Barbados has marked a new milestone for Caribbean grassroots cricket, as the Republic Bank Five for Fun youth cricket programme officially launched on the island this week, drawing hundreds of excited primary school students and leading sporting stakeholders to the ceremony. After rolling out to successful editions across five other Caribbean nations — St. Lucia, Guyana, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Kitts and Nevis — the 2026 expansion brings the popular initiative to Barbados for its first ever season, with 60 primary schools across the island already confirmed to participate.
Tailored specifically for children aged 7 to 12, the Five for Fun programme is built on core principles of accessibility, joy, teamwork, and foundational skill-building, designed to introduce young participants to cricket in a low-pressure, engaging outdoor setting. The symbolic launch event took place on May 27 at Bridgetown’s iconic Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, drawing a roster of notable guests including senior leadership from the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), former West Indies international cricketers Vasbert Drakes and Kurt Wilkinson, current Barbados and West Indies national team player Chemar Holder, and student delegations from five local primary schools: Bayley’s Primary, Blackman and Gollop Primary, Good Shepherd Primary, West Terrace Primary, and Luther Thorne Memorial Primary. Senior leadership from Republic Bank Barbados, including Managing Director and CEO Carlene Seudat and senior management team members Steven Jordan, Sharon Zephirin, Joy Inniss, and Sasha Shillingford, also joined the ceremony to mark the occasion.
Wendell Coppin, BCA’s Manager of Cricket Operations and Development, opened remarks by welcoming the cross-sector partnership, noting the programme’s core mission to nurture the next generation of regional cricket talent. “This year marks an exciting milestone as Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ makes its debut in Barbados. The Barbados Cricket Association is proud to partner with Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies in delivering this all-important primary school initiative,” Coppin said. “We are thrilled to have close to 60 schools participating in this inaugural year, with scheduled training sessions being conducted by coaches from the National Sports Council alongside Barbados Cricket Association coaches. Students will also have the unique opportunity to interact with and be inspired by visits from national senior team cricketers throughout the programme.”
Coppin added that the initiative is expected to be a transformative boost to local grassroots cricket, with regional playoffs and a national championship on the horizon. “We believe this initiative will play an important role in strengthening grassroots cricket development in Barbados, and we are eagerly anticipating Zonal Playoff matches and the National Festival Finals carded for October, where the students will have the opportunity to showcase their progress and celebrate the spirit of the game,” he said.
BCA Chief Executive Officer Paul Skinner echoed that praise, emphasizing that the Five for Fun programme is far more than a youth tournament — it is a core pillar of Barbados’ long-term national cricket development strategy. “This programme is not a standalone initiative, but a key component of the national cricket development strategy. Through the collaborative efforts of the Barbados Cricket Association and Cricket West Indies (CWI), alongside the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sport, cricket clubs, and other sporting and cricketing organisations, we are committed to ensuring that the talented boys and girls emerging from this programme are provided with the training opportunities and competitive pathways necessary for both individual and collective growth,” Skinner explained. “It remains essential that national stakeholders continue to work together to ensure that cricket development pathways across the region are properly resourced, strengthened, and sustained for future generations.”
Skinner extended particular gratitude to programme sponsor Republic Bank for its sustained investment in Caribbean youth. “To Republic Bank, we extend our sincere gratitude, as this initiative would not be possible without your unwavering commitment and shared belief in youth development. Your investment in the young people of Barbados and the wider Caribbean through the sport of cricket will not only be reflected in future appearances on some of the world’s biggest cricketing stages, but also in the cultivation of responsible, innovative, and progressive citizens who will make meaningful contributions to the advancement of our society,” he said.
One of the most celebrated announcements of the launch came with a special financial incentive for all participating young cricketers: every student taking part in the programme will receive a brand-new RightStart savings account from Republic Bank Barbados pre-loaded with BBD $50, a reveal that drew enthusiastic applause from the student audience. Additional incentives are planned for top-performing teams: every member of the inaugural national championship-winning team will receive an extra BBD $200 deposited to their accounts, while runners-up will each get a BBD $150 credit.
Seudat, Republic Bank Barbados’ CEO, spoke to the outlet’s long-term commitment to youth and community development across the Caribbean, framing the partnership as an investment in the region’s future. “At Republic Bank, we believe that building strong communities starts with investing in our youth. Today’s launch is not just about cricket. It is about opportunity, development, and shaping the future of our region, one child at a time,” Seudat said. “Here in Barbados and the West Indies, cricket is more than a sport. It is part of our identity. It is woven into our culture, our history, and our pride as a people. We have produced world-class players who have carried the West Indies flag with distinction. Players like Shai Hope, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, and Hayley Matthews, who began their journeys just like the children gathered here today, with a bat, a ball, and a dream.”
The programme’s timeline kicks off with school-based training and coaching sessions running through June and July 2026. Zonal playoffs are scheduled for September 2026, with the National Festival Finals set to take place in October 2026. The launch ceremony was hosted by Republic Bank Barbados Ambassador Joel Manning. With the Barbados launch, the Republic Bank Five for Fun Programme has completed its 2026 rollout across all six planned Caribbean territories, cementing its status as one of the region’s most ambitious grassroots youth cricket initiatives in recent years.