On Sunday, July 5, the coastal town of Gros Islet, Saint Lucia played host to the 19th edition of the CARICOM Road Run/Walk, a landmark regional athletic event that brought over 250 competitors spanning 15 Caribbean countries and territories together. Held as an official pre-meeting activity for the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM – running July 5 to 8 under the chairmanship of Saint Lucia Prime Minister and CARICOM Chair Philip J. Pierre – the event served as both a celebration of Caribbean athletic excellence and a demonstration of cross-border regional unity.
Competitors ranging from professional elite athletes to amateur recreational runners took to the course, with standout performances from athletes across the bloc. In the highly competitive Elite 10K Men’s division, Jamaica’s Garfield Gordon claimed the top spot and the prestigious CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy, followed by Odida Parkinson of Guyana in second and Kamar Thomas of Antigua and Barbuda in third. For the Elite 10K Women’s category, Barbados’ Carlie Robinson took home the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy and first place honors, with Attoya Harvey of Guyana and Alexia John of Trinidad and Tobago rounding out the top three positions.
Representing the Commonwealth of Dominica, which officially dispatched its team through the national Ministry of Sports, two athletes delivered strong results that cemented the country’s growing profile in regional distance running. Curvin Leatham crossed the Elite 10K finish line in an impressive 37 minutes and 24 seconds, securing 7th place overall out of 309 competing athletes. In the Local 10K division, Raedian Felix posted a time of 43 minutes 25 seconds to earn 10th place among 65 runners, further boosting Dominica’s solid showing at the event.
In opening remarks ahead of the award ceremony, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation Kenson Casimir – speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Pierre – framed the event as far more than a simple athletic competition. “This run/walk is more than a race. It is a celebration of health, discipline, unity, community spirit, and Caribbean friendship,” Casimir said. “It reminds us that CARICOM is not only about the meetings of Heads of Government, policy discussions and regional decisions. CARICOM is about people. It’s about athletes, our families, young people, our communities, and the shared Caribbean identity that connects us across borders. Today, every participant has contributed to that spirit. You are part of something meaningful. You have helped demonstrate the strength, energy and togetherness of our Caribbean Community.”
Beyond unity and athletic achievement, the event also advanced a critical public health priority for the Caribbean bloc. CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett highlighted that the Road Run/Walk aligns with the community’s ongoing campaign to address the sharp rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the region by encouraging regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits.
“Across our Community, we have a very high incidence of non-communicable diseases, and we know that healthier lifestyles make it easier for us to manage these conditions and to prevent them,” Barnett explained. “Our numbers are on the high side in terms of the incidence of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. I encourage everyone in the Community to continue to be active, to exercise and to live active lifestyles.”
The ceremony saw top honors presented by key regional leaders: Minister Casimir awarded the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy and other elite men’s prizes, while Secretary-General Barnett presented the Secretary-General’s Trophy to the top female elite competitor. In attendance for the event were CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Armstrong Alexis, along with three Assistant Secretaries-General covering key portfolios: Alison Drayton for Human and Social Development, Elizabeth Solomon for Foreign and Community Relations, and Dr. Wendell Samuel for Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, alongside other senior CARICOM and Saint Lucian government officials.
The strong performances from Dominica’s Leatham and Felix added to the spirit of regional excellence that defined the 2024 event, underscoring the country’s ongoing commitment to expanding sports development and advancing public health priorities across the Caribbean Community.