After 11 months deployed across the Americas, one of the world’s largest nuclear-powered aircraft carriers has made an unprecedented stop at Jamaica’s Kingston Port, a visit that carries deep personal meaning for one Jamaican-born American naval officer and signals the strengthening of bilateral ties between Washington and Kingston.
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Better days ahead
The 2025/2026 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) came to a close last Sunday, with Portmore United lifting the championship trophy after a hard-fought final victory over Cavalier FC at Kingston’s National Stadium. But the nine-month campaign, which wrapped up amid celebration on the pitch, was overshadowed by a string of high-profile operational and administrative hurdles that have sparked widespread questions about the top-flight league’s near-term future. Despite these headwinds, Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) Chief Executive Officer Owen Hill remains steadfast in his conviction that the league will continue growing and cement its status as one of the top competitions in the Caribbean region.
The first major disruption hit in late October, when Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, forcing a seven-week league suspension. Multiple clubs in western Jamaica suffered severe infrastructure and financial damage from the storm, with St Elizabeth-based Treasure Beach FC granted an extended grace period to rebuild and return to competitive play. While the hurricane-related shutdown was widely accepted as an unavoidable act of nature, a cascade of other off-field crises compounded the league’s challenges through the rest of the season.
Governance instability emerged as one of the most pressing issues, starting with the resignation of PFJL chairman Livingstone Morrison just five months after he stepped into the role, succeeding Chris Williams last September. Two high-profile club leaders – Montego Bay United chairman Yoni Epstein and Mount Pleasant Football Academy owner Peter Gould – also stepped down from the PFJL finance committee, citing what they described as troubling governance practices within the organization’s board.
Broadcast instability created additional friction for fans and stakeholders alike. Last August, Pivott LLC was announced as the league’s new official broadcast partner, taking over from defunct regional network SportsMax. But for months after the deal was signed, the majority of JPL matches never made it to air. Today, Pivott LLC is locked in a $100-million legal dispute with PFJL over the failed broadcast partnership. When independent social media content creators stepped in to fill the gap by live-streaming matches on YouTube, PFJL ordered them to stop, later moving matches to its own official YouTube channel before reaching a last-minute deal with RUSH Sports to broadcast the play-offs across the Caribbean.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Hill acknowledged that these setbacks did impact league operations, but emphasized that the competition weathered the storm and stayed on its growth path. He argued that it is critical to distinguish between administrative turbulence and the core quality of the league’s on-field product.
“Despite those challenges, the Jamaica Premier League still delivered one of its strongest play-off campaigns in recent memory,” Hill told the outlet. “Record numbers of goals attracted sponsor engagement even in this tough global economic climate, and the league still provides a solid platform for player development and showcase. Those are signposts on the journey reminding us that the football product itself remains strong.”
Hill added: “With that said, we cannot minimise the impact of the issues, either. These are serious matters, and as an organisation we have to acknowledge them honestly. What I believe is most important is how we responded. From my perspective, this season exposed areas that require improvement, but it also demonstrated the resilience of the clubs, partners, and the football ecosystem overall.”
The Observer has confirmed that several key JPL sponsors, including title sponsor Wray & Nephew, have raised concerns about the league’s direction following this season’s disruptions and are currently reevaluating their future sponsorship commitments. Still, Hill says existing sponsor relationships remain solid, and he is confident partnerships will continue long into the future.
“While there were challenges this season, we have also been able to demonstrate very tangible positives: increased play-off attention, strong fan affinity, growing digital reach and continued player development feeding into the national programme,” he explained. “Importantly, our sponsors recognise that the Jamaica Premier League is more than just a football competition. It is a national platform that connects brands to culture, passion, youth engagement and community impact.”
“Sponsors want confidence that the organisation is learning, evolving, and building for sustainability, and those conversations have been central to our engagement with them. The overall sentiment from partners has been one of continued belief in the potential of the league. Naturally, they expect improvements, and so do we,” Hill added.
With the 2025/26 season only just wrapped, the 2026/27 campaign is set to kick off in less than three months. PFJL has already begun full-scale planning for the new season, with a focus on addressing the gaps exposed by this year’s challenges to deliver a far smoother experience for clubs, sponsors, and fans.
“While it is important for us to properly assess the lessons from the past season, the reality is that planning for 2026/27 is already underway. Discussions around competition structure, broadcast arrangements, sponsorship alignment, club readiness, operational systems, and fan engagement have already started because we understand the urgency of improving the overall product,” Hill said.
“One of the key priorities will be strengthening consistency across all operational areas. That includes refining broadcast delivery, improving matchday execution, enhancing communication workflows, and ensuring that sponsors and supporters experience a more seamless product throughout the season. The responsibility now is to convert momentum into stability and efficiency for 2026/27 and beyond. The objective is to improve in the critical areas.”
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Minister Hippolyte elected to OAS women’s commission
In a historic milestone for the small Caribbean nation, Saint Lucia has won its first ever back-to-back seat on the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), the Organization of American States’ leading body for gender equality and women’s rights across the Americas. The election of Saint Lucia’s cabinet minister Emma Hippolyte took place during the commission’s 40th Assembly of Delegates, held last week in Washington D.C.
Hippolyte, who leads the Ministry for Equity, Social Justice, Gender, Older Persons, Labour, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs, secured her seat alongside elected representatives from Guyana, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Peru. In additional leadership votes, Uruguay took the presidency of the Executive Committee, while delegates from Grenada, Canada, and Paraguay were elected to serve as vice presidents.
The CIM Executive Committee plays a critical governance role, delivering strategic direction and operational leadership for the commission between full meetings of the Assembly of Delegates. Hippolyte’s election extends Saint Lucia’s continuous leadership presence on the committee, which began in the previous term when former Gender Relations Minister Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte served as a vice president.
A government statement from Saint Lucia emphasized that the 2025 election result marks a meaningful increase in Caribbean representation at the CIM’s leadership table. In the prior term, only Saint Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda held Executive Committee seats from the Caribbean region. This cycle, four Caribbean nations — Saint Lucia, Guyana, Jamaica, and Grenada — secured leadership positions, expanding the region’s voice in pan-American gender equity work.
During the assembly proceedings, Hippolyte took part in high-level discussions centered on expanding women’s financial inclusion across the region. She used the platform to showcase the range of policy initiatives Saint Lucia has rolled out to remove barriers for women’s economic participation and empowerment. These include the national MSME loan-grant facility, the Youth Economy Agency, targeted digital inclusion programs, expanded access to affordable credit for women entrepreneurs, and sweeping reforms to labor laws and social protection frameworks.
Speaking to fellow delegates, Hippolyte noted that the Saint Lucian government’s deliberate people-centered policy agenda has ensured the nation’s most vulnerable groups are included in national development planning. With women making up a disproportionate share of the country’s vulnerable population, advancing gender-equitable economic policy has become a core priority for the administration. She also emphasized that regional collaboration remains key to making progress across shared priority areas, including expanding financial literacy for women, advancing gender-responsive public financing, and implementing policies that deliver lasting economic empowerment for women across the Americas.
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WI Women win toss, batting vs Ireland Women – 3rd T20
The third fixture of the Evara Tri-Nation T20I women’s series kicked off on Monday at Dublin’s Castle Avenue, with pre-match action delivering an early strategic decision: West Indies Women won the coin toss and opted to take the batting crease first against host side Ireland Women.
Hosted on Irish soil, this round-robin clash brings together two competitive international sides, with full starting lineups confirmed ahead of the first ball. Under the leadership of captain Hayley Matthews, the West Indies named their full playing eleven, which features star all-rounder Deandra Dottin, veteran Stafanie Taylor, and wicket-keeper Shemaine Campbelle. The full West Indies squad is: Hayley Matthews (captain), Deandra Dottin, Qiana Joseph, Stafanie Taylor, Jahzara Claxton, Shemaine Campbelle (wicket-keeper), Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Zaida James, Shawnisha Hector, Karishma Ramharack.
Leading out the home side, Ireland Women will field under captain Orla Prendergast, with their starting eleven including the experienced pairing of Arlene Kelly and Leah Paul, alongside wicket-keeper Coulter Reilly. Ireland’s full lineup reads: Arlene Kelly, Alana Dalzell, Rebecca Stokell, Orla Prendergast (captain), Leah Paul, Alice Tector, Louise Little, Coulter Reilly (wicket-keeper), Ava Canning, Lara McBride, Cara Murray.
The on-field officiating team for the fixture has also been formally confirmed. Azam Baig and Gareth Morrison will serve as the two on-field umpires, while Graham McCrea has been appointed as match referee for the contest, per source reporting from Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
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Cocoa and Spice fundraiser supports GHTA National Culinary Team
Against the backdrop of Grenada’s annual Chocolate Festival, the Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association (GHTA) brought the island’s food and hospitality community together on May 26 for its much-anticipated *Cocoa and Spice Everything is Nice* fundraiser, held at the popular waterfront venue Chez Louis. The evening blended vibrant local flavor, live entertainment, and collective community momentum, featuring musical performances from Grenadian artists Sabrina Francis and Cardell Byam to set a warm, festive atmosphere for attendees.
Far more than a culinary celebration, the fundraiser served a critical purpose: rallying financial and public backing for the GHTA National Culinary Team, which is gearing up to compete for the top gold medal at the 2026 Taste of the Caribbean regional competition. Ahead of their big regional debut, the team used the event as an opportunity to showcase their competition-ready dishes and signature techniques to invited guests, highlighting the unique culinary identity the squad aims to bring to the international stage.
Under the overall leadership of GHTA CEO Arlene Friday, the team is led by Team Manager Chef Andre Church, with logistical backup and mentorship from accomplished local and international culinary figures including Chef Belinda Bishop, Chef Ramces, and Francesco Schmidt. Attendees got an up-close look at the work of the team’s core members: Senior Chef Elvis George, Junior Chef Rashid Cromwell, Pastry Chef Sasha Lessey, and Mixologist Antonio Bayne. Every creation served throughout the evening drew direct inspiration from Grenada’s world-famous native cocoa and spice exports, turning each bite and sip into a celebration of the island’s agricultural and culinary heritage.
In remarks during the event, Friday emphasized the unifying power of community-focused culinary gatherings like the fundraiser. “Events like Cocoa and Spice bring our culinary community together and build the momentum our team needs,” Friday said. “We are grateful to our partners and volunteers for their continued support as we prepare to represent Grenada on the regional stage.”
The fundraiser would not have been possible without robust support from a broad coalition of local and regional sponsors, including GHTA’s Tourism Enhancement Fund, Westerhall Rums, SIFH Group, Umbrellas Beach Bar, Huggins, Blue Light Gin, Crayfish Bay, North South Wines, RTA Services, Flavours of Grenada, and venue host Chez Louis. Additional hands-on support came from culinary students at TAMCC and award-winning mixologist Lyndon from Silversands, whose contributions helped the event run smoothly.
Team Manager Chef Andre Church echoed Friday’s gratitude, noting that every public demonstration and feedback session from the fundraiser helps the squad refine their craft ahead of competition. “Every tasting, critique and demonstration helps sharpen our performance,” Church said. “We’re proud to carry Grenada’s flavours with us and thankful to everyone who has supported our journey.”
Looking ahead, the national culinary team will enter a months-long period of intensive training and preparation to fine-tune their menu and performance for the 2026 competition. GHTA has opened the door for members of the public and potential new supporters who wish to follow the team’s progress or contribute to their campaign: interested parties can reach the association directly at [email protected] for more information.
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Flow Antigua and Barbuda prepared for 2026 Hurricane Season
As the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches, officially kicking off on June 1, leading regional telecommunications provider Liberty Caribbean — parent company of consumer brands Flow and BTC, and enterprise division Liberty Business — has formally announced it has completed all preparations to protect its networks and support communities across the Caribbean throughout the storm season, which runs through November 30.
The company’s latest readiness push comes on the heels of Hurricane Melissa, which caused widespread disruption across Jamaica in 2025. That devastating storm served as a critical reminder of how vital resilient communications infrastructure is for crisis response across the hurricane-prone Caribbean region. In the aftermath of Melissa, Liberty Caribbean accelerated ongoing investments to harden its networks and sharpen its emergency response capabilities across all 20+ markets it serves.
“Hurricane Melissa reminded us once again that connectivity is far more than technology. In moments of crisis, it becomes a lifeline for families, businesses, emergency responders, and governments,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Caribbean. “The lessons from that experience have further strengthened our resolve and accelerated our investments in network resilience, operational preparedness, and recovery capabilities across the region. We remain committed to ensuring our customers and communities can rely on us when it matters most.”
Over the 12 months following Hurricane Melissa, the company has rolled out a series of strategic infrastructure upgrades across its footprint. In Jamaica alone, upgrades include a major overhaul and expansion of the mobile network, increased spectrum capacity, more diverse transport routes to avoid single points of failure, hardened physical infrastructure to withstand extreme winds and flooding, expanded backup power systems, and additional network redundancy to minimize outages and speed up recovery efforts if service is disrupted.
Beyond physical infrastructure upgrades, Liberty Caribbean has also ramped up operational preparedness across all markets. The company has conducted regular full-scale emergency response simulation drills, pre-staged fuel and critical logistics supplies across key hubs, and strengthened cross-functional coordination between local teams, regional leadership, and external partners to enable rapid mobilization the moment a storm threatens.
While forecasters at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting a milder-than-average 2026 season, Smidts emphasized that the company is preparing for the worst regardless of projections. NOAA’s official outlook puts the chance of a below-normal season at 55%, compared to a 35% chance of near-normal activity and just a 10% chance of an above-normal season. The agency forecasts 8 to 14 named storms (with winds of 63 km/h or higher) for the season, 3 to 6 of which will strengthen into hurricanes (with winds of at least 75 mph). Of those hurricanes, 1 to 3 are expected to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3, 4, or 5, with winds of 115 mph or more). By comparison, an average Atlantic hurricane season sees 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
“Our teams have worked tirelessly to modernize our infrastructure, strengthen operational readiness, and improve how we respond during emergencies. While no network is immune to extreme weather events, our focus remains on building stronger, smarter, and more resilient systems capable of supporting the Caribbean through disruption and recovery alike,” Smidts added.
With more than 150 years of history serving communities across the Caribbean, Liberty Caribbean frames its hurricane preparedness work as a core part of its commitment to the region. “We understand the responsibility that comes with serving the Caribbean. Our commitment extends beyond connectivity alone. It is also about supporting the resilience of the communities we serve and standing beside them before, during, and after times of crisis,” Smidts said.
To complement its own preparations, Liberty Caribbean is urging all residential and business customers across the region to review their personal emergency preparedness plans and stay updated on weather forecasts and official alerts throughout the 2026 season.
As a leading regional communications and technology provider, Liberty Caribbean serves more than 20 Caribbean markets. It delivers broadband, mobile, video, and voice services to residential consumers via its Flow and BTC brands, while its Liberty Business division provides enterprise-grade connectivity, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data center services to private businesses and government agencies, supporting digital economic growth across the region.
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Hetmyer named in Windies ODI squad for Sri Lanka showdown
In a surprising selection announcement that has turned heads in Caribbean cricket circles, power-hitting left-hander Shimron Hetmyer is poised to make his first One Day International appearance in more than 12 months, after being named to Cricket West Indies’ 15-player squad for the upcoming three-match ODI tour against Sri Lanka, which kicks off this Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Guyanese batsman has not featured in 50-over international cricket since a June 2023 clash against England, and he missed the West Indies’ 10-day elite high-performance training camp held in Antigua last month due to his commitments to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hetmyer’s IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals ended in disappointment, as he posted underwhelming numbers across seven innings, managing only 78 total runs for a low average of 13, before he was dropped from the franchise’s starting lineup ahead of its second Qualifier elimination.
Despite that underwhelming domestic T20 form, Cricket West Ineis (CWI) confirmed in an official statement released Sunday that Hetmyer’s selection was directly driven by his standout performances at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he finished as the regional side’s top run-scorer. The governing body also framed his recall as a core part of its long-term strategic planning for the 2025 50-over ICC World Cup, which will be held across October and November next year.
In a curious scheduling twist, Hetmyer will not join the full squad for the opening two matches of the series, and is only set to link up with the team ahead of the third and final ODI, scheduled for June 8.
The West Indies’ bowling unit has received a significant boost for the series, with the long-awaited returns of fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, both of whom were sidelined for the Caribbean side’s most recent ODI series against New Zealand in late 2023. Hard-hitting all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford, who also recently completed an IPL stint with the Mumbai Indians, also earned a spot in the 15-man group.
Notably missing from the squad is all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru side that lifted the IPL trophy on Sunday. Shepherd’s omission comes as a minor surprise following his contribution to the franchise’s title win.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy noted that his side’s strong recent run of home results has lifted the entire group’s confidence heading into the Sri Lanka series. “Sri Lanka are a disciplined and skillful ODI unit, especially in conditions that demand patience and smart cricket,” Sammy said. “For us, this series is about setting the standard: intensity in the field, clarity with the bat, and consistency with the ball.”
Sammy added that the team is focused on building a consistent, cohesive identity for Caribbean cricket ahead of the 2025 World Cup. “We want to play fearless but intelligent cricket and continue building the identity we believe West Indies cricket should represent,” he explained. “In our desire to make home a fortress in ODI cricket, I want the team to win moments consistently rather than relying on individual brilliance which we have stressed for the last 18 months.”
The full 15-member West Indies ODI squad is: Shai Hope (captain), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Shamar Springer.
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Two new art exhibitions at Secret Bay celebrate dynamic creativity of Dominican artists
Dominica’s vibrant local art scene is stepping into the spotlight this summer, as two leading hospitality venues prepare to launch major solo exhibitions celebrating the work of homegrown Dominican creative talents. Scheduled to run through the second half of 2026, the dual showcases aim to weave authentic cultural storytelling into the visitor experience, while cementing the island’s growing reputation as a hub for Caribbean artistic innovation beyond its famous natural landscapes.
The first of the two exhibitions, titled *Diversity*, comes from celebrated Dominican artist JeanClaude Elias Nassief, and will be hosted at Fort Young Hotel’s iconic Old Oven Art Gallery. Spanning work created between 2020 and 2026, the collection pulls together pieces produced across distinct time periods, geographic settings, and thematic artistic series, resulting in a dynamic display that embraces eclecticism at its core. Unlike conventional exhibitions that center a single unifying concept or subject, *Diversity* builds its entire narrative around variation: the title itself references both the wide range of life circumstances that shaped each work and the broad spectrum of visual techniques Nassief has employed throughout his creative journey. The exhibition invites viewers to connect with each painting on an individual level, while encouraging reflection on how difference acts as a catalyst for creativity, cross-community connection, and collective belonging. *Diversity* will run from June 8 to October 7, 2026, with free public entry daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Concurrent with Nassief’s showcase, a second transformative exhibition will open at Secret Bay’s Bwa Denn Art Gallery: *Catharsis – The Blues*, a new body of work by acclaimed Dominican visual artist Pauline Marcelle. Centered on the symbolic and emotional weight of the color blue, Marcelle’s collection probes deeply personal and universal themes of individual and collective identity, intergenerational trauma, liberation, collective memory, and ongoing social change across the Caribbean. Drawing explicitly from the layered history of Dominica and the wider region, the exhibition is designed as a contemplative space: Marcelle aims to create an environment that fosters reflection, emotional healing, and personal transformation, inviting audiences to join an introspective dialogue around resilience, shared experience, and the constant evolution of the human condition. *Catharsis – The Blues* will open earlier than *Diversity*, running from June 3 to October 14, 2026, with public viewing available daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Both exhibitions are part of Fort Young Hotel and Secret Bay’s long-running commitment to elevating Dominican arts and culture, integrating visual art directly into their hospitality offerings to give both guests and local residents ongoing access to the work of local creators. Through these initiatives, the two venues aim to reposition Dominica as more than a top travel destination for pristine nature and outdoor adventure, framing it instead as a dynamic center for Caribbean artistic expression and cultural creativity. Organizers have extended a public invitation to all visitors, hotel guests, art lovers, and local community members to attend both exhibitions during their run, with additional information available via the official event link.
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St. Kitts and Nevis names eight-member team for Taste of the Caribbean 2026 – WIC News
The federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has officially named its eight-person delegation set to compete at the 2026 iteration of Taste of the Caribbean, one of the Caribbean region’s most prestigious annual culinary celebrations. The announcement of the competing team was made public via an official Facebook post, more than five months ahead of the competition, which is scheduled to run November 16–19 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle Resort in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Heading the St. Kitts and Nevis contingent are team manager Chef Larry Monrose and team coach Chef Peter Marshall. The full roster also includes two senior chefs, Larissa Collins and Shakeyra Reid Green; Pastry Chef Melisa Lewis; Bartender Kishnell Warner; and two junior competitors, Ashanti Dorset and Kenaro Lee. This carefully assembled group will task itself with bringing the distinct, vibrant flavors, time-honored culinary traditions, and innovative cooking perspectives of St. Kitts and Nevis to the global stage, going head-to-head with top culinary, mixology, and pastry professionals from across the Caribbean basin.
Beyond the competition itself, St. Kitts and Nevis’ participation serves a broader strategic goal: shining a global spotlight on the nation’s unique food culture and strengthening its reputation as a top Caribbean culinary and tourism destination. Dr. Denzil Douglas, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, offered official well wishes to the team in a separate Facebook statement, expressing hope for a rewarding and successful experience. “May this experience be one of growth, inspiration, success, and unforgettable achievements as they proudly fly the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis. We wish them every success as they showcase the rich culinary heritage, creativity, and excellence of our beloved Federation,” Douglas wrote.
First launched in 1993 by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Taste of the Caribbean has evolved from a small regional contest into the Caribbean’s leading professional culinary competition and cultural showcase. Unlike standard food contests, the event blends high-stakes competition with industry development: it hosts hands-on educational workshops, live skill demonstrations, and public exhibitions that celebrate the extraordinary diversity of Caribbean food and culture. These supplementary offerings create valuable space for participating culinary professionals to exchange ideas, refine their craft, build new professional skills, and forge long-term business connections across the regional hospitality industry.
The 2026 iteration of the event has secured backing from a broad network of major global and regional industry sponsors, including household names such as Mastercard, Certified Angus Beef, Interval International, Angostura, and the US Meat Export Federation, underscoring the event’s growing influence and reach across the global hospitality and food sectors.
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La Clery lead quarterfinalists in Blackheart football
The road to the Blackheart/Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Knockout Tournament title has narrowed, as four under-20 men’s sides booked their spots in the competition’s quarterfinal round following a weekend of dramatic action across two host venues. Among the advancing sides are tournament top seeds La Clery, Southern Zone champions Soufriere, Canaries, and Mabouya Valley, each earning hard-won victories to move one step closer to the regional crown.
The first match of the weekend kicked off on May 28 at Vieux Fort’s Philip Marcellin Grounds, where top-ranked La Clery delivered a dominant 5-0 dismantling of Micoud. It took just four minutes for Keenan Joseph to put the seeds on the scoresheet, and he doubled his tally only three minutes later to put La Clery firmly in control before the 10-minute mark. Joseph completed his first-half hat-trick just after the break, wrapping up a memorable individual performance early in the second half. Rohan Valcin stretched the lead to 3-0 before the 20-minute mark, and Justice Germaine put the finishing touches on the blowout win with a 59th-minute goal. Though La Clery fell to Gros Islet in their zonal tournament matchup, the side still claimed the top overall seed in the knockout competition on the strength of their senior men’s team back-to-back titles in the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League.
On the same day at a separate venue, sixth-ranked Mabouya Valley pulled out a tight 1-0 win against Choiseul to secure their quarterfinal spot. The deadlock held for more than 70 minutes, until Kershan Cody Alexander broke through in the 71st minute to score the only goal of the match, cementing a hard-earned victory for his side.
Sunday evening brought two more hotly contested Round of 16 matchups to the tournament bracket. First, at Soufriere Stadium, Southern Zone champions Soufriere (ranked eighth overall) cruised to a comfortable 4-0 shutout of Anse La Raye. Cassian Joseph led the scoring for the home side, finding the back of the net in the 37th and 63rd minutes. Ranel Jn Baptiste and Eymani Butcher each added a goal of their own to round out the lopsided final score.
The final match of the weekend delivered a dose of revenge for Canaries, who faced off against Roseau Valley in a rematch of their earlier zonal competition matchup. Roseau Valley, the Western Zone champions, had knocked Canaries out of the zonal tournament via a penalty shootout, and entered the Blackheart Round of 16 after winning a qualifying match against Babonneau. This time, however, Canaries flipped the script, securing a 1-0 win that sent them through to the next round. The only goal of the game came via a 57th-minute own goal from Roseau Valley’s Nahum Octave, which proved enough to send Canaries into the quarterfinals.
With the Round of 16 completed for the under-20 division, seven of the tournament’s top eight ranked teams have secured their places in the final eight: La Clery, Vieux Fort South, Canaries, Gros Islet, Mabouya Valley, Dennery, and Soufriere. They are joined by 12th-ranked South Castries, the only lower-ranked side to advance past the Round of 16. All three qualifier-advancing sides — 14th-ranked Roseau Valley, 17th-ranked Mon Repos, and 18th-ranked Micoud — have been eliminated from title contention.