Ahead of the 51st regular CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, regional athletes and recreational runners gathered in Saint Lucia for the 19th edition of the annual CARICOM Road Run/Walk, where Jamaica’s Garfield Gordon and Barbados’ Carlie Robinson secured the event’s top individual honors.
Held in Gros Islet from July 5-8 alongside the leadership summit, the 2025 event drew more than 250 participants spanning professional competitors, hobbyist runners and amateur walkers from 15 Caribbean countries and territories. Gordon crossed the finish line first in the men’s 10-kilometer race to take home the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy, while Robinson claimed victory in the women’s division to earn the Secretary-General’s Trophy.
Regional neighbors followed closely behind the winners on the podium. In the men’s division, Guyana’s Odida Parkinson finished second, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Kamar Thomas took third place. For the women’s competition, Guyana’s Attoya Harvey claimed second spot, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Alexia John rounded out the top three.
Beyond athletic competition, event organizers and regional leaders framed the Road Run/Walk as far more than a race, positioning it as a cornerstone event that celebrates Caribbean unity and advances public health priorities across the bloc. Speaking on behalf of current CARICOM Chair and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Education, Youth Development, Sport and Digital Transformation Kenson Casimir emphasized the event’s deeper meaning during the awards ceremony.
“This gathering is not just about speed or trophies. It stands as a symbol of health, discipline, solidarity and the interconnectedness that binds our entire Caribbean region,” Casimir said. “CARICOM is not only about heads of government meetings and policy decisions. It is first and foremost about our people, our communities, and the shared Caribbean identity that unites us all.”
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, who joined participants for a group photo ahead of the award ceremony, echoed this sentiment and highlighted the event’s critical public health mission. She noted that non-communicable diseases including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease have seen sharp prevalence growth across the Caribbean region, making active lifestyle promotion a key priority for the bloc. By encouraging regular physical activity and healthy eating through events like the Road Run/Walk, CARICOM aims to drive down rates of these preventable conditions across member states.
Following the race, Barnett presented the Secretary-General’s Trophy to women’s champion Robinson, while Casimir awarded the Chairman’s Trophy to Gordon. The competition sets the stage for four days of high-level talks at the 51st CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, where regional leaders will deliberate on pressing priorities including deeper regional integration, expanded economic cooperation, cross-border security, and other key issues affecting the Caribbean Community.