Carib Scope

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  • Geotechnical engineer drills out GY$17 million from Jagdeo for defamation

    Geotechnical engineer drills out GY$17 million from Jagdeo for defamation

    On Friday, 12 June 2026, Guyana High Court Judge Fidela Lincoln-Corbin delivered a landmark defamation ruling holding current Guyanese Second Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo financially liable for defamatory comments he made against prominent senior engineer Charles Ceres back in 2019.

    The case stems from a press conference held on 27 June 2019, when Jagdeo was serving as Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). At that event, Jagdeo made damaging public statements about Ceres’ 2019 land acquisition deal with his then-wife.

    In her written ruling, Judge Lincoln-Corbin confirmed that Ceres had presented unchallenged evidence proving Jagdeo either personally published or authorized the publication of the defamatory claims against the engineer. The judge ultimately dismissed all three of Jagdeo’s core legal defenses: justification, fair comment, and qualified privilege. She emphasized that Jagdeo failed to introduce any credible evidence to support any of his defensive claims, despite cross-examining Ceres over the course of the trial in an apparent attempt to validate his arguments.

    Alongside the GY$15 million in defamation damages owed directly to Ceres, Jagdeo was also ordered to pay an additional GY$2,150,000 to cover Ceres’ court costs. The ruling also addressed co-defendants Tusika Martin, Editor-in-Chief of the *Guyana Times*, and the newspaper outlet itself. After reviewing the full audio recording of the 2019 press conference that was entered into evidence, Judge Lincoln-Corbin found that while the outlet’s news headline did not clarify the piece was a report on the press conference, the body of the article constituted a fair and accurate summary of Jagdeo’s original remarks. As a result, the judge awarded discretionary costs of GY$1 million to Martin and the *Guyana Times*.

    Ceres, a globally recognized geotechnical engineer and groundwater hydrologist with more than four decades of professional experience, was represented in court by attorney Darren Wade. Jagdeo’s legal team was led by barristers C.V. Satram and Ron Motilall.

    Shortly after the ruling was issued, Wade announced on his Facebook page that Ceres plans to appeal the court’s decision as it relates to *Guyana Times*, and will also push for a higher damages award against Jagdeo. Even so, Wade publicly urged the vice president to resolve the matter immediately by paying the ordered damages rather than pursuing an appeal. “Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, please pay up as soon as possible. Do not let anyone convince you that there is any real prospect of success on appeal,” Wade stated.

  • ‘Todeh Fih Me, Tomorrow Fih You’: Technicians To Sue Building Authority

    ‘Todeh Fih Me, Tomorrow Fih You’: Technicians To Sue Building Authority

    In a high-stakes standoff that threatens to reshape Belize’s construction industry and raise barriers to affordable housing for working families, roughly 100 architectural and engineering technicians are gearing up to launch a constitutional challenge against sweeping new regulations imposed by the country’s Central Building Authority (CBA). The Association of Architectural and Engineering Technicians of Belize (AAETB) has announced it will contest three key policy changes: the updated Belize Building Code, 2022 amendments to the national building regulations, and a controversial CBA ruling issued on April 20, 2026.

    That CBA decision went into effect just over two weeks after it was announced, on May 1, 2026, and immediately barred the CBA from accepting construction drawings prepared by technicians for any structure larger than 1,200 square feet. Under the new rules, only registered members of the Association of Professional Architects of Belize or the Association of Professional Engineers of Belize qualify as “registered design professionals” eligible to submit plans for mid-sized and large projects.

    AAETB leaders argue the policy rollout was fundamentally undemocratic and legally flawed: the new restriction was introduced with only 10 days of public notice, and no prior consultation was held with the technicians who would bear the brunt of the change. The association says the abrupt shift has already thrown hundreds of existing active construction contracts into chaos, and effectively stripped independent technical professionals of their right to earn a living in their field of expertise.

    Legally, the group contends that the new regulations violate multiple core protections enshrined in Belize’s constitution. These violations include infringement of the fundamental right to work, unequal treatment under the law that discriminates against technical practitioners, and unlawful deprivation of professional property and livelihood without just compensation.

    Beyond the immediate impact on its members, the association has sounded the alarm about harmful spillover effects for ordinary Belizean households. For decades, architectural and engineering technicians have offered design and drafting services at far more affordable rates than fully registered professional architects and engineers. Their exclusion from the larger project market will inevitably drive up the cost of construction plans, at a time when already sky-high building costs have put homeownership out of reach for a growing share of the population.

    In a defiant statement outlining the group’s position, AAETB emphasized that technicians have long been the unsung foundation of Belize’s construction sector, and do not create any unmanageable safety risk to the public. “They are its backbone,” the statement read, signaling the organization’s commitment to seeing the legal challenge through to secure its members’ livelihoods and protect affordable building options for all Belizeans.

  • Surface Repairs Begin on Coastal Plain Highway

    Surface Repairs Begin on Coastal Plain Highway

    Four years from now, in June 12 2026, infrastructure teams have launched emergency surface repair operations on Coastal Plain Highway, after days of intense heavy rainfall exposed widespread superficial damage to key stretches of the major coastal roadway.

    Leading government engineering official Evondale Moody, chief engineer for the project, has moved quickly to reassure the public that the road’s core structural integrity has not been compromised by the recent flood events. In an exclusive interview with local outlet News 5, Moody clarified that the only damage sustained is limited to the road’s outermost wearing course, the top layer of surface dressing designed to protect the underlying pavement from daily wear and tear, which has simply stripped away in affected areas. No damage has been detected to the main structural pavement itself.

    The most impacted stretch, located at Mile 22 near the Gales Point community, has seen recurrent flooding in the wake of the heavy rains. However, Moody noted that a series of infrastructure upgrades carried out in recent years have already proven their value, with floodwaters receding far faster than would have been possible before the improvements. Those upgrades included replacing old, water-damaged asphalt with solid concrete paving, adding extra drainage culverts to channel excess water away, and reworking drainage systems near the Kwamina and Dead Man bridges to direct floodwaters straight out into the nearby ocean. According to Moody, those pre-emptive upgrades worked exactly as intended: even though the stretch was temporarily submerged under floodwaters, the road structure remained completely intact throughout the event.

    Even with the successful performance of previous upgrades, Moody issued a cautious note that chronic flooding in this particular stretch of highway cannot be completely eliminated through engineering alone. The entire area sits within a large natural catchment basin that funnels massive volumes of rainwater into the low-lying stretch of road during major storm events. While raising the entire roadway high enough to avoid any flooding is technically possible, Moody explained that such a project would carry an prohibitive economic cost that makes it unfeasible at this time.

    Local transportation authorities confirmed that repair work to replace the stripped surface dressing on affected sections got underway early on the morning of June 12, and are working to complete repairs as quickly as possible to minimize traffic disruptions for residents and commercial traffic along the coastal corridor.

  • UWI professor helps shape landmark UN assessment on global ocean health

    UWI professor helps shape landmark UN assessment on global ocean health

    On June 8, 2026, World Oceans Day, the United Nations launched its landmark Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III), the most comprehensive global evaluation of the planet’s interconnected marine systems ever compiled. Leading the high-stakes initiative is climate and sustainability specialist Professor Donovan Campbell from The University of the West Indies (The UWI), one of just 25 global experts hand-picked to guide the assessment’s scientific direction, strategic oversight, and overall development.

    Compiled over years of collaborative work, WOA III draws on contributions from more than 580 scientists and researchers across 86 nations, making it the only ongoing global analysis that frames the world’s oceans as a single integrated system, rather than a collection of disconnected regions. Unlike previous evaluations, the report ties the environmental health of oceans directly to the economic and social well-being of communities that depend on marine resources, filling a critical gap in global ocean research. Its core purpose is to deliver rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific evidence to national governments, international policymakers, and global bodies to inform more effective decision-making on marine and coastal challenges.

    “It was a tremendous honour to help steer a process of such global importance,” Campbell shared in remarks following the report’s launch. “What sets WOA III apart is that it treats the ocean as a single connected system, weighing its environmental health alongside the economies and societies that depend on it. That is the only way to see clearly what is at stake and what must be done.”

    The assessment outlines a series of accelerating threats facing global oceans, including steadily rising ocean temperatures, widespread degradation of critical marine ecosystems, disruptive shifts in global fish populations, accelerating sea-level rise, and growing unsustainable pressure on coastal communities worldwide. To counter these challenges, the report emphasizes four core priorities: adopting science-driven policy frameworks, expanding targeted ecosystem conservation, implementing sustainable marine resource management practices, and strengthening cross-border international cooperation to protect shared ocean spaces.

    For Jamaica and the broader Caribbean region, the report’s findings carry particularly urgent weight. The Caribbean’s economy is deeply tied to healthy oceans: key sectors including tourism, commercial and artisanal fisheries, maritime shipping, coastal development, and fast-growing blue economy industries all depend on stable, functioning marine ecosystems. At the same time, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like those across the Caribbean face disproportionate vulnerability to climate-driven ocean harm, from mass coral bleaching and degradation to accelerated coastal erosion, more intense tropical cyclones, and creeping sea-level rise that threatens coastal communities and infrastructure.

    “The Caribbean has a profound stake in the future of the ocean,” Campbell emphasized. “For Jamaica and other Small Island Developing States, ocean sustainability is an economic, social, and developmental imperative. The assessment reinforces the need for evidence-based policy, stronger ocean governance, sustainable ocean planning, and sustained investment in resilience, conservation, and sustainable ocean industries.”

    Global policymakers and development stakeholders already view WOA III as a foundational reference document that will guide action on ocean protection through the next decade, as nations work toward meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14 focused on life below water.

    Campbell, who serves as a Professor of Geography at The UWI Mona Campus and Director of the university’s Western Jamaica Campus, has built a decades-long career focused on climate action, sustainability, and social equity in the Caribbean. The UWI press release noted that Campbell’s leading role in WOA III highlights the institution’s longstanding commitment to contributing to global scientific and policy efforts addressing climate change, ocean sustainability, and equitable global sustainable development.

  • Seized AK-47s are US-made

    Seized AK-47s are US-made

    In a major joint law enforcement operation targeting illegal weapons trafficking, Guyanese authorities have seized 23 United States-manufactured AK-47 assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, senior law enforcement officials confirmed Friday. One suspect has been taken into custody, while two other accomplices managed to evade capture following the Thursday night interdiction, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, head of the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

    Ballistic experts have already confirmed that all 23 seized assault rifles originated from the U.S. Blanhum noted that one of the weapons still has its original serial number fully intact, while the identifying markings on the remaining 22 rifles have been deliberately destroyed to hinder tracing efforts. Along with the firearms, officers seized a substantial cache of ammunition; local outlet Demerara Waves has confirmed the haul totals 504 rounds of 7.62X39 caliber, the standard ammunition for the AK-47 platform.

    The intercepted cache was discovered during a targeted stop of a suspicious motor vehicle, carried out through a partnership between the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), an agency focused on disrupting cross-border illicit trade. The arrested suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Jonathan Gans, a Venezuelan national residing in Third Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara. As of Friday afternoon, Gans remained in police custody as detectives conduct ongoing interrogations, while CID Crime Laboratory firearms specialists continue forensic examinations of the seized weapons to build a full case file.

    The seizure comes as Guyana and the broader Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have for years repeatedly called on the United States to step up collaborative efforts to stem the steady flow of illegally trafficked firearms into the region. In response to these regional concerns, the U.S. has previously extended an invitation for Caribbean nations to join the Regional Integrated Ballistic Information Network (RIBIN), a cross-border database system designed to help detect, track, and intercept illicit weapons moving through the Caribbean.

    This latest high-volume weapons seizure also follows a separate major arms bust just one month prior, when 10 other AK-47 assault rifles were recovered in Berbice. Three Guyanese nationals are currently facing prosecution in court over that earlier incident, underscoring the growing challenge of transnational weapons trafficking impacting the South American Caribbean nation.

  • $28M Industry, Fishers Say They are Shut Out of Decisions

    $28M Industry, Fishers Say They are Shut Out of Decisions

    Against the backdrop of Belize’s reputation for holding one of the Caribbean’s most progressive legal frameworks for sustainable fishing, a newly released independent audit has uncovered deep systemic flaws that put the nation’s $28 million annual fishing sector and thousands of coastal livelihoods at growing risk. The 2025 Belize Fisher’s Audit, carried out by global sustainable fisheries nonprofit Ocean Outcomes as a five-year follow-up to the organization’s first 2021 industry assessment, analyzed 29 key metrics spanning fisheries policy, wild fish stock health, and the sector’s socio-economic footprint in Belize.

    While the audit offered clear praise for the 2020 Fisheries Resources Act, framing the legislation as a robust, forward-thinking model for balancing environmental protection and industry activity, it warned that translating that strong legal framework into on-the-ground effective management remains far from complete. The most pressing gap identified is the chronic lack of systematic, standardized data on catches and landed fish across nearly all commercial species targeted in Belize’s waters. Without consistent, reliable reporting protocols, national fisheries regulators lack the information needed to accurately monitor the health of fish populations, set science-based harvest limits, and keep the public updated on the sector’s status. This lack of data is already problematic, with the audit noting that a number of high-value key species are already showing early signs of overexploitation.

    The risks of failing to address these gaps are enormous for Belize’s economy. The national fishing industry contributes approximately $28 million Belize dollars to the national economy each year, directly employing more than 3,300 people across coastal communities and supporting a total of up to 20,000 indirect and direct jobs. Yet beyond data gaps, it is the systemic exclusion of working fishermen from industry governance that sparked the most pointed criticism during the public unveiling of the audit findings.

    Speaking at a launch panel, Jorge Aldana, president of the San Pedro Fisher Folk Association, emphasized that working small-scale fishermen have been effectively locked out of the decision-making processes that directly determine the future of their livelihoods. “Fishermen have limited space in the decision-making process. In the national council, where fishermen are represented, we only have two seats, and those representatives are hand-picked by ministers or policymakers, not elected by actual working fishermen,” Aldana explained. “We the fishermen, from our 22 national associations, need to have an active role in selecting who speaks for us, so the real concerns of people working on the water can be heard.”

    To pull the sector back from growing risk, the audit lays out a series of urgent recommendations: improving cross-sector management transparency, expanding access to low-interest concessionary financing for small-scale independent fishers, and ensuring that local community and working fisher voices are meaningfully included in upcoming decisions on fish stock rebuilding, a process that is set to move forward in the near term.

  • Windies Women primed for crucial New Zealand clash

    Windies Women primed for crucial New Zealand clash

    As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup gets underway, the West Indies Women’s squad has declared itself ready for its opening clash against defending champions New Zealand on Saturday, with both head coach Shane Deitz and captain Hayley Matthews expressing confidence in their team’s preparations while navigating an uncertain fitness question around a key veteran player.

    The upcoming matchup carries extra history: these two sides met in the 2024 tournament’s semifinal, where New Zealand scraped across the line to claim an eight-run victory in a low-scoring battle that could have swung either way. Deitz says he expects another tightly contested battle this weekend, noting the two squads are far more closely matched than the defending champions’ title status might suggest.

    “It doesn’t matter who is across the pitch from us – New Zealand is clearly a top side, and they showed that by winning the last tournament,” Deitz said. “That semifinal in Dubai two years ago was a close one; if a couple of breaks had gone our way, we could have been the ones moving on. These are two evenly built teams, and getting off to a strong start in this opening game will be critical. We’ve put in the work, the squad has done all the prep we need, and we’re ready to step onto the field.”

    Deitz also shared his expectations for the pitch conditions at the host venue, noting recent cool, wet weather will likely create opportunities for both bowlers and batters. “We’ve had a lot of rain and lower temperatures lately, so the wicket should have something in it for bowlers, especially with the new ball,” he explained. “But these are excellent grounds, so even with that assistance for the bowlers, the ball should come onto the bat well for batters too. If you hit your lines and lengths, you’ll get wickets, but if you settle in and time your innings well, you can put up a big total.”

    One major unanswered question remains, however: the fitness of star veteran all-rounder Chinelle Henry, who was stretchered off the field during a Wednesday warm-up match against Australia with an injury. Deitz declined to give any update on whether Henry would be available for Saturday’s opener, but Matthews acknowledged that missing the key player would be a significant loss for the side.

    “Chinelle is a leader in this dressing room, one of our opening bowlers, and a critical middle-order batter batting at five or six,” Matthews said. “If she can’t go, it’s going to be a massive blow for our whole group. But if that’s the case, we’ll adjust, find a way to move forward, and still fight to get wins.”

    While the 2024 semifinal loss is still fresh for the side, Matthews pushed back on the idea that a win on Saturday would be about revenge for that narrow defeat. “We didn’t play our best cricket that day, and coming up short was unfortunate,” she said. “But what I’m focused on is that getting to play them first in this tournament gives us a chance to set the tone for our whole campaign. This is a World Cup – every single match demands your full attention, but if we can get a result against the defending champions in our first game, it puts us in an incredible position going into the rest of the group stage.”

    Matthews, who was named player of the match when West Indies claimed the 2016 T20 World Cup title, has grown significantly in her role as team captain since that career-defining win. The Barbadian all-rounder said she has learned to balance her own on-field performance with the off-field responsibilities of leading a squad. “I’ve learned so much over the years – I’m a different person and a different player now than when I first took the captaincy,” she explained. “The biggest adjustment has been learning to separate my own batting and bowling performance from managing the whole team. As captain, it’s my job to make sure every player is in the best headspace to perform, and that’s a responsibility I take seriously.”

    In recent years, West Indies Women have struggled with inconsistency across long bilateral series, but the side has a long history of stepping up in major global tournament play – a trend Matthews says holds true for this current squad. “Looking back at the history of both our men’s and women’s programs, we always tend to rise to the big occasion, so I can’t argue with that,” she said. “This year, we’re hoping we can show up again when it matters most and make a deep run in this tournament.”

  • ‘What Could a 14-Year-Old Have Done?’ Child Advocates Question Viral Video

    ‘What Could a 14-Year-Old Have Done?’ Child Advocates Question Viral Video

    A widely shared video capturing a heated confrontation between a sports facility caretaker and a 14-year-old teenage basketball player has ignited fierce public anger across social media platforms, pushing child welfare advocates to demand a full, transparent investigation into the incident.

    The altercation unfolded at the Russell Garcia Auditorium in Dangriga, where Brian Swazo, a caretaker employed by the local National Sports Council, was filmed confronting the minor player. Following the circulation of the footage and an official complaint filed against Swazo, law enforcement authorities took him into custody.

    The Child Advisory Body (CAB), a local child welfare advocacy organization, has issued a strong public condemnation of the incident, urging regulatory and law enforcement agencies not to dismiss the case as a trivial, fleeting viral news event. In a formal statement, the group emphasized that the incident raises serious questions about the treatment of minors in public recreational spaces that demand urgent, accountable action.

    Richard Martinez, president of CAB’s Dangriga regional branch, shared his concerns in an interview with local outlet News 5. Martinez highlighted that what disturbed him most extended beyond the aggressive behavior captured on camera to the alarming response from many online commentators. Large numbers of social media users have rushed to defend the caretaker’s actions and justify the use of force against the teenager, Martinez explained, without making any effort to hear the 14-year-old’s account of what led to the confrontation.

    “What could a fourteen-year-old have possibly done to the point that would warrant this extent of violence?” Martinez said in the interview. “The fact that people immediately jump to conclusions, saying that that extent of violence was warranted or it’s okay, I was very appalled, to say the least.”

    Amid growing public outcry, the National Sports Council is facing mounting pressure to complete its internal investigation into whether the incident violated the organization’s formal non-confrontation policy for all staff working at public sporting venues. CAB is now pushing for multiple leading child welfare and children’s rights organizations, including UNICEF, the National Committee for Families and Children and the National Commission for Families and Children, to issue public statements on the confrontation and back broader reforms to prevent similar violence against minors in public recreational spaces.

  • Let’s Bet relaunches for FIFA World Cup

    Let’s Bet relaunches for FIFA World Cup

    Ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup, the Saint Lucia National Lottery (SNL) has launched an upgraded version of its popular Let’s Bet online sports betting platform, giving local football fans and sports enthusiasts a revamped digital experience to engage with the tournament. The redesigned application made its official public debut on June 9 at a launch event hosted at Sandals Grande, Saint Lucia.

    Already a well-established name in international sports betting circles, the updated Let’s Bet platform comes with a suite of user-centric improvements. These include a modern new brand logo, refreshed visual design elements, streamlined navigation for faster access to betting markets, a wider range of wagering options, an intuitive simplified user interface, and enhanced cybersecurity protocols to protect user data and transactions.

    Camisha Richards, regional general manager for the initiative, emphasized that the overhaul represents a new chapter for the Let’s Bet brand. “From our updated logo to our fully reimagined platform, every adjustment has been crafted with the player experience as the top priority,” Richards explained during the launch. “We have now built a far more dynamic, all-inclusive experience that gives every bettor a simpler, more intuitive pathway to place sports wagers or enjoy other online gaming options.”

    Coinciding with the opening match of the FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, the upgraded platform was ready to accept a diverse range of wagers from day one of the tournament. Bettors can place bets on everything from the final score of a match to the first goal scorer, and even the exact minute a goal will be scored, expanding the ways fans can interact with the tournament.

    Beyond traditional football and sports wagering, the revamped platform has added new content to serve a broader audience. It now includes dedicated markets for eSports, alongside a larger selection of casual and casino-style games. To welcome both new and returning users, SNL has rolled out a variety of exclusive bonuses and promotional offers for sports fans and casino gaming enthusiasts alike.

    The platform’s launch is being supported by a new national marketing campaign titled “This Is The Place”, which promotes the upgraded experience across Saint Lucia. In addition to the digital rollout, SNL has planned a series of in-person interactive events at retail outlets and gaming centers across the island, including a major activation at the popular Blast Gaming Centre in the capital city of Castries. Visitors to these on-location events will have the opportunity to enter a giveaway for a brand-new 55-inch smart television as part of the launch celebrations.

    The updated Let’s Bet platform is currently live and accessible to users at www.letsbetlc.com. Eligible users can create an account immediately and start exploring the new features in time to follow all the action of the FIFA World Cup, adding an extra layer of excitement to the global tournament for Saint Lucian fans.

  • Auguste left out of Windwards tournament trial squad

    Auguste left out of Windwards tournament trial squad

    Cricket fans across the Windward Islands are facing an unexpected storyline ahead of the 2025 Windward Islands Super 50 Men’s Tournament: the reigning Most Valuable Player will not feature in the preliminary training squad for defending champions Saint Lucia, and is set to miss the tournament entirely due to prior regional commitments. The Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA) announced its 30-strong trial squad earlier this week, with last year’s standout performer Ackeem Auguste notably absent from the roster.

    Last year’s tournament was a breakout for Auguste, a full West Indies international who dominated the competition on home soil. The star batter compiled 346 runs at an extraordinary average of 115, and also claimed five catches – more than any other fielder in the tournament – to cement his MVP status. While Auguste will sit out this year’s event, two other standout performers from 2024’s title-winning campaign, fast bowler Keon Gaston and wicketkeeper Noelle Leo – both products of the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre, same as Auguste – have earned spots in this year’s trial squad. Reigning captain Kimani Melius is also set to return to lead the side’s title defense. Top-order batter Johnel Eugene will join Auguste on the sidelines, also sidelined by prior regional commitments.

    The bulk of the 2025 trial squad is made up of returning familiar names, including Dornan Edward, Jayden Elibox, Lee John, Mckenny Clarke, Shadrack Descarte, Shawnil Edward, Tarrique Edward, Theo Edward and Tyrel Chicot. A host of emerging young talents have also received their first call-ups to the senior trial squad, including Bjorn Fanis, Bolton Sayers, Cody Fontenelle, Dane Edward, Isiah Jones, Jard Goodman, Jonathan Daniel, Kensley Paul, Khan Elcock, Liam Joseph, Nathaniel Joseph, Neil Poyotte, Qwaine Henry, Royce Paul, Joshua Cepal and Stephen Naitram.

    SLNCA president Wayne Auguste expressed confidence in the depth of talent assembled for the trial process, outlining the association’s dual priorities for the 2025 tournament. “Our objective is not simply to defend the Windward Islands Super 50 title, but also to continue strengthening the pathway from national cricket to franchise and international cricket,” he explained. He emphasized the urgency of strong performances from Saint Lucian players, noting that the regional Windward Islands Volcanoes side has finished at the bottom of regional rankings over the past two seasons. “It is critical that all our players from the Windward Islands seize the opportunity and demonstrate that they are ready to make the step up to franchise level. Saint Lucia has consistently produced talented cricketers, and we want to see more of our players putting up their hands for higher honours,” he added.

    The current 30-player group will go through a multi-stage selection process to narrow down to the final squad that will represent Saint Lucia at the tournament, which is scheduled to run from July 25 to August 5 in Grenada. Over the coming weeks, selected players will complete a series of structured training sessions, fitness assessments, and trial matches as selectors and coaching staff evaluate candidates for the final roster.

    In an official statement, the SLNCA reaffirmed its confidence in the trial squad’s ability to carry on Saint Lucia’s proud cricketing legacy and mount a competitive title defense: “The SLNCA is confident that the players selected for the trial squad possess the talent, commitment, and determination necessary to uphold the island’s proud cricketing tradition and mount a strong defence of the championship.”

    Selectors built the preliminary squad after reviewing performances across three recent domestic competitions: the Prime Minister’s Independence T20 Tournament, the Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) T20 Competition, and the Premier League Two-Day tournament. Player fitness, disciplinary record, and long-term developmental potential were also key criteria in the selection process.

    The trial period will officially get underway on June 14 with a mandatory baseline fitness test at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy, which will serve as a key benchmark for selectors moving forward. The first red-ball practice match is scheduled to kick off the following weekend at Saint Lucia’s iconic Mindoo Phillip Park. The final 15-man squad and team management will be announced to the public once the full selection process concludes.