Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • Northern Zone football finalists booked

    Northern Zone football finalists booked

    The road to the Saint Lucia Football Association Northern Zone Under-20 Men’s District Tournament title is down to two finalists, as Gros Islet and La Clery secured their spots in the championship match with vastly different semifinal results played Sunday at Marchand Grounds. The matchups capped a busy weekend of regional preliminary and playoff action across the island-nation’s four zonal competitions, with results coming in from Eastern, Western and Southern Zone fixtures as well.

    Gros Islet entered the semifinal off a dominant 7-0 preliminary round blowout of Babonneau at Grande Riviere Playing Field, and the team picked up right where it left off against the same opponent. By halftime, Gros Islet had already built an insurmountable 6-0 lead, and never let up through the final whistle to finish with a lopsided 10-0 victory.

    The first-half scoring binge was led by Rickelme Lionel, who notched a quick hat-trick in the final five minutes of the opening period, finding the back of the net in the 35th, 38th, and 40th minutes. Thierry Morille opened the scoring for Gros Islet with strikes in the 21st and 31st minutes, before Niyel Fontenelle closed out the first-half scoring with a goal in the 43rd minute.

    Even after Babonneau made a goalkeeper change at halftime to stem the tide, Gros Islet’s attack continued to click. Just minutes after the restart, Morille completed his hat-trick, and added a fourth personal goal in the 52nd minute. Devonte Howell got in on the scoring with a 69th-minute strike, and Mehki Stanislaus rounded out the double-digit result with an 80th-minute penalty.

    In contrast to Gros Islet’s easy pathway to the final, previously unbeaten La Clery fought a hard battle to claim its spot, requiring a penalty shootout to overcome a resilient Marchand side. Justice Germaine put La Clery up 1-0 in the 38th minute, and the side held that lead deep into the second half. But with just seven minutes left on the clock, Jalen Pamphile found an equaliser for Marchand, pushing the semifinal to penalties to decide a winner. After a tightly contested shootout, La Clery emerged with a 5-4 win on penalties to advance.

    Across the island, the Eastern Zone completed its preliminary round action Saturday at Micoud Playing Field, with two teams picking up wins to advance. Dennery secured a 3-1 victory over Desruisseaux, behind second-half and late-game goals that broke a first-half tie. Corin Hunte put Dennery up in the 24th minute, only for Al Thomas to equalize for Desruisseaux just four minutes later. Bourne Innocent restored Dennery’s lead in the 72nd minute, and Tafari Martin sealed the three points with a stoppage-time goal in the 90th minute. Hosts Micoud earned a narrow 1-0 win over Mabouya Valley, with Mareus Aubert scoring the match’s only goal late in the 85th minute.

    At Anse La Raye Playing Field in the Western Zone, Canaries pulled out a hard-fought 3-2 win over host side Anse La Raye. Kyron Sydney got Canaries off to a fast start, scoring twice in the opening 35 minutes to put his side up 2-0. Anse La Raye fought back before halftime, with Joshua Fevrier cutting the deficit to one in the 44th minute, and Andriano Auguste equalizing just after halftime in the 63rd minute. It was Derry John who had the final say, netting the game-winner for Canaries in the 74th minute to secure the victory.

    The Southern Zone kicked off its tournament Friday at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort, with two opening matches delivering contrasting results. Vieux Fort North and Choiseul played out an eventful 2-2 draw, with the lead changing twice over the course of the game. Asheim Joseph put Vieux Fort North up just before halftime in the 43rd minute, and Devin Philip equalized for Choiseul five minutes after the break. Lenus Johnny restored Vieux Fort North’s lead five minutes later, only for Nahim Attirnne to lock in the draw with a 67th-minute equalizer, splitting the points between the two sides. In the other Southern Zone opening match, Soufriere picked up a 2-0 shutout win over Vieux Fort South, with second-half goals from Cassian Jn Baptiste (70th minute) and Sherquan Joseph (80th minute) securing the three points.

  • Digicel Business hosts forum on secure digital transformation in financial services

    Digicel Business hosts forum on secure digital transformation in financial services

    Fresh off Saint Lucia’s 47th Independence Anniversary celebrations, held this year under the national motto “Douvan Ansanm – Nourishing Our People, Strengthening Our Nation”, a landmark high-level gathering organized by Digicel Business has centered on accelerating safe, robust digital evolution across the Caribbean island’s financial services industry.

    The summit drew more than 50 top-tier stakeholders, including C-suite leaders from commercial banks, insurance providers, credit unions, and hospitality operators, alongside independent industry analysts and technology experts. Attendees gathered to unpack how the lightning-fast pace of digital innovation is rewiring the financial ecosystem across Saint Lucia and the broader Eastern Caribbean region. Today, as digital banking penetration grows steadily, customers demand frictionless, 24/7 access to financial tools, and regulators have implemented increasingly strict requirements for cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. Against this backdrop, building and retaining public trust in financial institutions has become a more urgent priority than ever before.

    Guest speakers at the event stressed that in an era where digital engagement is the default for most consumer and business interactions, trust cannot be an afterthought—it must be intentionally built, continuously maintained, and actively protected from evolving risks. As cybercriminals develop more sophisticated attack strategies and new technologies from cloud computing to open banking reshape industry standards, financial organizations are facing growing pressure to adopt transformation frameworks that prioritize innovation alongside inherent security, operational resilience, and regulatory compliance from the earliest design stages.

    As the host of the summit, Digicel Business reaffirmed its position as a core enabling partner for this industry shift, supported by hundreds of millions in regional infrastructure investment that includes the deployment of Saint Lucia’s first purpose-built Fibre-to-the-Business network. These major infrastructure upgrades guarantee that local and regional financial institutions have access to the high-reliability, infinitely scalable connectivity required to support mission-critical daily operations and real-time cross-border financial transactions, even during periods of peak demand.

    Through strategic partnerships with cybersecurity specialist Symptai Consulting and digital strategy firm Trend Media, Digicel Business used the summit to demonstrate its end-to-end approach to end-to-end digital transformation. The company’s integrated model combines world-class secure connectivity with expert cybersecurity support, regulatory compliance guidance, comprehensive business continuity planning, and data-powered customer engagement solutions designed to meet the unique needs of financial services providers.

    This full-service offering cements Digicel Business’ standing as a unified, trusted partner for institutions looking to streamline operational workflows, boost their cyber resilience, and scale their digital offerings securely amid an increasingly complex global digital threat landscape.

    Joel Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Saint Lucia, used his opening address to underscore the critical role of trust and resilience in the future of the sector. “At Digicel, we recognize that in today’s financial services environment, connectivity is not just about speed—it’s about stability, security and trust,” Wallace explained. “As institutions across Saint Lucia and the region accelerate their digital transformation, our role is to ensure that this transformation is built on resilient, secure and compliant foundations that protect customers and support long-term, inclusive economic growth.”

    Core working sessions throughout the day centered on three high-priority focus areas: updating organizational cybersecurity frameworks to counter modern threats, improving end-to-end business continuity planning to minimize disruption from outages or attacks, and aligning large-scale digital transformation projects with both strict regulatory mandates and core institutional business objectives.

    The summit closed by reinforcing a shared, central takeaway for all attendees: the long-term success of the financial sector in Saint Lucia and the wider Eastern Caribbean will not be measured solely by how quickly organizations adopt new technology, but by how responsibly, securely, and intelligently that technology is deployed to serve customers and protect institutional stability.

    As Saint Lucia moves forward in line with its independence theme of collective progress “Douvan Ansanm”, Digicel Business has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to strengthening the digital backbone of the nation’s financial system and supporting local and regional institutions as they build a safer, more resilient financial future for all.

  • Auguste hits 95 against Guyana in Windies season opener

    Auguste hits 95 against Guyana in Windies season opener

    The opening day of the 2026 West Indies Championship delivered a standout individual performance from 22-year-old former West Indies Under-19 skipper Ackeem Auguste, who fell just five runs short of a century in his first elite fixture following an early-year medical procedure. Playing for the Windward Islands against defending champions Guyana at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda on April 13, the elegant left-handed batter crafted a patient 95 from 177 deliveries, anchoring his side’s innings through testing early conditions.

    After Windward Islands won the toss and elected to bat, Auguste steered the team through tricky early stages of the innings, building critical middle-order partnerships to steady the innings. He combined for a 79-run stand with Kavem Hodge, followed by a 61-run union with captain Sunil Ambris that lifted the side to 148 for 3, putting them in a strong position after the loss of early wickets. Over four and a half hours at the crease, Auguste showcased his classical batting technique, striking 12 boundaries around the ground before he was eventually dismissed.

    In post-innings comments, Auguste broke down the challenges he faced during his knock, noting that Guyana’s bowling attack set a deliberate strategy of delivering wide of the stumps to force him into errors. This game plan forced the young batter to adjust his approach early on, exercising patience rather than chasing loose deliveries. Compounding the challenge was the playing surface, which Auguste described as tacky in the opening session, making it difficult to drive through the line of the ball.

    “The wicket was a little difficult,” Auguste explained. “At the start, it was a bit tacky, so I was unable to hit through the line of the ball. So it kind of forced me to change my batting plan, and wait until the bowlers came a little closer for me to take it off. Then when the spinners came on, I was able to score a bit more freely, and I capitalised on that.”

    Lower-order batter Ryan John contributed a useful 42 runs to push the Windward Islands total higher, but both Auguste and John were eventually dismissed by left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who turned in a match-winning six-wicket haul for Guyana. Among Motie’s other wickets were Shadrack Descarte, who scored 15, and wicketkeeper Noelle Leo, who fell for a duck. Windward Islands were eventually bowled out for 286 all out at the close of the first day’s play.

    Before stumps were called on the opening day of the four-day first-class fixture, Guyana managed to face one full over, scoring two runs without losing a wicket. The defending champions head into day two trailing by 284 runs, with all 10 wickets still in hand to chase down the target. Auguste’s near-century, coming off the back of his recovery from a medical procedure, has already been hailed as a promising sign for the young batter’s future in top-flight West Indies cricket.

  • Winning weekend for Saint Lucia in Caribbean youth netball

    Winning weekend for Saint Lucia in Caribbean youth netball

    The Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament, hosted in Trinidad & Tobago, kicked off its opening weekend with a solid performance from Team Saint Lucia, who left the first two days of competition with an even 2-2 win-loss record after securing back-to-back victories against Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica at the UWI SPEC venue in St Augustine over the weekend.

    Saint Lucia’s starting six, led by captain Naija Ferdinand and featuring Neriah Charlery, Sanya Emmanuel, Indiana James, Nyssa Lascaris, and Tamia Clarke, delivered consistent shooting to claim their opening win against Antigua & Barbuda on Saturday evening, with a final score of 34-14. Charlery dominated the shooting circle, sinking 31 of her 37 attempted shots, and only missed a single attempt in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, captain Ferdinand maintained a perfect shooting record, converting all three of her attempts on goal. For Antigua & Barbuda, the team made 14 out of 28 total shots to round out the final scoreline.

    The next day, Saint Lucia claimed a second win against Dominica with a tighter 23-17 result. Once again, the pair of Charlery and Ferdinand led the team’s scoring: Charlery landed 13 of 16 attempts, while Ferdinand converted 10 of 12, enough to hold off a late push from Dominica. Dominica shot 53% from its 33 total attempts, falling short of matching Saint Lucia’s offensive output. Following the back-to-back wins, Netball Saint Lucia shared an update on its official social media channels, writing: “Big congrats to Team Saint Lucia on their second victory of the tournament. Not our best showing, but we got the job done, on to the next!”

    After finishing in third place at the 2025 edition of the tournament, Saint Lucia faces a packed week of competition to defend its podium position. The team is scheduled to face the Cayman Islands on Monday evening, followed by a match against Grenada on Tuesday afternoon. Competition will ramp up significantly mid-week, as Saint Lucia takes on undefeated defending champions and tournament hosts Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday, before closing out its group stage play against Barbados on Thursday.

    This year’s 15-player Saint Lucia squad has a distinctly young profile, with 11 competitors making their first appearance at the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Tournament, including starting players James and Clarke. The roster draws athletes from eight different schools and multiple local communities across the island, and is led by head coach Shem Maxwell, assistant coach Jo-Ann Anderson, and team manager Alice Lynch.

  • CARICOM defends secretary-general reappointment

    CARICOM defends secretary-general reappointment

    A growing regional dispute has erupted within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) over the reappointment of Dr. Carla Barnett as the bloc’s Secretary-General, with CARICOM Chairman and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew standing firm that all institutional protocols were correctly followed throughout the process.

    Drew’s formal defense came in an official statement released following an emergency special session of CARICOM Heads of Government held on April 10. Notably, neither Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar nor any designated representative from her country participated in the closed-door meeting, deepening the rift over the appointment.

    The controversy emerged after Persad-Bissessar launched a scathing public attack on the reappointment outcome, demanding full transparency and accountability from the 15-member regional integration bloc. She has made clear her government will not back down from the fight, vowing to pursue the issue aggressively through public channels. “My administration will give no quarter on this matter,” Persad-Bissessar said, pledging to “prosecute this matter mercilessly, relentlessly, and if necessary, ruthlessly in public until full transparency is achieved.”

    In his official response, Drew outlined the full sequence of procedural steps leading to the reappointment, which was finalized during the leadership retreat tied to CARICOM’s 50th Conference of Heads of Government, hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis between February 24 and 27. The chairman confirmed that all member states received formal advance notification of the full draft agenda, work program, and session details for plenary discussions, caucus meetings, and the closed leadership retreat well ahead of the conference. All official communications about the retreat’s date and location were sent through formal diplomatic channels, and every member state sent a formal confirmation of receipt, according to the statement.

    The CARICOM chairman’s account also clarifies the timeline of Trinidad and Tobago’s absence from the critical retreat vote. Persad-Bissessar left the main conference before the retreat began. Later, the country’s Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Sean Sobers, contacted the outgoing Secretary-General via WhatsApp to ask if he could attend in the prime minister’s place – an arrangement that had been used by other member states in past sessions. Sobers initially noted that seasickness could prevent him from traveling to the retreat venue, and after Barnett stated attendance would be optional under the circumstances, the minister never followed up to confirm his participation with either the chairman or the Secretary-General’s office.

    The discussion on Secretary-General reappointment took place during the retreat, with Barnett stepping out of the room for the full duration of the deliberation and vote to avoid any conflict of interest. Before the results of the reappointment were announced publicly, CARICOM officials attempted multiple times to contact Persad-Bissessar to inform her of the outcome, but they were unable to reach her. The chairman ultimately connected with Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister to share the result after those failed attempts.

    Closing his statement, Drew called on all CARICOM member states to resolve internal disagreements through the bloc’s established dispute resolution mechanisms, warning that public confrontation risks weakening the decades-long project of regional integration that benefits all Caribbean nations.

  • At least 30 dead in stampede at Haiti’s historic site

    At least 30 dead in stampede at Haiti’s historic site

    A devastating crowd crush at one of Haiti’s most famous cultural landmarks has left at least 30 people dead, with local authorities cautioning that the fatality count may climb in the coming hours as search operations continue. The tragic incident unfolded on Saturday, April 11, at the Citadelle Laferrière, a iconic 19th-century fortress constructed just after Haiti won its independence from French colonial rule. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, the fortress draws thousands of visitors annually for its longstanding traditional celebration, and this year’s event drew a large crowd of students and other tourists eager to take part in the festivities.

    Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for Haiti’s Nord Department where the Citadelle is located, confirmed that the deadly crush broke out at the main entrance to the site, and that unanticipated rainy weather worsened dangerous conditions for attendees. Culture Minister Emmanuel Menard formally verified the 30 fatalities in a written statement provided to AFP, adding that injured people have already been transported to local medical facilities to receive urgent care. Rescue teams remain on site working to locate any individuals who have been reported missing following the incident, and Menard did not release an exact number of people wounded in the disaster.

    Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime released an official statement extending his deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, affirming the national government’s solidarity with grieving communities during what he called a period of profound suffering and mourning. The prime minister noted that a large share of attendees at the annual celebration were young people, but no identities of the deceased have been released to the public as of yet, and his office did not provide an independent death toll estimate.

    This latest catastrophe comes as Haiti already faces overlapping humanitarian and security crises. The Caribbean nation has been gripped by widespread gang violence that has killed hundreds of civilians in recent months, paired with rising civilian casualties from ongoing security force crackdowns on armed groups. It is also no stranger to large-scale disasters: in 2021 alone, a massive earthquake killed approximately 2,000 Haitians and a fuel tank explosion left 90 people dead, while another fuel blast killed 24 people in 2024.

  • Trinidad’s PM escalates feud with Caribbean neighbours

    Trinidad’s PM escalates feud with Caribbean neighbours

    A long-simmering dispute between Trinidad and Tobago and its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) neighbors over U.S. policy toward Venezuela and international drug trafficking erupted into open diplomatic conflict on Friday, as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar doubled down on her demand that CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett leave office when her current term expires this August. The 15-member regional trade and integration bloc has been fractured by ideological rifts since late last year, when a majority of member governments publicly condemned expanded U.S. military activity in the South Caribbean and the large deployment of American forces positioned near Venezuela, launched as part of a U.S. operation targeting then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. For years, CARICOM member states have collectively endorsed the vision of the Caribbean as a formal “zone of peace,” rejecting the introduction of extra-regional great power military competition into the bloc’s neighborhood. But since winning Trinidad and Tobago’s general election one year ago, Persad-Bissessar has openly rejected this longstanding regional consensus, dismissing the “zone of peace” framework as nothing more than “zone of peace fakery.” She has positioned her administration as a firm backer of U.S. military action in the region and the U.S. campaign against transnational drug trafficking and organized crime. Her latest move targets the bloc’s top administrative leadership, where she has waged a monthslong public campaign to block Barnett’s reappointment when her five-year term concludes at the end of August. To strengthen her push, Persad-Bissessar has repeatedly emphasized Trinidad and Tobago’s outsized financial contribution to CARICOM: the nation covers roughly 22% of the bloc’s total annual operating budget, equal to approximately $20 million per year. The prime minister has made no secret of her deep frustration with the bloc’s current policy direction, stating repeatedly that she cannot understand why most regional leaders have aligned with Venezuela and the Maduro administration rather than falling in line with the U.S. position. In a 2025 statement released as the U.S. ramped up preparations for its action against Maduro, Persad-Bissessar claimed that “CARICOM has chosen to support the Maduro narco-government through the fake zone of peace narrative.” Her comments came as multiple CARICOM governments raised formal complaints over the civilian casualties and alleged legal violations linked to deadly U.S.-aligned boat strikes in regional waters. Persad-Bissessar’s unyielding pressure ultimately forced CARICOM leaders to convene an emergency closed-door meeting on Friday to address the contentious question of Barnett’s reappointment, bringing the months of behind-the-scenes friction into full public view.

  • Saint Lucia drops bid to host CARIFTA Aquatics 2027

    Saint Lucia drops bid to host CARIFTA Aquatics 2027

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated regional junior swimming competitions will have to find a new home in 2027, after the Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation (SLAF) formally pulled its hosting bid last month, citing unavoidable delays to the completion of the island nation’s new National Aquatic Centre (NAC). The Bahamas has quickly stepped forward to submit a provisional bid to host the 54th edition of the prestigious CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, with the event scheduled to run from March 26 to 31 at Nassau’s Betty-Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre if approved.

    The formal notification of Saint Lucia’s withdrawal was delivered in a March 12 correspondence from SLAF President Paula James to Steven Joachim, Chairperson of the CARIFTA Congress. James’ decision followed an official update from the Ministry of Education, Youth Development and Sports (MYDS) that confirmed ongoing construction at the Beauséjour, Gros Islet facility would not finish before the Easter 2027 event, as the project timeline extends past next year’s Easter holiday.

    In her statement following the withdrawal, James emphasized the disappointment of the local aquatics community while acknowledging the urgent need for alternate organizers to begin preparations. “Regrettably, the update indicates that the facility will not be completed within the timeframe required to support Saint Lucia’s bid to host CARIFTA Aquatics Championships in 2027,” James said. “While this news is very disappointing for us, we understand that the alternate host country will now have to start making their preparations. Once the National Aquatic Centre is completed, Saint Lucia looks forward to bid to host once again at a future date.”

    The NAC project, which was fully launched in April 2025, is positioned adjacent to the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and Saint Lucia’s National Tennis Centre. Designed to meet international competition standards, the purpose-built facility will feature an Olympic-regulation 50-meter pool fitted with a movable bulkhead, a dedicated warm-up pool, and covered spectator stands. On March 9, just three days before SLAF’s formal withdrawal notification, MYDS Permanent Secretary Dr Uralise Delaire formally communicated the construction delay to James and the federation leadership.

    The Ministry of Education, Youth Development and Sports reaffirmed the island government’s unwavering commitment to finishing the aquatics centre and advancing competitive aquatics in Saint Lucia, even as it confirmed the 2027 hosting bid could not move forward. “While this development is unfortunate, the Government of Saint Lucia remains fully committed to the completion of the National Aquatics Centre and to the continued development of aquatics in Saint Lucia,” the ministry said in a statement. “The Government also looks forward to continued collaboration with the Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation toward the successful hosting of a future edition of the CARIFTA Swimming Championships once the facility is completed.”

    Kenson Casimir, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Education, Youth Development and Sports, confirmed in an exclusive interview with local outlet *St Lucia Times* that the new facility is on track to be completed within the next 12 to 14 months. He added that the project will be a transformative development for competitive swimming on the island, where athletes currently train without access to a 50-meter international-standard pool. “We hope swimming continues to take its place in sports development in Saint Lucia… Of course, we know our team, they continue to will themselves on, despite the fact that they don’t have a 50-metre international-standard pool. Once that’s dealt with within the next 12 to 14 months, we can see improved times, improved performances,” Casimir said.

    This is not the first time Saint Lucia has been forced to withdraw from hosting the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships: the island also pulled out of the 2019 event when construction had not yet broken ground. The current project has a long history of incremental progress: the modular pool structure was delivered to the island in early 2023, while site clearing work was completed in 2024, before full construction kicked off last year. For 2027, organizers have a backup plan in place if the Bahamas is unable to step into the host role: Trinidad and Tobago, which hosted the 2025 championships, has offered to serve as an alternate host. Jamaica has already secured hosting rights for the 2028 edition of the competition.

  • Top 3 named for GIMIES People’s Choice

    Top 3 named for GIMIES People’s Choice

    Anticipation continues to grow across Saint Lucia’s vibrant tourism sector as the island prepares for its fourth annual Saint Lucia Tourism Awards, affectionately known as the GIMIES — a celebration designed to honor exceptional professionals who have elevated the island’s world-renowned visitor experience. This week, event organizers have fulfilled one of the industry’s most highly anticipated announcements, revealing the top three finalists for the award’s beloved public-voted People’s Choice category.

    Following weeks of a spirited, island-wide public online voting campaign, the three finalists, listed alphabetically, are Akim Francis, a chef with the popular local dining brand Bursting with Flavors (also known as 5 Star); Elver Descartes, a professional tour guide with adventure tourism operator ATV Direct; and Shervon Charles, owner and stable hand at Unique Stables. Each of these standout professionals earned their spot in the top three by winning over both local residents and international tourists, who praised their unwavering passion for Saint Lucia, consistent dedication to service, and ability to create unforgettable, personalized travel experiences.

    Organizers also highlighted the hard work and meaningful contributions of the six other candidates who advanced to the nomination stage of the award. These contenders include Avelyn Joseph, owner of Happy Nest; Heidi St. Clair, owner of St. Clair’s Sitting Services; Iva La Toya Lewis, celebrity makeup artist behind Glamour Art By Toya; Kirk Elliot, community-based tourism entrepreneur with St Lucia by Kirk; Michel Gaspard, a freelance civil status marriage officer; and Ngugi Lucien, vegan chef at Grassrootz Vegan Cuisine. Each nominee shared their personal career journeys and demonstrated ongoing commitment to lifting up Saint Lucia’s tourism industry, organizers noted.

    The coveted People’s Choice Award winner will be revealed to the public on April 11, 2026, during the official GIMIES gala ceremony. For fans and supporters unable to attend the event in person, the entire ceremony will be streamed live via NTN and all official GIMIES social media channels. Organizers have encouraged community members and tourists alike to join online viewing parties to celebrate the achievements of the island’s top tourism professionals.

    Full details about the GIMIES awards, nomination history, and upcoming event can be found on the official awards website at www.thegimies.org. Updates are also posted regularly to the awards’ Facebook page @thegimies and Instagram page @the_gimies, and inquiries can be sent directly to the organizing committee via email at tourismawards@stlucia.org.

  • Heroes’ Welcome: Team Saint Lucia return with record medal haul

    Heroes’ Welcome: Team Saint Lucia return with record medal haul

    On Wednesday, April 8, the young aquatics athletes of Team Saint Lucia touched back down at Port Castries, welcomed by a raucous, heartfelt heroes’ welcome that capped off a history-making performance at the 2025 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships hosted in Martinique. Competing at the Pierre Samot Community Aquatic Centre, the team delivered a stunning new national record, clinching a total of 14 medals across age categories — one more than the 13 medals earned at the 2024 edition of the regional meet.

    Local supporters and senior government officials gathered at the port to cheer on the returning competitors, and celebration quickly turned to reflection at an official post-arrival press conference. Dr. Uralise Delaire, Permanent Secretary in Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, opened remarks by extending sincere gratitude to the athletes, highlighting their relentless work ethic, unwavering commitment to the sport, and exemplary sportsmanship throughout the 10-day competition.

    “You have not only put Saint Lucia firmly on the regional aquatics map, but you have cemented our reputation as a standout competitor in the Caribbean,” Dr. Delaire told the team. “I want to congratulate each of you for your dedication, your resilience, and your discipline that made this historic result possible.”

    One of the meet’s standout stars was 12-year-old Sapphire Parks, who successfully defended her 11-12 girls’ age division title, capping an incredible meet that grew her career medal count from eight to 10 total. Over the course of the competition, Parks claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:21.23 and silver in the 200m backstroke in 2:38.13. Her total haul for the 2025 championships ended at five gold, four silver, and one bronze, earning 88 overall points to lead the team’s individual rankings.

    Clivus Jules, the Ministry’s Director of Sports, shared a personal anecdote that illustrated the far-reaching impact of the team’s success beyond the medal table. “I had a whole house full of people gathered to watch the competition livestream, and my own kids were so inspired that my six-year-old has already asked to start swimming lessons,” Jules told the room. “You have done more for the growth of this sport than any policy or program could achieve in a decade — your work is already paying off for the next generation.”

    Gleaming with visible pride, Paula James, President of the Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation, called the team’s performance “phenomenal,” saying the personal effort she and other organizers put into the season paled in comparison to what the young athletes delivered for the nation. “For me, this weekend is all pride and joy,” James said. “What you accomplished for Saint Lucia is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

    What makes the team’s historic achievement even more notable is the context in which it was earned: for years, Saint Lucia’s competitive swimmers have trained exclusively in a 25-meter pool, while CARIFTA and other elite regional meets are almost always held in a standard 50-meter Olympic-length pool. Even with this comparative disadvantage, the team has continued to outperform expectations year after year.

    But that training limitation is set to change in the coming years: work has already broken ground on a new National Aquatics Centre in Beausejour, located in close proximity to the existing Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Beausejour Indoor Facility and National Tennis Centre. The Olympic-sized 50-meter pool for the new facility has already been delivered to the island, filling a gap that has long held local aquatics back.

    James noted that the purpose-built facility will be a game-changer for Saint Lucian swimming, opening new doors for future generations of competitors. “With this much-needed new home for our sport, the sky is the limit,” she said. While an official completion and opening date has not yet been announced, aquatics leaders across the country are optimistic that the new centre will elevate local competitive swimming to unprecedented new heights in the years to come.