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  • Brent Kirby Wins First Chromebook in Flow’s ‘Riddim and Rewards’ Weekly Promotion

    Brent Kirby Wins First Chromebook in Flow’s ‘Riddim and Rewards’ Weekly Promotion

    A lucky customer has walked away with the first major hardware prize from Caribbean telecommunications provider Flow’s new consumer promotion, mixing musical fun with exciting giveaways for loyal users. Brent Kirby is the name making headlines this week as the inaugural winner of a Chromebook in the company’s ongoing ‘Riddim and Rewards’ weekly promotion, a campaign designed to engage customers through interactive riddle challenges and weekly prize draws.

    Launched to reward ongoing customer loyalty and boost audience engagement across Flow’s digital and retail touchpoints, the ‘Riddim and Rewards’ initiative runs weekly, giving participants multiple opportunities to win a range of prizes, with high-demand tech devices like Chromebooks headlining the offerings. Each week, the promotion shares a new riddim (rhythm)-themed riddle, inviting customers to enter their answers for a chance to be drawn as the weekly winner.

    Kirby’s win marks the first of multiple Chromebook giveaways planned throughout the promotion’s run, setting an exciting tone for future participants who still have opportunities to claim their own tech prizes. Flow has confirmed that the weekly promotion will continue on schedule, with new riddles released each week and new draws held to select the next batch of lucky winners. The campaign has already drawn significant attention from customers across the region, who have been quick to participate in the interactive challenges in hopes of taking home similar rewards.

  • CDB advances Grenada’s geothermal programme to critical decision phase

    CDB advances Grenada’s geothermal programme to critical decision phase

    The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has kicked off a high-stakes expanded drilling campaign at Mount St Catherine, located in northern Grenada, marking a major milestone in the island nation’s quest to develop commercially viable geothermal power. This latest phase moves the Grenada Geothermal Energy Programme from preliminary planning into a decisive testing stage that will shape the future of the country’s energy landscape.

  • Glenn Paul Oehlers benoemd tot VHP-nieuwe voorzitter

    Glenn Paul Oehlers benoemd tot VHP-nieuwe voorzitter

    The Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Suriname’s major ruling political party, has confirmed the appointment of Glenn Paul Oehlers as the new chair of its national party board. The official appointment was finalized during an emergency board meeting held on May 4, 2026, a process triggered by the recent unexpected passing of Chandrikapersad Santokhi, former President of Suriname and long-serving VHP chair.

    To preserve uninterrupted party operations and maintain consistent delivery on the party’s political commitments to the Surinamese public, the VHP national board convened urgently to address the sudden leadership vacancy. Per the party’s official statutes, a two-thirds majority vote was cast to approve an immediate appointment to fill the open chair position, rather than leaving the role vacant ahead of the next scheduled party congress.

    Under the party’s internal succession rules, deputy chairs move up in ranking to fill senior leadership openings. Oehlers, who previously served as the party’s first deputy chair and designated successor to the top role, was the unanimous candidate selected to take over full leadership responsibilities.

    The vacancy left by Oehlers’ promotion to chair was also filled in line with party statutes, with remaining deputy chairs advancing in their pre-established order of succession.

    Oehlers’ appointment is classified as interim, pending formal final approval at the next VHP party congress. His interim term will run through at most May 29, 2027, when the party’s regular scheduled national board elections are set to take place.

    In an official statement released after the meeting, the VHP emphasized that the swift appointment ensures uninterrupted governing stability for the party. Under Oehlers’ leadership, the party will continue its core work advancing public welfare for all Surinamese communities, strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, and driving inclusive sustainable development for the Republic of Suriname.

  • FAO support enables Grenada GLOBALG.A.P. Certification for Soursop

    FAO support enables Grenada GLOBALG.A.P. Certification for Soursop

    Against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to strengthen the complete soursop value chain in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada, a new targeted certification initiative has been launched to bring local producers in line with global food safety benchmarks and prepare them for entry into high-demand international markets. The pilot project is led by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in close partnership with Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry, and the Geneva-based Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).

    This certification pilot forms the next phase of the broader project *Enhancing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Capacity and Market Access for Grenadian Soursop Exports*, marking a key strategic transition from earlier foundational infrastructure and capacity building work to a market-focused approach centered on formal compliance and third-party certification. Under the pilot, two carefully selected local packhouses and 10 connected smallholder and commercial soursop farmers will receive targeted support to work toward full GLOBALG.A.P. certification, with additional alignment to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules.

    GLOBALG.A.P. is a globally trusted voluntary farm assurance standard that verifies agricultural production meets strict criteria for safety, sustainability, and ethical practice. The framework covers core priorities including end-to-end food safety, protection of local ecosystems, fair treatment and welfare of farm workers, and full product traceability from the field to retail shelves. Widely described as a “market access passport” for small-scale producers in developing economies, the certification strengthens systemic risk management through structured food safety controls, and builds greater buyer confidence in the consistency and safety of exported produce. When paired with requirements from the U.S. Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA), the certification ensures producers align with the latest U.S. import regulations, helping them keep pace with evolving global food safety standards.

    The pilot was formally launched at a national stakeholder training workshop hosted at the Grenada National Stadium on April 21, 2026. The opening session centered on implementation guidance for GLOBALG.A.P.’s Integrated Farm Assurance Fruit and Vegetables GFS v6 standard, alongside the required FSMA add-on modules. These audit-based voluntary modules are designed to verify that farms and processing facilities meet FDA rules for preventive controls, produce safety, and import protocols.

    The workshop drew 31 participants representing a broad cross-section of public and private sector stakeholders, including officials from Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Grenada Bureau of Standards, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), participating farmers, export firms, and other private sector representatives. Organizers noted that turnout far exceeded initial projections, reflecting widespread industry recognition of the pilot’s potential to unlock new export opportunities for Grenada’s soursop sector.

    In the first week following the official launch, participating packhouses and farms completed on-site preliminary assessments to map their current level of compliance with GLOBALG.A.P. and FSMA requirements. Drawing on these assessment findings, development teams will draft customized corrective action plans for each operation, outlining specific, practical improvements needed to reach full certification on target. All training and technical assistance for the pilot is being led by the FAO in collaboration with Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry, with specialized technical support from Inversiones Riel S. de R.L., a Honduras-based consulting firm with deep expertise in SPS system development and international agricultural certification processes.

    Acting Chief Agriculture Officer Thaddeus Peters emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative for Grenada’s agricultural export sector. “We are pleased to support the launch of this pilot initiative to advance GLOBALG.A.P. certification within Grenada’s soursop value chain. This effort represents an important step in strengthening food safety, improving production standards, and expanding market access for our stakeholders. By aligning with internationally recognised certification systems, we are positioning our exports to compete more effectively,” Peters said.

    Ricardo Pineda, Lead Consultant at Inversiones Riel S. de R.L., noted that the successful completion of the first phase of the project – which included the selection of the two participating packhouses – has laid a solid foundation for the certification process. “This milestone lays a strong foundation for certification under GLOBALG.A.P. IFA v6 with the FSMA add-on by November 2026, opening new opportunities for Grenada’s soursop in high-value international markets,” Pineda said.

    Marlon St Louis, General Manager of Simply Pure Agroprocessing, one of the participating packhouses, said the process is already driving positive operational change for his team. “This process is pushing us to tighten our operations and be more consistent across the board; it will be challenging, but it’s exactly what we need to grow and compete in more demanding markets,” St Louis said.

    Anne Desrochers, FAO Plant Production and Protection Specialist, cautioned that successful certification requires sustained commitment from participating producers. “While this pilot presents a valuable opportunity to advance GLOBALG.A.P. certification, it is not a passive process. Selected farmers and packhouses must commit time, resources, and consistent effort to implement the required improvements, an essential step toward achieving certification and accessing higher-value export markets,” Desrochers said.

    Looking ahead, the next phase of the pilot will focus on delivering intensive, hands-on training and targeted technical support across core certification priority areas, including good agricultural practices, standardized record-keeping, full product traceability, improved post-harvest handling, and preparation for third-party certification audits.

  • Record 12,000 attend Jazz Festival opening

    Record 12,000 attend Jazz Festival opening

    The 2025 iteration of Saint Lucia’s iconic annual cultural gathering, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, has launched to historic levels of public turnout, with the island’s top tourism official confirming that opening night on April 30 drew the largest audience in the event’s history.

    In remarks delivered during a pre-Cabinet press briefing on Monday, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, the country’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries, shared preliminary attendance data showing more than 12,000 guests turned out for the festival’s opening night. This figure marks a notable jump from the 2024 opening, which drew just over 10,600 attendees, making 2025’s opening the best-attended kickoff in the festival’s modern history.

    Hilaire emphasized that beyond the historic turnout, the opening night unfolded without any major incidents, cementing the opening as a resounding success for organizers and local stakeholders. That positive momentum carried over into the festival’s community-focused slate of events, which ran across the island from May 1 through May 3.

    The community leg of the festival spread programming across six Saint Lucian districts: Anse La Raye and Choiseul hosted events on May 1, Soufriere welcomed guests on May 2, and the final day of community programming on May 3 featured activations in Vieux Fort, Fond D’or, and Babonneau. Hilaire, who personally attended a stage play written by local artist George “Fish” Alphonse staged in Anse La Raye, praised the production as exceptionally well-crafted. He added that Soufriere’s community jazz events also drew record crowds, with attendees reporting overwhelmingly positive experiences throughout the day.

    Organizers designed the 2025 community programming itinerary to encourage multi-stop travel across the island, Hilaire explained. The intentional scheduling allows guests to explore southern Saint Lucia by attending events in Anse La Raye and Choiseul on Friday, moving on to Soufriere for Saturday activities, enjoying the popular Ditaye en Souf morning event in Soufriere on Sunday, and then wrapping up the weekend of community events at one of the northern or eastern venues on Sunday afternoon.

    The festival will continue through the week with a packed lineup of city art showcases and headline mainstage jazz performances. Pure Jazz recitals will be held at the Rodney Bay Pavilion on Tuesday and Thursday, while Kingdom Night and Caribbean Fusion will take place at Pigeon Island on Wednesday and Friday respectively. The 10-day celebration will conclude with two major closing weekend events: World Beats on Saturday, May 9, and the Ultimate Celebration headlined by global superstars Billy Ocean, Brandy, and Monica on Sunday, May 10.

  • Mother Pleads for Help to Find Her Daughter and Grandkids

    Mother Pleads for Help to Find Her Daughter and Grandkids

    It has been more than a month since 62-year-old Delia Corrales last heard from her 31-year-old daughter Kenia Chan, and time is growing increasingly desperate as the search for Chan and her two minor children — 15-year-old Ezekiel Montejo and 6-year-old Dorian Montejo — enters its fifth week.

    Corrales told reporters that Chan maintained a consistent routine of checking in with her at least once a week, a pattern that abruptly broke off on March 31, the final date any member of the family received communication from Chan. After more than a month of radio silence and failed attempts to reach Chan through mutual contacts, Corrales officially filed a missing person report with Belizean law enforcement this Monday.

    At the time of their disappearance, Chan and her two children were residing with her current romantic partner in Las Flores Village, a small community located on the outskirts of Belmopan, the capital of Belize, within the country’s Cayo District. New details obtained by Corrales have raised urgent concerns for the family’s safety: through a former employer of Chan’s partner, Corrales learned the man has a documented history of alcohol-fueled violent outbursts. The former employer previously contacted police after the man destroyed his property during a drunken episode, resulting in a three-week detention period for the suspect.

    Further complicating the investigation, repeated attempts by Corrales and local authorities to contact the man’s family have yielded no response. Corrales also confirmed that she believes the man is a native of neighboring Guatemala and may be residing in Belize without valid immigration documentation, opening the possibility that he could have crossed the border to avoid detection.

    In an emotional public plea for assistance, Corrales is asking anyone across Belize and neighboring regions who may have spotted Chan, her children, or her partner in recent weeks to come forward with information. Members of the public with any relevant details can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 922, submit tips through the official P3 Tips mobile application, or reach out directly to the closest local police station.

  • Grenada visits The Bahamas pavilion at La Biennale d’Arte di Venezia

    Grenada visits The Bahamas pavilion at La Biennale d’Arte di Venezia

    On May 4, a delegation from Grenada accepted a special invitation from Krista Thompson, PhD, curator of The Bahamas national pavilion, to tour the exhibition *In Another Man’s Yard* at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The visit marked a powerful demonstration of cross-regional creative solidarity within the Caribbean, bringing attention to a show that honors late celebrated Bahamian artist John Beadle (1964–2024) and features dynamic new work from contemporary artist Lavar Munroe, rooted in decades of collaborative practice. This return to the Biennale marks the first Bahamian national participation in 13 years, a milestone that organizers hope will lay the groundwork for consistent, sustainable national representation at the global art event going forward. The 2015 attempt to stage a Bahamian pavilion centered on Beadle collapsed after funding fell through, and it was not until the artist’s passing 18 months ago that a collective of supporters rallied to resurrect the project as a posthumous tribute. Thompson emphasized that the exhibition offers a rare global platform to showcase two of The Bahamas’ most influential contemporary creators, whose work is deeply anchored in the country’s distinct visual cultural identity. Both Beadle and Munroe draw creative inspiration from Junkanoo, the iconic Bahamian national cultural festival that was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023. The exhibition’s works center the long history of collective creation that defines Junkanoo tradition, framing that collaborative spirit as a foundational influence on contemporary Caribbean art. A defining feature of the show is its use of repurposed, everyday materials found across the Caribbean: discarded cardboard, old newspaper, and reclaimed sails from abandoned Haitian sloops are transformed into immersive installations that reimagine Junkanoo for a global audience. The exhibition operates on multiple levels: it highlights the depth of The Bahamas’ thriving contemporary art ecosystem, serves as a moving commemoration of Beadle’s decades-long influence as an artist and mentor, and functions as a love letter to his legacy. “This is a love letter, a grieving, a celebration of John and the driving force and energy of the pavilion, honouring one of our own,” Thompson explained of the show’s core mission. Staged with official support from The Bahamas’ Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the exhibition also carries long-term educational goals for domestic audiences. Thompson has expressed hope that the show will eventually tour across The Bahamas, sparking new conversations among local students about Junkanoo’s dual identity as both living heritage and contemporary artistic practice. For emerging artists and students across the Caribbean, Thompson offered a key takeaway: seek out the visual traditions and cultural forms rooted in your own local context, as these can serve as enduring sources of creative inspiration to shape a unique individual artistic voice. The message resonates particularly strongly for visitors from Grenada, which boasts its own rich tapestry of intangible cultural heritage: ShortKnee, Moko Jumbie, and Carriacou’s Shakespeare Mas – the latter of which was featured at the 2022 Venice Biennale and added to the UNESCO intangible heritage list in 2024. The raw, resourceful materiality of the exhibition’s works is one of its most striking characteristics. Every piece transforms materials that are often overlooked or discarded into meaningful, thought-provoking art. Munroe’s 2020 piece *WWJD*, for example, incorporates an eclectic array of everyday items: acrylic and spray paint, sneakers, balloons, staples, an extension cord, cardboard, boxer shorts, fabric, blunts, and toys, assembled into a collage on cut canvas. Beadle’s work equally embraces repurposing: his 2003 *Inverted Tree — Man for Hire* and 2006 *In Another Man’s Yard* reimagine machetes, a ubiquitous agricultural tool across the Caribbean, as core artistic elements. Beadle’s 2020 *Live Load*, constructed from cardboard, salvaged wood and rope, centers a seven-foot boat rudder to explore histories of trade and migration across the Caribbean. His 2020 *Mobile Housing Scheme*, recreated for this exhibition by artists Amanda Crain and John Cox after the original was destroyed by termites, depicts a small cardboard house mounted to a wheelbarrow – a form that echoes the common practice of relocating homes on the back of trucks that many Grenadians have witnessed firsthand. Following the tour, Susan Mains, commissioner of the Grenada pavilion, extended formal congratulations to Thompson and her team, reaffirming the Caribbean region’s shared strength through collective solidarity. “The Grenada delegation wholeheartedly supports the efforts of The Bahamas pavilion. Showing up as a region only gives us strength,” Mains stated. This article was originally published by Grenada-based outlet NOW Grenada, which notes that it is not responsible for the opinions or content shared by contributing writers, and invites readers to report any abusive content via official channels.

  • Caribbean agriculture forum sparks innovation and entrepreneurship through 2026 webinar series

    Caribbean agriculture forum sparks innovation and entrepreneurship through 2026 webinar series

    A wave of new innovation and entrepreneurial energy has swept across global agricultural communities following the successful completion of the 2026 Caribbean Climate-Resilient Agriculture Forum (CCRAF) three-part Beginner-to-Business (B2B) Webinar Series. Designed to guide aspiring agri-entrepreneurs from foundational knowledge to operational business management, the multi-session initiative drew a diverse international audience that included working farmers, emerging business founders, young innovators, and international development practitioners from regions spanning the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and Africa.

    Official press statements confirm that the program consistently maintained high engagement throughout its three segments, with more than 430 participants from over 30 countries joining each individual session. By the end of the series, hundreds of attendees had gained actionable, practical tools to launch and scale climate-focused, sustainable agricultural ventures.

    CCRAF functions as a regional collaborative network backed by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), with a core mission centered on expanding knowledge sharing of climate-resilient farming methods across small island and tropical agricultural contexts. Beyond education, the network also works to strengthen cross-stakeholder collaboration, build a connected regional agricultural community, and turn academic and practical knowledge into tangible, on-the-ground action that strengthens regional food security.

    For CCRAF Coordinator Nekelia Gregoire Carai, the annual webinar series extends far beyond traditional skills training. “The CCRAF Yearly 3-Part Webinar Series is about more than training—it’s about empowering people to take action. Our goal is to continue connecting knowledge with real opportunities and immediate actions that can transform livelihoods and strengthen food systems across the region,” Gregoire Carai explained in her remarks following the conclusion of the series.

    IICA representatives note that the 2026 series centered content on insights from experienced, locally based Caribbean agricultural practitioners, who shared on-the-ground perspectives and flexible business models tailored to the unique economic and environmental realities of the Caribbean region.

    One of the most popular sessions focused on launching small-scale hydroponic enterprises, led by Sherrie-Ann Brazier, founder of SHAADE Hydroponics based in Antigua and Barbuda. Brazier walked attendees through her journey of building a profitable, growing hydroponics business entirely from the ground up. “You don’t need to know everything to start—just begin, learn as you go, and stay committed. Agriculture can truly transform not just your income, but your family and your purpose,” Brazier told participants.

    Her presentation highlighted the extraordinary efficiency of small-scale hydroponics: her operation produces up to 2,500 heads of lettuce per week on a plot smaller than one-eighth of an acre, while using a fraction of the water and land required for conventional open-field farming. She also emphasized that incremental learning and adaptive innovation are the most critical factors for growing a successful family-owned agricultural enterprise.

    A second breakout session focused on vermicomposting, led by Micah Martin, co-founder and general manager of Trinidad and Tobago-based Compost-Inn. Martin demonstrated how a scalable local business can repurpose common organic waste into high-value soil amendment products, with a model specifically adapted to the warm, humid tropical conditions of the Caribbean. “What many people see as waste is actually a resource. With the right approach, you can convert it into a product that improves soil, supports food production, and creates income,” Martin said. Attendees left the session with actionable knowledge to transform organic waste into nutrient-dense “black gold” compost, select worm species suited for tropical climates, manage growing conditions, and build multiple revenue streams through value-added compost products.

    The series also highlighted commercial mushroom cultivation as an underutilized, highly profitable climate-resilient enterprise opportunity ideal for small producers. Pauline Smith, CEO and co-founder of Jamaica Exotic Mushrooms, broke down the advantages of the sector for new entrepreneurs. “Mushroom farming is one of the fastest ways to generate income in agriculture. In just a few weeks, you can go from production to profit—while building a business that is resilient and sustainable,” Smith explained. Her session outlined that oyster mushrooms, one of the most popular commercial varieties, can go from spawn to market-ready harvest in roughly four weeks, using low-cost, locally available growing materials including bamboo and lemongrass as growing substrates. She also noted consistent, high demand from the Caribbean’s large tourism and hospitality sector, and highlighted that the low-barrier to entry creates unique economic opportunities for women, young entrepreneurs, and small-scale producers with limited starting capital.

    Across all three program segments, a unifying core theme emerged: aspiring agri-entrepreneurs do not need large amounts of starting capital or vast tracts of land to launch successful sustainable ventures. Participants are encouraged to start small with the resources they already have, then scale their operations gradually to build consistent, long-term sustainable income streams. For many first-time attendees, the 2026 webinar series served as a critical first step to entering the agricultural sector, equipping them with innovative, climate-resilient business concepts tailored to local market conditions.

    Looking forward, CCRAF plans to expand its role as the Caribbean’s leading regional platform for climate-resilient agricultural knowledge exchange and practical implementation. Building on the strong engagement and positive outcomes of the 2026 B2B series, the network will launch a lineup of Special Edition Webinars alongside in-person training workshops through its new “CCRAF On the Road” Knowledge-to-Action Initiative. The program will continue working to close the gap between agricultural research and knowledge, and on-the-ground implementation across Caribbean communities.

  • Earthquake Recorded Northeast of Antigua

    Earthquake Recorded Northeast of Antigua

    A minor seismic event has been detected off the northeastern coast of Antigua by a leading Caribbean geological monitoring agency, according to an early update issued on Tuesday. The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre, which tracks earthquake activity across the Caribbean region, logged the shallow tremor at 11:36 a.m. local time.

    Preliminary automatic readings put the magnitude of the earthquake at 3.6, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers below the ocean surface. The epicenter falls within the geologically active Leeward Islands, an island chain that forms part of the broader Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Several population centers are located within a 160-kilometer radius of the quake’s recorded location: Saint John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, sits roughly 138 kilometers to the epicenter’s northwest; Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis, lies approximately 103 kilometers to the north-northeast; and Brades, the administrative center of Montserrat, is around 158 kilometers to the north-northwest.

    In the immediate aftermath of the tremor, emergency management agencies have not received any reports of structural damage or harm to local residents. The UWI Seismic Research Centre emphasized that the current location and magnitude data are preliminary, and official readings may be adjusted after experts complete full manual analysis of the seismic recordings.

  • Saint Lucia retain seniors title as over 100 tee off at Golf Open

    Saint Lucia retain seniors title as over 100 tee off at Golf Open

    The second edition of the Saint Lucia Golf Open drew to a close on Sunday, May 3, at the scenic Sandals Saint Lucia Golf & Country Club, bringing with it a series of historic firsts, unexpected outcomes, and dominant local performances that underscored the tournament’s growing regional and international appeal.

    This year’s competition attracted 118 registered golfers hailing from 15 different countries, marking a 34-player increase from the tournament’s inaugural 2024 holding – a clear sign of the Saint Lucia Golf Open’s rising traction in the Caribbean golf circuit.

    In the team competition for the coveted President’s Cup, Barbados claimed the top honor after three days of intense play. The Barbadian side posted a cumulative score of 228, securing first place after the host Saint Lucian team struggled through a challenging second round that derailed their early lead. Host nation Saint Lucia ultimately finished second with a total score of 240, climbing past Antigua and Barbuda on the final day of play to claim the silver medal position. Antigua and Barbuda landed third with 241, followed by Jamaica four strokes off the pace, and Trinidad and Tobago a further 11 strokes behind third place.

    The 2025 tournament marked a major milestone for Caribbean golf with the introduction of the first-ever Professional Division, and the title went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Benjamin Martin. Martin carded a three-round total of 6-over-par 219, edging out American contender Chris Johnson by two strokes to take home the $7,500 top prize. Martin carded a 35 over his final nine holes, compared to Johnson’s 37, to lock in the historic win. Host golfer Ryan Daniel finished with a total score of 251 in the new professional division.

    In the Championship Division, Australia’s Dean Richards, a competitor on the U.S. collegiate golf circuit, outperformed the field to take gold. Richards delivered his best performance in the final round, shooting a one-under-par 72 to finish with a total of 225, three strokes ahead of second-place finisher Xzavier Wiggins of Barbados, who posted 228. Saint Lucian golfers Keymani Thomas and Harith Khan tied for third place with matching 244 totals. All top-ranked finishers in this division earned valuable points toward their World Amateur Golf Ranking, boosting the tournament’s competitive credibility.

    Local golfers turned in a series of standout performances across divisions, with Saint Lucian players claiming four total victories throughout the week. In the Ladies Division, Catherine Spooner – who finished second in 2024 – secured the top spot with three consistent rounds, all scoring under 90, for a cumulative total of 263. She beat Jamaica’s Lisa Gardner by a single stroke to take the title.

    Saint Lucian golfers swept the entire podium in the overall Men’s Division. Habib Chreiki claimed gold with a 254 total, followed by Samuel Richelieu at 256, and Andre Dhanpaul at 257 to round out the local sweep. The Seniors Division title also stayed on home soil, with Tim Mangal carding a 222 to beat Jamaica’s Sean Morris (229) and Barbados’ Scott Stollmeyer (230). In the two-day Masters Division, Saint Lucia’s David March claimed the crown with a 173 total, followed by Barbados’ Ivan Codrington (175) and local golfer Peter Devaux (176) in second and third place respectively.

    The tournament also delivered a highlight moment that any golfer dreams of: Brandon Malon scored a spectacular hole-in-one, earning a complimentary 2-ball round at the renowned Cabot golf resort as a reward for his impressive feat.

    Looking ahead, Dwayne King, public relations officer for the Saint Lucia Golf Association, framed the 2025 tournament as another step forward for the event. “With each passing year, the Saint Lucia Open reaches new heights – and the next edition is already shaping up to be the most ambitious yet,” King said. Building on the momentum of this year’s successful launch of the Professional Division, King noted that organizers plan to expand the competitor field, increase prize purses, and grow the tournament’s reach across the Caribbean and beyond, teasing upcoming announcements that will excite golf fans across the region and globally.