In a landmark milestone for Antigua and Barbuda’s cricket community, three local umpires have secured coveted positions on regional umpiring panels overseen by Cricket West Indies, marking one of the strongest showings for the nation’s umpiring development program in recent years. Felix Auguste, Donald Sheckle, and Melissa Lawrie are the three officials recognized for their consistent performance and commitment to the sport, earning their selections at different levels of the regional governance body’s panel structure.
Among the three appointments announced, Auguste claimed the highest honor, earning a spot on the Cricket West Indies Senior Panel – the most prestigious tier of CWI’s regional umpiring framework. Sheckle, meanwhile, earned a promotion of sorts to the CWI Emerging Panel, designed to nurture up-and-coming officiating talent for higher-level regional competition. Lawrie retained her hard-won position on the CWI Junior Panel, confirming her standing as a consistent young official within the regional cricket ecosystem.
The Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association moved quickly to issue a formal statement congratulating the trio, framing their collective achievement as a source of national pride for both the country’s cricket community and the local network of match officials. The association highlighted that the selections are a direct reflection of the three umpires’ relentless hard work, unwavering consistency, and deep dedication to upholding the standards of cricket officiating.
All three officials bring years of hands-on experience officiating domestic matches across Antigua and Barbuda. Local competition records show that Auguste, Sheckle, and Lawrie are regular figures in Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association-run tournaments, with both Auguste and Sheckle already holding experience representing the nation at regional competitive events. The association added that their success not only validates the strength of Antigua and Barbuda’s homegrown umpiring development program, but also continues to raise the national program’s profile across the Caribbean region.
In closing, the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association extended encouragement to the three umpires, urging them to continue refining their craft, raising officiating standards across the region, and representing Antigua and Barbuda with excellence in all future assignments.