meeting to be held at the Ministry's conference room, Tricky Building, Upper MECU Street on Wednesday, March 20th, starting time 3pm. And as we look towards another exciting and busy new week, some highlights you can look forward to. The continuation of schools' volleyball action and results from the VG Multipurpose Sports Complex, Mass United Schools' cricket moves into its semifinal stage following Friday's quarter-final matches. The Ministry keeps an eye on getting its contingent in place for the 2019 Winner Island School Games and a reminder to all netballers in training for the Jean-Pierre Under-16 Netball Tournament. Training continues Saturday at the VG Multipurpose Sports Complex. That's your update for this week. From the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, I'm Ryan O'Brien. Thanks Ryan. Bank of St. Lucia partners with the 2018 Youth Ambassador for St. Lucia, Jai O'Gees, to host a women's empowerment workshop for students at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and secondary schools across the island. The workshop took place at the Financial Centre on Bridge Street on Friday 8th March, International Women's Day. We have more in this report. Approximately 40 female students from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and various secondary schools across the island came together on International Women's Day to attend a workshop with a slight difference. This particular conference was designed to focus on women empowerment but what made it more interesting was that it was designed by one of the bank's scholarship holders who also happens to be the 2018 Youth Ambassador for St. Lucia to the US Embassy. According to Jai O'Gees, partnering with the bank was pivotal in helping her reach more students and achieve her goals. One of the conditions of being chosen for this sport was that I carry out a social action plan and I chose to do two or three workshops. I did one at the St. Joseph's Convent, one at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and in an effort to reach more people, reach more young girls and boys as well although we focussed on girls today. I chose to work with the bank to have a women's empowerment workshop. Corporate Communications Officer, Bank of St. Lucia, Annalicia Edmonds O'Gees says that the workshop is the first of many initiatives the bank will be embarking on throughout the year to address some of the social ills affecting St. Lucia's society. We placed a lot of emphasis on youth development so it was really important for us to bring in the school children to help Jai with her session today. This forms a major part of our corporate social responsibility policy and what we're trying to do and it starts off like I said a series of events that we're hoping to make a really bold statement with for this year and in the future. The workshop consisted of a variety of presentations conducted by guest speakers on topics such as the independent woman, rape culture and owning your sexuality by Dr Robin Shalry White of her store. So it was just really helping the young ladies understand that it's an entirely holistic experience it's more than just sex it's more about your gender identity, your sexual identity, how you take care of yourself, your hygiene, dispelling a lot of gender norms and roles and myths and expectations that they've gotten from social media on how they should look, how they should dress you know and just having them come to themselves and I think I wish all women in St Lucia could have been here today because that's really what it's about. BOSL officials say that the company will continue to partner with creative individuals like Jai August and organizations like her store for the significant contribution to the development of our nation's youth and to the development of the nation overall. Banker St Lucia intends to make a bold statement this year, demonstrated by the support of women empowerment, breaking barriers and tackling some taboo issues such as mental and reproductive health. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. As they with the NTA nightly, up next, Primers Hutchinson is here with the NTA Human trafficking happens in plain sight, know the signs, see it, report it. To report suspected cases of human trafficking, call the TIB hotline at 847. Welcome back. We join Primers Hutchinson for the NTA Nouvelle en Cueo. Monsieur Thin Anisheur, Monsieur Médame, Department of Inverse Consensability, with information on the government set here, at the CGIS, at the National Television Center in NTA, at the Nouvelle en Cueo, at Primers Hutchinson. Government set here, I have one first point, regarding commitment to address the problem of the work set here. With the information that came out in the office of the Prime Minister, the government has continued to place a commitment to work in the country. Excellent information is there, among those who have placed more attention is to prove moral and legal protection in the country. Information has also been declared that since 2016, the government has addressed several situations that have affected the country for a long time, especially those who are able to do and support with good protection for the work that is being done and for the public service of the country. Also, education institutions have been excluded from this issue. Information has also been declared that the government has re-established commitments to engage the workers in discussions, so that they can find solutions as quickly as possible in negotiations such as in 2016 or 2019. The government has declared that there is no need for negotiations to be done at the moment. And the President of the Union, who is involved in negotiations, has said that the government has said that in order to succeed in negotiations like this, it must all act in a good way in order to work and achieve their goals and that they consider an economic situation and presently also to prove the condition of all workers. So, the government has called all those who are involved in negotiations like this to embrace good workability in order to continue in a way that can benefit the country's development contribution. In this sector, I have received good assistance from the Japanese government, which has been treated with respect. This assistance is to find different equipment that is necessary to operate. I have received the official representation of the Japanese government and the government here. On the other side, I have found 200 million Japanese people who have received a value of $1.8 million in their income to help develop this sector. I have also received a letter from Mr. Yoshinori Yacabi and Prime Minister Onoab Alenshashne who has officially signed an economic and social development program. Minister of Sustainability for Agricultural Development, Ezekiel Joseph, has also received a lot of official representation from the government and also from the government. Mr. Yacabi has also helped the one-for-six sector, Peche Peya, to prove to the one-for-six sector, Peche Peya, to establish a level one that is the most suitable for the Peche industry. He has also assisted the government in this area to implement the future objective for security damage. Prime Minister Onoab Alenshashne has also helped the government in Japan to support Pepe Peya in order to help the Peche Peya sector to find more value for the Peche sector. He has also said that he has appreciated Peya's assistance in Japan to help the Peche sector to reduce waste and education. Prime Minister Onoab Alenshashne has announced that his government will pay more attention to his ability to prove to the Peche sector that he can help the Peche sector to find more value for the Peche sector, so he has given the government the help of Peche sector in order to find more value and help the Peche sector to find more value for the Peche sector. I'm President of the General Council, Guadeloupe, the head of the organization director here, is here. Since 1981, in Guadeloupe, the first European contact is being held. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce and under the patronage of the Commission of European Communities and the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Secretary of State, Odom Tom. Prime Minister of Europe, Allen Chastney, I have the Commission in New Zealand, to look at the misfortunes that have caused the world to become Muslim, so that when the world loses its life, it will be hurt. Prime Minister Odom Tom, I have the Commission of European Communities and the Secretary of State, I have the Commission of European Communities and the Foreign Affairs Minister, I have the Commission of European Communities and the Secretary of State, I have the Commission of European Communities and the Secretary of State, so that when the world loses its life, it will be hurt. Prime Minister Odom, I have the Commission of European Communities and the Secretary of State, I have the Commission of European Communities and the National Security Council make the contribution of this very important It's not possible. If you don't know how to make a novel, you have to know how to do it. You have to know how to do it. If you don't know how to do it, you have to know how to make a novel. You have to know how to do it. Merci en pile, primers. And here's a look at what's happening to us weather-wise. Skies are generally fair, occasionally becoming cloudy with a few showers. Saturday, partly cloudy to occasionally cloudy skies with some scattered showers. A marginal increase in moisture in the lower atmosphere will produce some showers, mainly over the southern Lesser Antilles during the next 24 hours. The tide for castries was low at 5.32 p.m. and will be high again at 12.40 a.m. Tide for V4 Bay was low at 6.59 p.m. and will be high again at 1.47 a.m. The seas slide to moderate with waves 3 to 5 feet or 0.9 to 1.5 meters. The sun will rise Saturday at 6.11 a.m. And that brings us to the end of the NCN Nightly. Join us next time at 7 p.m. with a repeat at 7 a.m. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Saint Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I'm Nisha Traw.