Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • Saint Lucian groups invited to access funding for anti-plastic projects

    Saint Lucian groups invited to access funding for anti-plastic projects

    Across five Eastern Caribbean island nations, local groups now have access to dedicated financial support to turn their plastic waste reduction visions into tangible action, launching a new community-centered effort to address one of the region’s most pressing ecological threats.

    The Sustainable Small Grants Programme (SSGP) was developed as a core component of the broader “Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap” initiative, designed from the ground up to elevate locally led solutions to systemic plastic pollution. Unlike top-down environmental interventions, the programme centers the expertise of groups that already work closely with local populations, prioritizing practical, scalable projects that deliver both ecological and economic benefits.

    Eligible participants span a wide range of local stakeholders across Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Eligible entities include micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, community-based organizations, registered non-profits, worker cooperatives, primary and secondary schools, local community associations, and even informal grassroots groups that can show a proven track record of meaningful community engagement. The programme’s core mandate is to support on-the-ground interventions that cut down on the volume of plastic leaking into the Caribbean’s oceans, forests, and coastal ecosystems.

    A diverse array of project types are eligible for funding, ranging from hyper-local initiatives to growing small enterprises. Groups can apply for support to launch or expand community-wide curbside recycling programs, organized plastic waste collection drives targeted at high-leakage coastal areas, community-based refill stations and reusable container sharing systems, adoption of compostable packaging alternatives for local businesses, upcycling workshops that turn waste plastic into new goods, school-led education and waste reduction campaigns, and small manufacturing ventures that convert post-consumer plastic into usable construction or consumer products.

    Beyond environmental gains, the SSGP also has a clear economic focus: it prioritizes projects that generate formal employment and new income streams for local residents while addressing gaps in regional waste management infrastructure. Allocating a total of up to 80,000 euros (equivalent to roughly 254,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars) per participating country, individual awards range from 30,000 euros to 80,000 euros, allowing both emerging initiatives and established projects to scale their impact.

    Organizers emphasize that all successful grant recipients will be required to track and report measurable environmental outcomes, ensuring transparency and accountability for public environmental funding. Applications for the programme are currently open, with the submission deadline set for 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on May 31, 2026. Full eligibility guidelines, application forms, and additional programme details are available to interested groups on the official IUCN Engage platform.

  • Bicar charged in fatal Micoud stabbing

    Bicar charged in fatal Micoud stabbing

    A fatal street violence incident in the Saint Lucian district of Micoud has led to formal murder charges against a local man, following a week-long investigative process that concluded early this month. Thirty-five-year-old Jeremy Bicar stands accused of the killing of 44-year-old Lensley Samuel, who died moments after a violent altercation on Duke Street in Micoud on April 30.

    Law enforcement officials confirmed that Bicar was taken into police custody on the same day the stabbing occurred, and he remained in detention as investigators worked to piece together the full circumstances of the deadly encounter. On May 5, one week after the incident, a full post-mortem examination was carried out by forensic officials. The examination’s findings left no room for ambiguity: Samuel’s death was directly caused by multiple penetrating stab wounds to the chest.

    Hours after the post-mortem results were finalized, law enforcement upgraded Bicar’s initial holding to a formal murder charge. He made his first public court appearance at the Second District Court on Wednesday following the charge filing, where a judge ordered him to be remanded into custody at the Bordelais Correctional Facility to await his upcoming trial. No additional details about the motive for the stabbing or the prior relationship between Bicar and Samuel have been released by police as the investigation remains ongoing.

  • Saint Lucia joins Caribbean Golf Association

    Saint Lucia joins Caribbean Golf Association

    At the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA)’s annual general meeting held last week in the Dominican Republic — convened in parallel with the 30th edition of the Caribbean Golf Classic — regional golf officials made a landmark decision to welcome two new national governing bodies into full membership. Alongside Bermuda, the Saint Lucia Golf Association (SLGA) secured the vote of approval from CGA delegates, marking a historic milestone for golf development in the Eastern Caribbean.

    Following the admission of the two new members, the CGA’s total full membership count now stands at 12. While Guadeloupe and the United States Virgin Islands hold affiliate status within the regional organization, Saint Lucia’s entry makes it the first full member from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to join the CGA’s ranks.

    The SLGA’s path to full membership began with a formal application submitted to the CGA leadership months prior to the AGM. During the meeting, SLGA representatives laid out their strategic vision for growing the sport locally, outlined their motivation for joining the regional body, and detailed the unique value their membership would bring to the wider Caribbean golf community. After the presentation, member delegates cast a unanimous vote to approve the SLGA’s application.

    In an interview following the historic vote, SLGA President Mario Reyes shared his organization’s excitement for the new chapter. “Our top priority continues to be expanding access to golf and raising the profile of the sport across Saint Lucia,” Reyes explained. “Joining the CGA as full members opens up entirely new competitive landscapes for our golfers at every skill level. This partnership will foster deeper camaraderie across regional players, strengthen cross-border friendships, lift the overall quality of play in our country, and most importantly, create clear pathways for our young emerging golfers to access opportunities that were simply out of reach before.”

    For the local Saint Lucia golf community, the benefits of CGA membership extend far beyond competitive access. The agreement will see the popular annual Saint Lucia Golf Open added to the official CGA regional tournament calendar, bringing increased exposure and high-profile regional competition to the island’s courses. Local golfers will also now earn the right to compete officially across all CGA-run tournaments.

    Founded in 1987, the CGA has long served as the leading governing body for golf across the Caribbean region. The organization hosts five annual championship events spread across different Caribbean nations, creating structured competitive opportunities for junior, amateur, and senior golfers alike while working systematically to drive sustainable growth of the sport across the region.

    CGA President Sidney Wolf emphasized that the addition of Saint Lucia and Bermuda reinforces the steady progress of golf across the entire Caribbean. “Both new members have demonstrated clear strategic vision, unwavering passion for the game, and a deep commitment to grassroots development that aligns perfectly with the CGA’s core mission,” Wolf noted. “We are incredibly eager to see their active participation and their unique contributions as we work together to lift Caribbean golf to new heights on the global stage.”

  • Saint Lucia to host CARICOM 10K in July

    Saint Lucia to host CARICOM 10K in July

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is gearing up for one of its most anticipated annual regional sporting events, as the island nation of Saint Lucia prepares to welcome elite distance runners from across the bloc for the 2025 CARICOM 10K Road Race. Scheduled for Sunday, July 5, the race will officially open the festivities of CARICOM Week, building up to the bloc’s landmark Fiftieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government set to convene the following day on CARICOM Day, July 6. Saint Lucia Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre will serve as the host of the high-profile leadership summit.

    While the exact route for the competitive 10K course has not yet been released to the public, event organizers have confirmed that local runners will get a rare opportunity to test their speed and endurance against top regional competitors, fostering cross-community athletic connection ahead of the intergovernmental meeting. The race is being organized through a collaborative partnership between the CARICOM Secretariat, Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports, and Digital Transformation, and the Saint Lucia Athletics Association.

    In addition to the flagship 10K competition, the 2025 event has expanded its programming to include a suite of supplementary activities designed to engage runners of all ages and abilities. Alongside additional competitive running categories, the schedule now features a dedicated mile race for youth and junior athletes, as well as community-focused walking events to boost public participation.

    Prizes for the 10K match the generous structure that has been in place in recent years: both the men’s and women’s overall champions will take home a cash prize of US$1,000, along with a prestigious trophy. The top male athlete will be awarded the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy, while the top female winner will receive the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy. As of 2024, both of these titles are held by athletes from Trinidad & Tobago, who swept the podium at the 2023 event hosted in Jamaica. Nicholas Romany claimed the men’s top spot, while Alexia John took first place in the women’s division, solidifying Trinidad & Tobago’s dominance in the previous running of the race.

    Notably, the 2024 iteration of the race, which was originally slated to be hosted by Grenada, was forced to be canceled outright due to the destructive impact of Hurricane Beryl, making the 2025 Saint Lucia event a highly anticipated return to the annual calendar.

    For host nation Saint Lucia, the race carries extra local pride: a handful of homegrown athletes have claimed top honors in the event’s history. Zepherinus Joseph was the most recent Saint Lucian to take overall victory, clinching the win back in 2011. Earlier national champions include Victor Ledgers, who earned the top spot in 2005, while Michael Biscette claimed a national medal for the island in 2022. At the 2023 Jamaica race, Saint Lucian athletes Laura-Lynn Limery and Jason Sayers placed sixth in the women’s division and ninth in the men’s respectively, with Limery having previously taken third place overall in the 2023 competition.

  • Profanity-laced Jazz performances raise concerns

    Profanity-laced Jazz performances raise concerns

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated cultural events, the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, has become the center of public debate just days after kicking off its 2026 iteration, after two separate on-stage incidents saw performers using explicit, offensive language in front of mixed audiences that included children and entire family groups.

    The first incident unfolded on the festival’s opening night at the Marchand venue, while a second high-profile incident occurred during a set at Soufriere Jazz. Local artist 1T1 included the unedited version of his popular track *Best Friend*, which features a prominent use of the F-word, as part of his official performance. While the two incidents have been framed as isolated cases to date, they have quickly drawn formal attention from top Saint Lucian tourism and cultural industry leaders, who are now calling for proactive measures to prevent similar missteps in future events.

    Martin James, chief executive officer of the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights, was one of the first industry figures to speak out publicly on the issue. James referenced long-standing provisions within Saint Lucia’s Criminal Code — specifically sections 501, 507, and 508 — that outline strict rules for public behavior, extending to performances held at open public events. “These provisions explicitly prohibit the use of profane, indecent, or obscene language, as well as any act or expression that may be deemed offensive in a public setting,” James explained in his remarks. “It is concerning to note that during the opening of Jazz on the 30th, one of the performers openly used profanity as part of his performance delivery.”

    Beyond calling out the incidents themselves, James emphasized that the controversy highlights a critical gap in pre-event preparations: the absence of clear, communicated boundaries for all participating performers. To address this gap, James argued that performance expectations and prohibitions on offensive public conduct must be written directly into performer contracts before artists arrive at the festival, ensuring all participants understand local rules upfront.

    Saint Lucia’s Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire echoed James’ concerns during a pre-Cabinet press briefing held on Monday, acknowledging the unique challenge of regulating unscripted speech once a performer has taken the stage, while stressing that clear consequence management is non-negotiable for future events.

    “You have to create a culture, a reputation that artistes know that if they behave in a particular way, there are consequences. So other artistes would not want to do it,” Hilaire told reporters. “Now, some of the artists themselves are probably not even aware of what the boundaries are because they perform globally… they perform in settings where they’re allowed that kind of freedom.”

    Hilaire fully aligned with James’ proposed solution, noting that proactive pre-event planning is far more effective than reactive intervention mid-performance. “You can put it in their contracts that if they behave in a particular way, what effect it has, what consequence it would have. And I think that’s as far as you can go. Once somebody’s on stage, it’s very difficult for you to control them thereafter,” he added. The debate comes as the festival continues its run, with organizers expected to update performer agreement guidelines ahead of next year’s event to address the newly raised concerns.

  • SLOC engages specialist to help develop sports in Saint Lucia

    SLOC engages specialist to help develop sports in Saint Lucia

    A former Olympic athlete from Grenada is set to dedicate the remainder of 2026 to growing grassroots and elite sports infrastructure across Saint Lucia, in a landmark partnership backed by the Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports) that aims to elevate the island nation’s athletic performance on the global stage. Richard Britton, a 49-year-old sports methodologist with decades of coaching and competitive experience, will work directly with member federations under the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) to strengthen existing organizational frameworks and design high-impact development programs.

    Britton’s path to this leadership role began on the track, where he built his foundation as a competitive quarter-miler in his youth. He made history as part of Grenada’s first-ever Olympic delegation, competing in the men’s 4×400-meter relay at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Following his competitive career, he pursued formal advanced training in sports education, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education, teaching and coaching from Cuba’s prestigious International School of Physical Education and Sports.

    His coaching resume spans more than 15 years of high-level international experience. He first led the Grenada national team at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, before taking on a 10-plus-year role developing elite athletes with the Dominican Republic national team based in Santo Domingo. During his tenure there, he coached triple jumper Ana José Tima, who went on to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics, a testament to Britton’s ability to nurture world-class talent.

    Britton first traveled to Saint Lucia for a planning visit in early 2026 with Panam Sports’ backing, where SLOC called on its affiliated national federations to submit program and infrastructure details to help shape his work. To date, six governing bodies have submitted presentations: athletics, boxing, table tennis, sailing, swimming and weightlifting. Of these, five are official SLOC affiliates, with weightlifting currently holding non-affiliate status.

    Per an official statement from the SLOC, Britton’s core mandate is to support member federations in expanding and improving their existing operational structures, with the ultimate goal of driving stronger competitive results in international sporting events. He kicked off his on-the-ground work with participating federations on May 1, launching an initial three-month pilot phase. A 30-day comprehensive review will follow the first phase, and if the pilot meets all performance benchmarks, Britton will return to Saint Lucia in September to complete the first phase of the project by the end of December 2026.

  • Sold-out ‘Pure Jazz: Ladies in Concert’ sets tone for Jazz and Arts Festival

    Sold-out ‘Pure Jazz: Ladies in Concert’ sets tone for Jazz and Arts Festival

    The highly anticipated Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival kicked off its flagship main stage schedule on Tuesday, May 5, treating a capacity crowd to an evening of world-class jazz performances anchored by stirring melodies, rich instrumental layers, and standout vocal talent. Marking a new milestone for the festival, the opening main stage slot introduced the inaugural edition of Pure Jazz, a specially curated two-part series that spotlighted leading female jazz artists on opening night, with an all-male headline showcase scheduled to follow this Thursday at the same iconic venue: The Pavilion on the Ramp in Rodney Bay.

    As ticketholders filed into the sun-dappled venue and filled every available seat, local artist Camille Charlemagne stepped into the spotlight first as the evening’s opening act. With effortless poise and a carefully selected set list, Charlemagne delivered a smooth, approachable performance that balanced auditory delight with understated stage presence, immediately setting a warm, inviting tone for the rest of the night.

    Next up for the growing, already energized audience was Leandra Modeste, a rising talent hailing from Vieux Fort. Modeste wowed the crowd with extraordinary vocal control, delivering powerful yet fluid melodic runs that blended perfectly with the backing of a veteran, industry-seasoned band. By the end of her set, she earned a roaring standing ovation from attendees, solidifying her growing reputation as one of the most exciting emerging jazz artists in Saint Lucia.

    By the time Chantal Esdelle and her ensemble Moyenne made their way to the stage, The Pavilion had reached its full sold-out capacity. The group crafted a mesmerizing, intricately layered sound that wove together piano melodies, steel pan notes, deep basslines, and dynamic percussion, accented by haunting, chant-inflected vocal work. The immersive arrangement held the entire audience completely captive, silencing the room for minutes before breaking into rapturous, well-earned applause at the set’s close.

    Closing out the landmark opening night was four-time Grammy Award-winning international jazz star Esperanza Spalding, who took the stage with an infectious radiance that blended unbridled joy with sophisticated, masterful musicality. Moving fluidly between bass, guitar, and lead vocals, Spalding paired her famously smooth, honeyed tone with the playful, genre-bending stage style that has made her one of the most recognizable figures in modern global jazz.

    Overall, the all-female Pure Jazz opening night delivered a spectacular, memorable launch to the festival’s main stage programming. The groundbreaking first installment of the series set a remarkably high bar for the rest of the event, hinting that the upcoming all-male showcase and remaining festival performances could deliver even more standout moments if the opening night momentum holds through the event’s run.

  • Saint Lucia Women snatch silver at ECVA Beach Volleyball

    Saint Lucia Women snatch silver at ECVA Beach Volleyball

    After four consecutive years of holding the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Men’s Beach Volleyball crown, Saint Lucia’s reign has come to an abrupt end. Three-time defending champions Joseph Clercent and Sheldon Descartes saw their unbroken run halted in the tournament semifinals, breaking the island nation’s streak of keeping the top men’s title on home soil. Meanwhile, there was bright news for Saint Lucia’s women’s squad, as Clio Phillip and Tenayestlgni Joseph fought their way to a silver medal finish at the three-day competition hosted at the Buckeye Facility in Cul de Sac, held from May 1 to 3.

    The women’s tournament saw Phillip and Joseph deliver a series of impressive performances to advance deep into the knockout bracket. After powering past squads from Bermuda, Dominica, and Antigua & Barbuda in group play, the pair finished top of Pool A to secure their spot in the knockout rounds. They went on to defeat representatives from St Vincent & the Grenadines in the quarterfinals, before outperforming fellow Saint Lucian pairing Denila Prospere and Amalia Louis in a tense semifinal clash to book their place in the gold medal match.

    In the highly anticipated final, Phillip and Joseph faced off against Grenada’s standout duo Thornia Mitchell and Renisha Stafford. After dropping the opening set 21-18, the Saint Lucian pair rallied strongly to take the second set 21-19, forcing a decisive third set to decide the champion. However, Grenada’s pair maintained steady, composed play through the final frame, eventually closing out a 15-10 third-set win to claim the gold medal. The bronze medal match saw Dominica’s Joyan Pascal and Adicia Burton secure third place, defeating Prospere and Louis 2-1 (21-15, 20-22, 15-8).

    On the men’s side, Clercent and Descartes entered the tournament as heavy favorites, having won the title three times running and held the crown for four consecutive years. They started their campaign in dominant form, beating squads from Dominica and Grenada in the group stage before overcoming another Saint Lucian pairing, Diallo Albert and Levi Leonce, in the quarterfinals. Up until their semifinal matchup, the defending champions had not dropped a single set throughout the entire tournament.

    Their clash against St Maarten’s Shreefkerk Jacob and Rajheem Meulens would upend the defending champions’ run. The Saint Lucian duo dropped the first set in a lopsided 35-23 result, before bouncing back to level the match with a 21-13 win in the second. The tight third set ultimately went the way of St Maarten, who took the decider 15-12 to eliminate the three-time champions from medal contention. Following their semifinal defeat, Clercent and Descartes opted to forfeit the bronze medal match.

    In total, the 2026 ECVA Senior Beach Volleyball Championships brought together competing teams from nine different Caribbean territories. Over three full days of competition, which included group pool play, knockout rounds, and final medal matches, the event drew enthusiastic local crowds to the Cul de Sac host venue.

  • Schools’ Soca and Calypso Competition finalists named

    Schools’ Soca and Calypso Competition finalists named

    The final lineup for Saint Lucia’s highly anticipated National Schools Soca and Calypso Competition has officially been unveiled, bringing young musical talent from across the island into the national spotlight. After a series of closed, rigorous auditions where participating schools were evaluated across four key judging criteria—lyrical creativity and messaging, on-stage charisma, vocal technique, and overall artistic resonance—59 educational institutions earned their spots in the final round of competition.

    The contest is structured into two core divisions, catering to early and secondary-level learners: the infant/primary school division and the secondary school division, a framework designed to showcase the full breadth of emerging Caribbean musical talent across all age groups in the country.

    In the primary school calypso category, 10 schools progressed to the final stage. Leading the group of finalists are Anglian Infant with their entry *What Should I Do*, Ave Maria Girls Primary with *Standing Strong*, and Ciceron R.C. Combined with the thought-provoking piece *Change that Mentality*. They will be joined by competitors from Delcer R.C. Combined, Dugard Combined, Gordon Walcott Memorial, Les Etangs Combined, Morne Du Don Primary, Odsan Combined and Saltibus Combined.

    For the secondary school calypso division, another 10 schools secured their places in the finals. Standout entries include Babonneau Secondary’s *Time Wrap*, Castries Comprehensive’s socially conscious *S.O.S – Save Our Society*, and Ciceron Secondary’s *I Working for My Key*. Rounding out the secondary calypso final lineup are Micoud Secondary, Patricia D. James Secondary, Saint Lucia Sports Academy, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary, St Joseph’s Convent, Stanley Jon Odlum Secondary and Vieux Fort Comprehensive.

    The competition’s soca segment also saw a high level of participation and skill from young performers, with 10 finalists advancing in the primary school soca category. Top entries from Ave Maria Girls Primary (*Lash Up*) and Babonneau Primary (*St Lucia Pay The Teacher*) will compete alongside representatives from Camille Henry Memorial, Carmen René Memorial, Ciceron R.C. Combined, Delcer R.C. Combined, Les Etangs Combined, Morne Du Don Primary, St. Aloysius R.C. Boys Infant, and St Aloysius R.C. Boys Primary.

    In the secondary school soca division, nine finalists have been confirmed, including Babonneau Secondary’s *Young Energy*, Castries Comprehensive’s *Pressure*, Choiseul Secondary’s *Run Up*, and Ciceron Secondary’s dynamic entry *A Tsunami*. The remaining finalists are Corinth Secondary, Entrepot Secondary, Patricia D. James Secondary, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary and St Joseph’s Convent.

    Now in its second year of operation, the national soca competition for primary and secondary students has quickly grown to become one of the most anticipated events on the Junior Carnival calendar, adding a new, energetic layer to the long-running traditional calypso competition. According to event organizers, the core mission of the initiative is twofold: to support and uplift emerging young musical artists across the island, and to safeguard and pass down Saint Lucia’s rich Caribbean cultural traditions to future generations.

    The final rounds of the competition will be staggered across the early summer, with secondary school finals scheduled to take place in early June, and primary school finals set to follow in early July. These contests are just one part of the broader Junior Carnival schedule, which also includes the popular National Schools Tour, the Junior Parade of the Bands, and the National Schools Panorama Competition.

  • Survival and gratitude shine at “Undaunted” launch

    Survival and gratitude shine at “Undaunted” launch

    On May 5, a heartfelt book launch event gathered dozens of friends, colleagues, and supporters at Orange Grove Plaza in Bois D’Orange to celebrate the release of Undaunted, the raw and hopeful memoir by registered nurse Dr. Samina Cepal. Centered on themes of survival, personal resilience, and radical gratitude, the afternoon celebration welcomed guests from every chapter of Cepal’s life, fostering an intimate, warm atmosphere that reflected the memoir’s core message. Attendees had the opportunity to meet the author, purchase signed copies of the book, and connect over conversations about mental health and personal struggle.

    Unlike generic self-help narratives, Undaunted pulls back the curtain on Cepal’s own years-long battle with both chronic physical illness and unaddressed mental health struggles, weaving an unflinching account of how support from loved ones—or the lack thereof—shaped her road to recovery. As a medical professional, Cepal faced unique isolation during her darkest days: even with her deep understanding of healthcare systems, she often found herself without the emotional support she desperately needed, a gap that ultimately led to a failed suicide attempt. Far from just a story of suffering, the memoir serves two core purposes: it acts as a cautionary tale about the overlooked mental health needs of even healthcare workers, while standing as a source of inspiration for readers navigating their own unseen battles. It emphasizes the urgent need for greater public dialogue around mental health awareness and celebrates the human capacity for resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.

    In an exclusive interview with St Lucia Times following the launch, Cepal reflected on the outpouring of support she received at the event, describing the moment as still feeling slightly surreal. “I just want my story to reach people who need it,” she explained. “I don’t want anybody to have to go through this journey of life alone, thinking that they’re alone in any situation. I just want people to know that everybody has walked a certain road before, and I want them to be encouraged. Just be encouraged. No matter what life throws at you, keep going. Don’t complain, and just do everything with an attitude of gratitude.”

    For readers hoping to pick up a copy, Undaunted is currently available for purchase directly through Cepal for local customers in the region, and can be ordered online for global readers via major retail platform Amazon.