ABS EVENING NEWS (LOCAL SEGMENT & WEATHER REPORT) 17.12.2023

THE BUDGET SPEECH 2024 (FRIDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2023)

Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has used his budget presentation to confirm a looming increase in payments to pensioners. Public sector workers are to receive an increase in wages and salaries, and LIAT employees are to receive a payment for Christmas.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has announced measures to shore up the country’s revenues and ensure the Government can sustainably fund its obligations. Jamie J. Roacher reports.

The Brades Primary School presents it's annual Christmas Concert on Wednesday December 13 at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services is pleased to announce that two “Public Information Sessions” will be hosted by the Government of Montserrat, supported by Article 25 Architecture. These are scheduled to take place on Monday, December 11 at 6pm at the Cultural Centre, Little Bay, and Tuesday, December 12 at 6pm at the Montserrat National Trust, Olveston. Article 25, the UK-based international Non-Governmental Architecture Organization, has successfully completed the detailed design of the new National Hospital, together with Government of Montserrat and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. These “Public Information Sessions” aim to encourage the local community to come and experience a detailed visual understanding of the hospital, whilst also obtaining clarity on the clinical and non-clinical details of the hospital. Key facilitators in these sessions include representatives from Article 25, local project managers from the Project Management Office, and officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Services. This collaborative approach ensures that the community has direct access to information and can actively participate in the discourse surrounding the significant new National Hospital development project. The New National Hospital Project is funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office investment from the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth (CIPREG) With – HM Governor’s Office in Montserrat.

Ministry of Communication, Works, Labour and Energy Presents ICT & Energy Month Debate Competition. Topic: Artificial Intelligence in education poses a threat to academic integrity and critical thinking ability. Debaters: MNI Youth Parliament vs MCC Students November 22, 2023 @ 6:00 p.m. Montserrat Cultural Centre Montserrat, W.I.

The National Insurance Corporation has relaunched its Golden Citizens Program with an expanded list of businesses where senior citizens could get exclusive discounts on goods and services.

Fifty local manufacturers, retailers and food vendors received the chance to showcase their products to participants of the 2023 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers in Export Saint Lucia's Taste of Saint Lucia ARC Edition Expo. The exposition also offered the participants and Saint Lucians alike the opportunity to diversify their Christmas Shopping with the best of what the island has to offer.

The Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, has addressed the criticisms raised by the opposition regarding his stance on the Guyana/Venezuela conflict. As one of the regional leaders who participated in the talks between the Presidents of both countries In St Vincent, and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister believes that CARICOM's involvement in mediating this dialogue is a significant diplomatic achievement for the region.

The commissioning of an oxygen plant at the Millennium Heights Medical Complex on Friday will provide double what the medical complex consumes in a day. The new plant was partly funded by The Maria Holder Memorial Trust.

Economic relations between St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have been deepened with an agreement that focuses on port activities and which is expected to be of mutual benefit to the two sides.

Should swimming be made mandatory for St. Lucia's students?

Gearing up for a dazzling display of young talent, music fest 2023 promises an enthralling show and an unforgettable experience for patrons on Sunday, December 17th.

St. Lucia's government, led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, has launched the golden citizens program as a further step to honor the elderly.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre feels vindicated after UWP firebrand Guy Joseph secured a favorable outcome at the Caribbean Court of Justice. Ironically Joseph is the deputy leader of the party which vehemently opposed the CCJ becoming the island's court of appeal. The former government minister's verdict comes just months after UWP protests against the CCJ switch, which replaced the London-based privy council as the island's final appellate court.

A victory for CARICOM--so says Saint Lucia Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre. In a historic step for regional diplomacy, Venezuela and Guyana pledged to resolve their long-simmering border dispute peacefully, marking a significant breakthrough brokered by CARICOM leaders. The agreement, reached during a high-level meeting in St. Vincent, commits both nations to dialogue and non-violent solutions, paving the way for potential resource sharing and a de-escalation of tensions in the oil-rich Essequibo region.