标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

Saint Lucia steps up Ebola preparedness measures

Even with no immediate risk of Ebola reaching the Eastern Caribbean, the island nation of Saint Lucia has launched a series of proactive measures to reinforce its health infrastructure and border screening protocols, stepping up national readiness for a potential importation of the virus. These preventive steps were officially announced by Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste during a pre-Cabinet media briefing held on Monday, where he emphasized that preparedness work is already underway across multiple sectors of the country’s health system.

Among the priority actions is the strengthening of public health procedures at all ports of entry, a core measure to intercept any potential cases entering the country via travel. The government also plans to release regular, transparent public updates through the Office of the Chief Medical Officer to keep residents informed of any developments related to the outbreak.

Beyond border controls, the Ministry of Health is focused on upskilling frontline healthcare workers through targeted training programs, while also upgrading infection prevention and control standards at all medical facilities across the island. For any suspected Ebola cases detected through enhanced screening, diagnostic testing will be conducted in partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), and Saint Lucia has confirmed it currently maintains a sufficient stockpile of personal protective equipment for medical teams.

Minister Baptiste noted that national disease surveillance systems are also being upgraded to catch any unusual cases early. “We are upgrading our surveillance and ensuring that our protocols are firmly in place, doing everything necessary just in case the threat reaches our shores,” he told reporters.

The proactive push for preparedness comes shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the ongoing Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest level of global public health alert. The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has already spread to neighboring Uganda. While there is currently no confirmed evidence of sustained cross-border transmission beyond these two countries, and the WHO has not classified the event as a pandemic, Baptiste stressed that the PHEIC designation demands serious global attention.

“While this outbreak poses no immediate threat to the Eastern Caribbean at this time, it is critical that we as a country and a region stay alert and strengthen our defenses,” Baptiste said. “Even if the spread remains contained for now, the virus could potentially move internationally, which requires coordinated preparedness action from all nations.”

The minister also shared contextual information about the varying risks of different Ebola strains to illustrate the importance of vigilance. Historical Ebola variants such as the Zaire strain carry a fatality rate as high as 90 percent, while the Sudan strain has an average fatality rate of around 50 percent. The currently circulating Bundibugyo strain has a lower but still significant fatality rate of approximately 30 percent, a figure that Baptiste emphasized is no reason for complacency.

Adding to the urgency, Baptiste pointed out that while licensed vaccines and targeted therapeutics exist for several older Ebola strains, there are currently no specific approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain behind the current outbreak.

Saint Lucia’s preparedness efforts are being coordinated in close collaboration with regional and global health bodies, including CARPHA, the Pan American Health Organization, and the WHO. Currently, the island’s Chief Medical Officer and a senior nurse administrator are in Switzerland attending the annual World Health Assembly, where the Ebola outbreak is a top agenda item. The country anticipates receiving the latest guidance and outbreak intelligence when the delegation returns home to inform further adjustments to national preparedness plans.

19 5 月, 2026
Pageant contestants’ tree-planting initiative enters second year

For the second consecutive year, organizers of the Lucian Carnival are challenging long-held stereotypes of beauty pageantry through a purpose-driven tree-planting initiative that brings competition delegates together to advance environmental stewardship and community investment across Saint Lucia. Built into the carnival’s core sustainability framework, the growing project seeks to reframe public understanding of what pageantry can achieve, shifting the focus from superficial glamour to tangible, long-lasting public good.

Jade Brown, the carnival’s Public Relations Officer, explained that the community-focused tree-planting effort is far more than a side activity—it is a central pillar of the pageant’s modern vision. Unlike outdated narratives that frame pageants solely as events centered on physical appearance, Brown emphasized this initiative puts meaningful community action front and center, giving contestants the chance to step beyond the stage and contribute to their home islands in enduring ways.

“This project lets delegates show that pageantry is about more than glitz and glamour,” Brown said. “We want to refocus the conversation on productivity, giving back, and lifting up other people—especially young people who look to contestants as inspiration.” The initiative is designed to encourage participants to leverage their public platforms responsibly, framing contestants as role models and active advocates for national social and environmental development, rather than just figureheads for the event.

Environmental protection sits at the heart of the project. Brown noted that the health of the natural world underpins all of Saint Lucia’s social and economic success, saying, “Our environment really shapes us—without its vital resources, our society simply cannot thrive.” To deepen that connection, delegates traveled to the Millet Bird Sanctuary for the initiative, getting an opportunity to engage with Saint Lucia’s unique native ecosystems outside of the usual pageant event spaces, and build a personal connection to local environmental conservation.

Beyond empowering delegates to give back, the project also aims to inspire broader public action, encouraging communities across the island to prioritize service and environmental stewardship in their own neighborhoods. Looking ahead, carnival organizers have announced plans to embed the initiative permanently into the “Queens for a Change” program, establishing it as a key annual event. Long-term expansion plans are also in motion to bring the tree-planting project to under-served communities across the entire island, extending its positive impact far beyond the regions that typically host carnival and pageant activities.

19 5 月, 2026
Man charged with Marchand double homicide

A violent shooting incident that left two people dead on Marchand Road earlier this month has resulted in murder charges against a local man, according to official updates from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force. The fatal attack unfolded on the evening of May 9, prompting a rapid response from law enforcement and subsequent investigative work that led to an arrest within three days.

At approximately 11 p.m. on May 9, patrol officers assigned to the Marchand Police Station received an urgent emergency call reporting active gunfire in the Marchand Road area. First responders rushed to the scene immediately, where they found two victims who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Among them, 64-year-old Pearl Ramsay, a long-time resident of Marchand, was confirmed dead at the location by first responders. The second victim, 34-year-old Sheston Duncan—who also went by the alias “Bolom” and resided in Black Mallet, Marchand—was rushed via emergency ambulance to the Owen King European Union Hospital for urgent care. Despite medical teams’ best efforts, Duncan was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the medical facility.

Investigators launched a full probe into the double homicide immediately after securing the crime scene. According to an official statement released by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force this past Monday, 29-year-old Seth Shem John was taken into police custody last Tuesday, exactly three days after the shooting took place. Following processing and the completion of initial investigative steps, prosecutors formally charged John with two separate counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Ramsay and Duncan.

John made his first court appearance before the First District Court this past Friday. Following the brief hearing, the judge ordered John to be remanded into custody at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, where he will remain held as the legal process moves forward. No additional details about possible motives for the shooting or upcoming court hearings have been released by police as of the statement’s publication.

18 5 月, 2026
Saint Lucia appoints first Coroner, establishes dedicated Coroners Court

The Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia has marked a historic turning point in its judicial infrastructure with the appointment of its first dedicated Coroner, Desma Charles, following the formal establishment of a standalone Coroners Court under the country’s Magistrates’ Courts framework.

This landmark development is the culmination of a months-long policy process, which secured formal approval from Prime Minister Philip J Pierre and the national Cabinet in January 2025. As part of the 2026/2027 national budget address, Pierre – who also holds the portfolio of Minister for Justice – highlighted the creation of the court as a core component of the government’s broader push to modernize the nation’s justice system.

Before this institutional reform, all cases involving unnatural non-criminal deaths – including fatal accidents, deaths in custody, and suspected suicides – were handled by sitting magistrates, who lacked a dedicated office or specialized resources to address these complex cases. The newly established Coroners Court is tasked specifically with taking over this caseload, with two core objectives: providing clear, timely answers for grieving families left without closure, and uncovering systemic safety gaps that can prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The Judicial and Legal Services Commission announced Charles’ appointment to the pioneering post, and the government has confirmed that additional supporting roles will be filled in the coming months. These include administrative staff and a specialized investigator trained to conduct detailed inquiries into unnatural death cases.

In an official statement released on Monday, the government framed the establishment of the Coroners Court and the creation of the Coroner post as a significant leap forward for Saint Lucia’s judicial sector. The initiative, the statement noted, demonstrates the administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthening judicial modernization and institutional accountability. Prime Minister Pierre emphasized in his budget address that the reform will boost the country’s capacity to carry out timely, thorough investigations, ultimately reinforcing public trust in the administration of justice.

As of the latest government update, further details including the official start date for court sittings and formal operating procedures are still being finalized and will be announced to the public at a later date.

18 5 月, 2026
Fatal Massade shooting renews calls for mental health reform

The tight-knit neighborhood of Massade in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, is enveloped in grief following the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Julien Cedrick Agian, who was allegedly killed by his own cousin in a late-night incident on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The senseless homicide has not only left a family and community shattered, but has also reignited urgent public conversations about three pressing, long-unaddressed issues plaguing the island nation: gaps in mental health care, lax public safety protocols, and the persistent scourge of gun violence.

According to official police reports, officers assigned to the Gros Islet Police Station were dispatched to the Massade shooting location at approximately 10:45 p.m. on the day of the incident. First responders found Agian with multiple gunshot wounds; he was rushed to the Gros Islet Polyclinic in a private vehicle by bystanders, but medical staff were unable to save his life. To date, one person has been taken into custody and is cooperating with law enforcement investigators, and multiple family sources have confirmed the suspect is Agian’s close cousin. A post-mortem examination to confirm the official cause and manner of death has been scheduled for a future date, as the investigation remains ongoing.

Those who knew Agian remember him as a warm, generous, and uplifting presence, whose sudden death has left loved ones in profound shock and disbelief. “He was always the life of the party,” one heartbroken family member shared in an emotional interview. “You could always go to him for advice. He always had something positive to say and always tried to guide people in the right direction. You could go to him feeling completely beat down, and he would make you feel like yourself again. He would tell you, ‘Relax, things happen. Think about the positive that will come out of it.’”

The tragedy carries an extra layer of heartbreak for the family: Agian’s wife is currently pregnant, and he will never get to meet his unborn child. Even days after the shooting, many relatives are still struggling to accept their loss. “I’m in denial,” the relative added. “I just kept thinking he got shot and he would pull through. I was waiting for him to call and say he was okay.”

Across the community, Agian’s reputation as a kind, approachable person who was always willing to lend a hand is widely shared. A close friend of the victim noted that the entire neighborhood has been shaken to its core by the violence. “He was a very nice guy,” the friend said. “He used to sit around, joke with everybody and help people. Everybody knew him as a good person.”

In the wake of the killing, many community members are speaking out about systemic failures that they say allowed this tragedy to happen. Multiple residents interviewed highlighted deep concerns over the treatment of people living with severe mental illness, particularly in cases where prior threats of violence have already been made. One close associate of the community argued that the country’s mental health system is failing to adequately monitor and support people experiencing acute psychiatric instability. “When somebody mentally unstable keeps threatening people, we can’t keep taking it lightly,” he said. “People say, ‘That’s your cousin, leave him alone,’ until something like this happens.” He called for extended, long-term inpatient psychiatric care for people who pose a threat to themselves or others, arguing that unstable patients should not be released back into the community before they have made a full recovery. “If somebody needs treatment, keep them there until they recover,” he said. “You can’t send them out the next day and expect everybody to be safe.”

Beyond mental health reform, the incident has also sparked renewed demands for tougher enforcement against illegal firearms and intervention to stop violent crime among young men. One local resident emphasized that communities cannot afford to be passive in addressing these issues, arguing that collective action is needed to prevent future tragedies. “We cannot leave everything for the government and police,” he said. “If we see problems, we have to speak about it and try to stop it before things happen.”

As the investigation into Agian’s homicide continues, Saint Lucia police are asking the public for any information that could help advance the case. Anyone with details related to the shooting is encouraged to contact the Gros Islet Police Station at 456-3830. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via the national Crime Hotline at 555, or through the RSLPF Crime Hotline mobile app available on the Google Play Store.

18 5 月, 2026
Choisuel crush Soufriere after Athanaze blitz to reach SPL Final

The final lineup for the 6th edition of the Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) is now confirmed, following a high-scoring dramatic second qualifier clash held on Sunday at the iconic Francis “Baba” Lastic Grounds. In the latest installment of the league’s storied West Coast rivalry, the Choiseul Craft Masters secured a convincing 62-run victory over the Soufriere Titans to punch their ticket to the championship decider.

The path to this critical qualifier for both sides had been carved out in earlier knockout fixtures. Fresh off an energetic win over Micoud Eagles in the eliminator match just three days prior, the Craft Masters—known affectionately to their fans as the Men In Orange—carried that momentum into Sunday’s do-or-die clash. For the Soufriere Titans, a narrow defeat to the undefeated City Blasters in the first qualifier left them with one final shot at the final, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle on the same Saint Lucian ground.

Winning the toss, Choiseul Craft Masters elected to bat first, and their opening pair immediately turned the matchup on its head. Opener Jason Simon and debutant Alick Athanaze put together a blistering 96-run opening partnership that set the tone for a record-breaking innings. Simon departed after a rapid 57 runs off just 25 deliveries, but Athanaze refused to let the scoring slow, putting on a clinic of power hitting that wowed the on-site crowd.

Making his first ever appearance in SPL competition, Athanaze finished with a stunning 138 runs off only 57 balls, hammering 13 maximum sixes and 10 fours along the way. With valuable contributions of 20 or more runs from three other lower-order batters, the Craft Masters posted an all-time SPL record total of 290 runs, a mark that put immense pressure on the Soufriere batting lineup from the first over.

Chasing the second-highest run target in the league’s history, the Titans got off to a disastrous start. Most of their top-order batters fell while attempting to match Choiseul’s explosive run rate, with seamer Kevin Sinclar picking up key early wickets that left the side reeling at 98 for six wickets after just 8.2 overs. Young left-arm spinner Jeanille Williams claimed four key wickets for the Craft Masters, though he conceded 52 runs in a high-scoring outing.

A late-order fightback led by number seven batsman Mateo Boulogne gave Soufriere fans a glimmer of hope. Boulogne smashed an attacking 80 runs off 41 deliveries, combining with Kevin Gassie—who remained unbeaten on 45 off 30 balls—to add 101 runs for the seventh wicket. Despite the valiant late rally, the Titans ran out of overs, finishing 62 runs short of the required target. Bowler Shawnil Edward turned in a standout performance for Choiseul, claiming two wickets for just 33 runs to cap the win.

Following the match, the player of the match Athanaze spoke to reporters about his record-breaking debut, crediting the playing conditions and crowd energy for his performance. “To be honest, it wasn’t much of an acclimatisation for me. I came in yesterday and had to play today. The vibe is good, the competition is good, and the wicket is good as well. So, you know, it’s a good place to play cricket,” he said.

With the win locked in, the Choiseul Craft Masters now advance to the SPL 6 grand final, where they will face the tournament’s only undefeated side, City Blasters, for the league title and regional bragging rights.

18 5 月, 2026
Saint Lucia U23 endure winless run in OECS 3×3

The first-ever Eastern Caribbean Under-23 Men’s 3×3 Basketball Tournament, held in Road Town, British Virgin Islands, brought together six of the region’s top young squads to compete for regional glory and a coveted spot at this summer’s Central American and Caribbean Games. Among the contenders, Team Saint Lucia entered the tournament with high expectations as the pre-event second seed, but a series of hard-fought matches ended in disappointment for the four-man roster.

Made up of Sidney Didier of the Soufriere Kings, Junior Dupre and Jazaniah Blanchard of the Morne Gladiators, and Ajini Ferdinand of the Courts Jets, Saint Lucia faced two early preliminary round tests that put their semifinal hopes on the line. In their opening group fixture against Grenada, the Saint Lucian squad got off to a strong start, building a solid five-point advantage early in the contest. However, Grenada clawed back to take control of the game, closing out a 20-16 victory that secured Grenada the top spot in Pool A.

Saint Lucia’s second preliminary matchup against tournament hosts British Virgin Islands delivered another tough result. A 21-14 defeat to BVI erased any remaining chance for the squad to advance to the tournament’s semifinal round. Dropping down to the fifth-place playoff, Saint Lucia faced off against Dominica in a tightly contested battle that came down to the final minutes. Ultimately, Dominica pulled out a narrow 16-14 win, leaving Saint Lucia with an 0-3 record across all three of its tournament matches.

Despite the winless outcome, the Saint Lucia Basketball Federation highlighted the positive takeaways from the team’s first regional tournament appearance. Head coach Christus Michel offered praise for his entire roster, singling out standout guard Sidney Didier, who finished the tournament ranked among the event’s top 10 scorers. Michel emphasized that events like this inaugural championship provide irreplaceable value for emerging Caribbean basketball talent, giving Saint Lucian young players the chance to test their skills against top regional competition, build match experience, and grow both as individual athletes and as contributors to the growth of the sport on the island.

Beyond the on-court action, the tournament crowned its first champion when St Kitts & Nevis defeated St Vincent & The Grenadines 20-15 in the gold medal match. The title win earned St Kitts & Nevis automatic qualification to the 3×3 basketball competition at the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games. Hosts BVI rounded out the top three, securing a bronze medal with a 17-13 win over Grenada in the third-place matchup.

In addition to the competitive tournament, the event also included professional development opportunities for Caribbean basketball officials and coaches. Coach Michel joined 3×3 certified referee Shadrack Theodore from Saint Lucia in taking part in a series of specialized training sessions and coaching workshops hosted in the British Virgin Islands alongside the tournament.

The historic tournament was organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (ANOCES), with the BVI Olympic Committee serving as the local host. Major sponsorship for the event was provided by Panam Sports, Olympic Solidarity, the Virgin Islands Ministry of Tourism, and the BVI Tourist Board, backing the effort to grow 3×3 basketball across the Eastern Caribbean region.

18 5 月, 2026
Empress Daniel explores healing with minerals in new book

For over 20 years, renowned wellness advocate and holistic healer Empress Isis Daniel has guided countless individuals in rebuilding their connection to the natural world through herbal remedies, plant-centered diets, and intentional mindful living practices. With the launch of her latest book, *The Ancient Mineral Kingdom*, Daniel expands her life’s work to shine a much-needed spotlight on one of the most underrecognized pillars of human health: dietary minerals.

Drawn from more than two decades of clinical observation, hands-on client guidance, and independent research, the book came to life after Daniel identified a striking pattern across the many people struggling with chronic illness and bodily imbalance who came to her for support.

“A huge portion of the common health conditions and chronic ailments people live with today can be traced directly to mineral deficiencies, impaired nutrient absorption, and a widespread lack of awareness about how critical mineral nutrition is for whole-body health,” Daniel explained.

She points out that modern dietary habits are largely focused on immediate hunger satisfaction rather than deep, cellular-level nourishment that the body needs to thrive. “So often, people eat just to curb hunger or feel full, but they rarely stop to question whether the food they are consuming actually feeds their cells and delivers the essential minerals required for every intracellular structure to work as it should,” she said. It was this widespread gap in public understanding that ultimately pushed her to put her insights into book form.

*The Ancient Mineral Kingdom* breaks down the role of naturally occurring minerals in supporting the body’s innate ability to stay strong, repair damaged tissue, and maintain internal balance. It walks readers through how to identify common signs of mineral deficiency, embrace whole-food focused nutrition, and access key mineral nutrients through herbal and natural plant sources.

“The earth stores all the minerals our bodies need to build natural strength, facilitate healing, and sustain balance,” Daniel shared of the book’s core message. “These essential nutrients, sourced directly from the earth, are central to human nourishment and long-term physical vitality.”

Daniel intentionally designed the work as a practical, accessible guide for everyday readers rather than a dense academic or clinical textbook, with the core goal of helping people reconnection with nature’s original approach to nourishing the body. “The aim here isn’t perfection,” she emphasized. “The goal is reconnection: reconnecting our bodies to the soil that grows our food, and reconnecting nourishment to its original natural source.”

Opening with a philosophical, ancestral perspective on health, the introduction reminds readers that minerals are far more than a passing modern wellness trend—they are the ancient building blocks of all life on Earth. “Long before nutrition was reduced to counting macronutrients and tracking percentages, our bodies inherently understood the language of the earth,” Daniel writes. “Minerals were never a fad. They were never isolated chemicals stripped from whole food. They were, and still remain, the foundational elements that build structure, enable movement, sustain rhythm, and maintain balance in the human body.”

Daniel also devotes space to exploring the interconnected relationship between healthy soil, nutrient-dense plants, and human health. “Every single mineral starts in the soil,” she explained. “From the soil it moves into a plant, and from that plant into our bodies. This cycle isn’t a new discovery—it’s as old as life itself.”

For Daniel, the book is far more than just a basic health guide: it is an invitation for readers to slow down their busy lives, become more intentional about the food they consume, and rediscover holistic wellness rooted in the natural world. As global conversations around holistic health and plant-based natural healing continue to grow in popularity, Daniel hopes her work will encourage readers to rebuild a more intentional relationship with both their food and the planet that provides it, “to remember that true human strength is built from the ground up.”

Blending accessible wellness education, time-honored natural healing philosophy, and grounded spirituality, *The Ancient Mineral Kingdom* works both as a practical instructional guide and a thoughtful reflection on humanity’s long-forgotten connection to the earth—one essential mineral at a time.

18 5 月, 2026
Records tumble on bumper weekend for Saint Lucian track and field

The 2026 collegiate track and field season has cemented 2026 as a landmark year for Saint Lucian athletics, after a stunning weekend of competition that saw athletes claim three new senior national records, two junior national records, three individual school records, and three gold medals across major championship events staged across the United States. The breakout performances came as the junior college national championships and NCAA Division I conference championship meets wrapped up their spring 2026 seasons, creating a high-stakes stage that Saint Lucian competitors turned into a historic showcase of Caribbean athletic talent.

Leading the wave of record-breaking achievement was Lauralyn Clifford, a graduate transfer competing for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners. The hammer throw specialist claimed the American Conference Outdoor Championships title at Denton, Texas’ Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium, delivering a winning throw of 60.72 meters (199 feet 2 inches) that marked the fourth time she has upgraded Saint Lucia’s senior women’s national hammer throw record this season alone. During the championship series, Clifford logged three of the longest throws of her professional career, broke UTSA’s existing school record, and hit the qualifying standard to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

In a post-meet interview with St Lucia Times, Clifford reflected on her career-best season, noting that consistent record-breaking has only reinforced her confidence and competitive drive. “It’s been a great season at UTSA, my best ever,” she said. “Breaking records brings me a sense of confidence and determination, knowing that I haven’t given up and continue to grow in this event. I don’t take it for granted, and it pushes me to be a better athlete. I put in a lot of work to get better, and breaking the national and school record is a reflection of that dedication and perseverance. I’ve been working so hard to pass the 60-metre barrier, and for it to happen three times at conference was surreal and got me excited for what’s ahead.”

Freshman Jasmine Stiede of Wichita State University followed Clifford’s lead with a shocking breakout performance in the women’s 800-meter run. Clocking a preliminary time of 2:09.48 – the seventh-fastest 800m in Wichita State program history – Stiede delivered a winning final time of 2:13.89 to claim the American Conference title and the honor of 2026 American Conference Freshman of the Year. Her result also broke the 30-year-old Saint Lucian junior women’s 800m record previously held by Augustina Charles, who ran a hand-timed 2:15.1 back in 1996 before moving to the U.S. for her collegiate studies. Stiede’s preliminary time would have earned her a silver medal at the 2026 CARIFTA Games.

Veteran record holder Khailan Vitalis, competing for Clemson University at the Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, once again lowered his own Saint Lucian senior men’s 110m hurdles national record. Competing through soggy, wet conditions following a lengthy weather delay, Vitalis finished fifth overall with a time of 13.59 seconds, landing him in the all-time top 10 for Clemson program history. His record-breaking run came after he first hit a new national record of 13.64 seconds in the preliminary rounds, breaking the 13.7 second barrier for the first time in his career.

Nineteen-year-old Denzel Phillips, a student at Jamaica College and a multiple CARIFTA Games medalist, claimed the third new senior national record of the weekend at the PUMA Meet #2 in Kingston. Phillips extended his hold on Saint Lucian outdoor throwing titles by breaking Akeem Herbert’s 24-year-old senior men’s shot put record, throwing the 16lb shot 15.63m to claim second place and surpass Herbert’s previous mark of 14.57m set in 2002.

At the National Junior College Championships held in Hobbs, New Mexico, Garden City Community College sophomore Naya Jules earned double All-American honors, set two new school records, and broke her own existing Saint Lucian national junior record in the women’s heptathlon. Jules delivered a two-day total score of 4559 points to finish fourth overall in the event, hitting a score that would have earned her a silver medal at the 2026 CARIFTA Games. She also notched a fourth-place finish in the javelin throw with a 44.73m toss and an 11th-place finish in the pole vault.

Rounding out the weekend’s impressive results, Jenneil Jacobie claimed her second consecutive Southland Conference high jump title, clearing 1.76m to take gold, while Michael Joseph finished sixth overall in the men’s 400-meter run at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship. Together, the slew of top finishes and record-breaking performances confirm Saint Lucia’s growing presence on the global track and field stage, capping off one of the strongest competitive years in the island nation’s athletic history.

18 5 月, 2026
Positive Saint Lucian arrival trends confirmed at Caribbean Marketplace

Saint Lucia’s tourism industry is hitting an accelerated growth trajectory, after industry leaders left the 44th Caribbean Travel Marketplace held last week in Antigua with optimistic projections for rising international visitor numbers.

Leading the delegation at the key industry event, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), under chief executive officer Louis Lewis, was joined by 20 of the island’s leading accommodation providers and destination management organizations. Over the course of the gathering, the Saint Lucian team held productive meetings with a broad range of global tourism stakeholders, including international tour operators, travel wholesalers, travel advisors, and global media partners.

The delegation not only closed new commercial contracts and expanded existing collaborative partnerships but also successfully showcased the island nation’s core tourism advantages: diverse natural and cultural attractions, reliable, extensive flight connections to key global markets, vibrant indigenous culture, and a pipeline of innovative new development projects that are reshaping Saint Lucia’s tourism offering.

“This year, we have received concrete confirmation that Saint Lucia is on an upward global trend, which puts us in a strong position to see marked growth in visitor arrivals,” Lewis noted in a post-event statement. “This is exactly the kind of positive news our sector needs, particularly amid the ongoing global economic and geopolitical disruptions that continue to put pressure on international tourism worldwide.”

Lewis emphasized that the Caribbean Travel Marketplace fills a critical role for Saint Lucia’s tourism ecosystem, offering a rare in-person space for local trade partners to build direct connections with global buyers. “Partners are able to finalize contracts, carry out direct sales activities, engage face-to-face with existing and new collaborators, solidify long-term working relationships, and share the latest updates on new developments across Saint Lucia’s tourism landscape,” he explained.

Private sector players echoed the positive outlook emerging from the event. Bay Gardens Resorts, one of the island’s leading hospitality groups, announced it had forged valuable new connections with technology suppliers and marketing partners committed to expanding global promotion of Saint Lucia as a travel destination. Another major resort brand, Ti Kaye, used the platform to publicly unveil plans for an upcoming property expansion.

For the SLTA, all these outcomes mark a clear step forward in the organization’s ongoing strategic goals: deepening collaborative ties across the global tourism supply chain, driving sustained growth in visitor arrivals, and cementing Saint Lucia’s position as one of the most desirable travel destinations in the Caribbean.

18 5 月, 2026