 Welcome to NTN Nightly, my name is General Norvel, this edition, Stop Stories. Government of St. Lucia remains committed to ensuring access to healthcare for all St. Lucia's. Diplomatic allies continue to aid in St. Lucia's fight against COVID-19 and the Government of St. Lucia launches Left St. Lucia Premium Corner. The Government of St. Lucia remains committed to ensuring equal and equitable access to healthcare for all St. Lucia's. The Government is currently in talks with the World Bank and other stakeholders to determine which National Health Insurance NHI modality is best suited to the population and its objectives. The Ministries of Health and Finance recently provided an update on NTN's program issues and answers. Jesse Nios reports. National Health Insurance or NHI is a prepaid mechanism through which an individual in a country can access healthcare without paying out of pocket. As part of efforts to strengthen St. Lucia's public healthcare system and ultimately a means to attain universal healthcare, the Government of St. Lucia is moving ahead with the introduction of NHI. The purpose is to provide all legal residents of St. Lucia with low-cost insurance policies irrespective of their socioeconomic status. The State is especially committed to purchasing policies on behalf of residents who are unable to afford the policy due to poverty or unemployment. Chief Economist in the Ministry of Finance, Janaye Léon, says the Government is now conducting analysis to determine the extent of its role in purchasing premiums. One of the things that we have been working with the World Bank and our other stakeholders as we are in the design element is to address which modality is best. So would it be best for the State to purchase all of the policies and then have persons who are poor and vulnerable receive from the State and also persons who are not poor and vulnerable but would like to purchase insurance to do that for the State as well or whether it may be best to have the State simply focus on the poor and vulnerable and allow your non-poor to be able to access through the employer, through a provider of their choice and so forth. The Government is also meeting with insurance providers to design annual standardised insurance policies with terms changing every two to three years at an affordable price point. Right now we are in discussion with private health insurance because they have submitted proposals but what we envisage is that it will encompass a range of services such as inpatient care, outpatient care. We would have surgical benefits and we envisage it to have air ambulance but it's an ongoing discussion with the health insurance providers. It is not setting stone but it is our vision for the health insurance to have those sort of coverage for the population. In addition to waiving fees so that the poor and vulnerable are pooled into NHI the self-employed and informal sector will also be required to join. The NHI will also break through traditional eligibility barriers for residents 65 years and older as well as residents who have pre-existing medical conditions. When you look at your non-wicked needs of 65 and above they cannot have insurance even if they wanted to or they have the financial means to. So the discussion with insurance providers is to explore how the entire demographic age-wise can be covered. When you look at the market right now what you see is that many persons cannot get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. So it's actually one of the discussion points that we have and to explore how can we move away from that so that anyone regardless of having a pre-existing condition or not can purchase a product that is affordable. In the first phase of the National Health Insurance the Ministry of Health as regulators will schedule a registration drive taking place at designated health facilities through the Health Information System. Diplomatic allies continue to support St. Lucia's fight against COVID-19. The Government of Mexico in its most recent act of aid donated two ventilators to St. Lucia with the viewer strengthening the island's capacity to provide care to patients affected by the coronavirus. Details in this report. The United Mexican states and St. Lucia continue to strengthen diplomatic ties through solidarity and cooperation on several projects. The Government of Mexico has collaborated with St. Lucia on several projects including that of infrastructure and health. The country has been supporting St. Lucia's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic making several donations over time. This time around the Government of the United Mexican states through the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation, AMEXED, donated two ventilators to St. Lucia. Minister David Simone is the charge deference at the Embassy of the United Mexican States in St. Lucia. The Executive Director of AMEXED indicated that the ventilators will contribute to the comprehensive care of patients affected by the coronavirus in St. Lucia. She opined that no country can effectively address international challenges individually, especially when facing global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has fostered a united front the world over as various countries continue to come to the aid of others in the fight against the coronavirus. No country has been untouched by the negative social and economic impact of this health crisis. Small island states like St. Lucia, according to Minister for Health and Wellness Senator Hon. Mary Isaac, have been able to withstand social and economic upheaval of the pandemic with the assistance granted by diplomatic allies. These friendly governments, she noted, have come to the aid of such states providing much-needed support and supplies to the most personal protective equipment, PPEs, and training to name a few. Hon. Isaac expressed immense gratitude to the government and people of the United Mexican States for the generous donation. The ventilators were handed over to St. Lucia on the 2nd of June 2021. From the Government Information Service, I am Genelle Norville. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment for its Youth Empowerment Program is tackling crime and violence from a different perspective. I recently hosted Anti-Crime and Violence X-Tempo Challenge was held virtually on June 6, 2021 in that vein. Hon. Mark tells us more. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment through its Youth Empowerment Program hosted the Anti-Crime and Violence X-Tempo Challenge on June 6, 2021. The virtual event was held in conjunction with the Community Relations branch of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and the Central Development Bank. Gilroy Hall, host of the event and mentors of the participants, expressed that the initiatives sought to engage young people on their views on crime and violence using X-Tempo. The format that was used is slightly different to the other challenges of the past. Generally, with the X-Tempo challenges, you had the challenge being thrown out there and persons would just create their own compositions, send them in, and that was about it, but we took a different approach and hats off to the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment for embracing this idea under the Youth Empowerment Project and of course with assistance from CDB and of course the Community Police and Initiative of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force. So we engaged the youngsters in a series of workshops. The idea was not to tell young people what to say about these issues, but to get information from them about their perceptions, their views, their possible solutions, all any ideas that they have for developing safety in their communities and community development. Commissioner of Police Milton Daisy spoke on the important role that young people play in the betterment of society. Partners in the organisation of this workshop and the implementation of the X-Tempo challenge and very importantly, Yuda Yufoshen Lucia who have embarked on a historic and noble journey. Partnerships in our communities and countries safer, more productive and a joy to live in are extremely important and your contributions today and in the years to come can certainly improve all of our lives. Our youth have a very important role to play in the nation building and the subject matter which you are attempting to help us with is an area that we need to get under control at the soonest. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, Josef, encouraged each participant to look within themselves to become productive citizens of society. Thank you for participating in the X-Tempo challenge. What a great way to showcase your creativity, your skills and your talents. Best of luck to each and every one of you. Remember, you are all winners. The X-Tempo challenge engaged 24 participants in three age categories from various schools and communities in castries. Therial Massion participated with an entry entitled Happy People, Happy Community and Jaden Mondaisi from the Zaira Simmons Secondary School with a piece entitled Crime and Violence. We can live peacefully. I may be too young to suit in Parliament but my community I want to represent here is my advice to everybody Happy people means happy community. First things first, what I want to say is that our people must go astray because all we can do is open pray that these bloodthirsty men never guess they pray. Rapists and thieves, they are all the same rub you of your dignity but don't be ashamed and miss your cries go make a report so that you will get justice one day in court. The feedback obtained from the participants will be used by the RL St. Lucia Police Force to create new strategies to tackle the issues of crime and violence. From the Government Information Service I'm Blumati Moth reporting. The Government of St. Lucia and the Taiwan Technical Mission for the Seven Cropes Project has teamed up with mass stores to launch the RL St. Lucia Premium Corner. Alicia Antoine has the details. The RL St. Lucia Premium Corner is the latest initiative under the Bi-Local Campaign that forms part of the enhancement of the efficiency of production, distribution supply chains in the fruits and vegetables sector project also known as the Seven Cropes Project. The Premium Corner will be available at the Marseys Stores Supermarkets across St. Lucia and will primarily promote the buying of selected locally produced fruits and vegetables of the Seven Cropes Project which includes cantaloupes, lettuce, tomatoes, pineapples, watermelons, cabbages and bell peppers. Perishables Manager at Marseys Stores Dunston DeMille says the RL St. Lucia Campaign is a step in the right direction towards encouraging local production and consumption. We remain fully committed to working with the agricultural sector, our suppliers, our farmers so that our customers would get the best quality produce produced locally. Our expectations for this RL St. Lucia Campaign is for our local items to be our customers' first choice. We don't want it to be the only choice but we want it to be the first choice. Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Corporatives, Barry Morphilicier says that the public-private partnership will be of great benefit to local farmers and consumers alike. By the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Corporatives we are pleased to enter into this public-private partnership with Marseys to launch the Love St. Lucia Premium Corner and also recognize the efforts of the Department of Commerce in that process to buy local, promote local, local consumption, local production and to create in some way local demand. That is the intention and these objectives align definitely with our 2015-2021 strategic plan at the Department of Agriculture and it is embedded in that document that we have to boost local food systems, the quality of the food and the safety of the food as well. Ambassador of the Republic of China, Taiwan to St. Lucia, His Excellency Peter Shen, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in ensuring the success of yet another milestone of the Seven Clubs project. I sincerely believe that this creative and meaningful initiative has successfully brought confidence to both farmers and customers. Seven Clubs project is another important step to awareness raising, promoting food security and mitigating the impact of climate change. The enhancement of the efficiency of production distribution supply chains in the fruits and vegetables sector project, also known as the Seven Clubs project, commenced in 2019 and will culminate this year. From the communications unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. This is NTIA Nightly. At next, Primus Hutchinson with the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial. Here at St. Lucia Distillers, we produce an award-winning range of rums and rum products. We export our rums to the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Standards facilitate our entry into overseas markets. In the rum business, it is critical that our distillers and blenders get it right. St. Lucia Distillers is HASAP certified. We use two standards from SLBS, the standard for labeling of prepackaged foods, SLNS 1-3, 2014 and the National Specification Forum, SLNS 12, 2003. We are also a registered member of the West Indies Rum and Spirit Producers Association, WISPA. SLBS ensures that we are up to standard and world class. This message is brought to you by the Common World Standards Network. Welcome back. We join Primus Hutchinson for the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, the West Indies Rum Department for the information of the government of the GIS and the National Television for the NTIA Nouvelle Aquial and Primus Hutchinson. The situation at St. Jude Hospital was the occasion of a contract with the U.S. for the condition of the water that affected the kitchen in the hospital. In the hospital, the management of St. Jude and Harold had the opportunity to work in the hospital and to protest because they had a large amount of water that flowed and filled the kitchen. But according to Harold, since the management found a way to pay for the water, they had to pay for the water immediately to resolve the situation. The problem was that they had to pay for the water that flowed and the management immediately took action to address the situation and that the water that flowed and filled the kitchen in the hospital could be treated. It was not easy and the patients had to pay for the water at the end. Immediately after the situation of the water that flowed and the management of St. Jude and the water system in the hospital, the management had to pay attention to the damage and the condition of the work and also the people in the hospital to find the treatment. The faster they found the water and the management immediately took action. They had to work even though the situation was not resolved. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Construction and Work collaborated on a project to help the school to be built and the projects were finished and in position to help the management to manage the water. The projects were called Gordon and Walcott Memorial and the premier of the school to help the management to manage the water and the management of the construction and industrial equipment and the government to manage the water and the management to manage the water and the management and the management and the management to manage the construction the water and the water and the work and work and the management to manage the water so they could proceeduties to work with each one of the gym because it's only one of the many that can be found on the side. Minister of Education, Dr. Gil Regabet, I would like to point out that, at present, the school has one more service that is advanced and not only for housing, but mainly for education institutions that can advance education through internet services for the advantage of the students, particularly those who are disabled and those who have advanced to the school. The positive problem for the West Coast, we have several flood-bobbers, we have families who live in their homes that are not allowed to enter the school because of the great protection and all the necessary for the students to even exist in the school. Minister of Education for Construction, Minister of Education, I would like to point out that for the school methods that are not allowed to be assisted, we have one more service that is not allowed to enter the school. I have been suffering for a long time, and the problem is that I have been affected for a long time to assist the school. Minister of Education, I would like to point out that you are disabled, I would like to point out that in the year 2006, a Gordon and Walker Methodist Memorial was not allowed to enter the school, therefore it was not allowed to enter the school. It was not allowed to enter the school. As an industry figure, we have a new position to help the farmers to find a solution that will help them to assist the students who are more vulnerable. Minister of Agriculture, I would like to point out that for example, the situation here is the worst. For example, there are farmers who are struggling before they enter the school. Minister of Agriculture, I would like to point out that before they enter the school, the development of the school is very difficult. Minister of Agriculture, I would like to point out that it is important for the farmers to find a solution that will help them to find a solution to their needs. Before the year began, the year 2021 was very difficult. For example, 100 farmers who are struggling to find a solution for 2021 were only able to find a solution of 10%. Okay? Now, there are no more farmers keep a global gap certified as a farmers keep a global gap certified so co-government if the new border none of the work Kista no suffer in to engage international organization because I engage you suffer a special dispensation to serve me people say this person because see no need to continue with this post on this person this this 10% theと思 over eight years full global gap certified to see famous aqui a real thing now see famous up equity a fix you guys you guys the support it maybe what you can see also International Nothing have no prego love so not any west coast ability so poor see with that no no tabloid no engage Organization Pre-Farmer's Certified I work in the field of biopharmacy, and I work in the field of biopharmacy, and I work in the field of extension. So, I have a great interaction with biocultures and education. And then I'm very familiar with education. So, I'm very familiar with that. I work in the field of biopharmacy. I've worked in the field of biopharmacy. I work in the field of biopharmacy. And I work in the field of biopharmacy. I'm very familiar with the field of biopharmacy. I work in the field of biopharmacy. Thank you so much. Thank you so much Mr. Mayor. us next time at 7 p.m. with a repeat at 7 a.m. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Genelle Norville.