Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • Saint Lucia launches National Cancer Registry

    Saint Lucia launches National Cancer Registry

    For nearly two decades, cancer has cast an unrelenting shadow over public health in Saint Lucia, holding the grim title of the nation’s leading cause of death for 16 consecutive years. Currently, the disease accounts for approximately one out of every five deaths recorded across the island, a statistic that has pushed local health authorities to pursue targeted, data-driven action to reverse the trend.

    In a landmark step toward more effective cancer control, Saint Lucia’s health authorities have officially launched the National Cancer Registry, a centralized tracking system designed to close critical gaps in cancer surveillance. The new initiative is built on existing public health work led by the country’s Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, which has for years prioritized accessible cancer care through free community screenings, public education campaigns promoting healthy daily habits, and widespread outreach to emphasize the life-saving value of early detection.

    Health officials characterize the registry as the long-missing core component of the nation’s cancer fight. By aggregating consistent, granular data on cancer cases across the island, the system will equip policymakers and care providers with the evidence needed to refine public health programs, adjust strategic priorities, and direct limited resources to the communities and patient groups that need them most urgently.

    Speaking at the official launch event, Dr. Michelle Francois, Saint Lucia’s national epidemiologist, emphasized that reliable surveillance is the backbone of any successful cancer control effort. “Every cancer case reported contributes to a clearer understanding of the burden of cancer, strengthens our ability to plan effective prevention and control strategies and provides the evidence needed to improve patient care and health outcomes across our island,” Francois explained.

    Dr. Sharon Belmar-George, the nation’s Chief Medical Officer, reinforced the urgent need for the new system, noting that the 16-year reign of cancer as the top cause of death is not a status quo Saint Lucia can accept. “Without accurate, comprehensive and timely data we’re really fighting this battle blindfolded,” she said.

    Chatoyer Bobb, a representative from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), one of the initiative’s key regional partners, framed the registry as a commitment to current and future Saint Lucian patients. “Every case will teach you something and every data set will inform a better decision. Every decision will bring you closer to saving lives,” Bobb said.

    Saint Lucia’s Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste echoed this framing, positioning the registry as a foundational investment that will enable more robust, impactful public health policy for years to come. “We need to focus on trends, strengthen prevention and screening, improve patient care, support research, and ensure that our resources are directed where they are needed most,” Baptiste noted.

    The National Cancer Registry is the product of collaborative effort across local, regional, and global health bodies. In addition to Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health, the project counts major partners including CARPHA, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Caribbean Cancer Registry Hub, and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), all of which have contributed technical expertise, funding, and coordination support to bring the system online.

  • Caribbean faces jobs, tourism and agriculture risks as El Niño threatens livelihoods – ILO

    Caribbean faces jobs, tourism and agriculture risks as El Niño threatens livelihoods – ILO

    A newly released policy brief from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has sounded the alarm over the potential far-reaching labour and socioeconomic impacts of the 2026-2027 El Niño event across the Caribbean, identifying three key sectors as facing the highest levels of exposure. El Niño, a naturally occurring climate pattern defined by abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the central and eastern Pacific, is known to alter global weather systems, triggering extreme weather events ranging from severe drought and prolonged heatwaves to extreme flooding across different parts of the world. For the Caribbean, the ILO projects the region will face widespread drought, acute water scarcity, and extended heatwaves during the 2026-2027 event, with agriculture – including staple and cash crops such as maize, beans, wheat, coffee, and sugarcane – commercial fisheries, and the tourism industry standing as the most vulnerable economic sectors. The analysis outlines that El Niño-driven extreme weather will likely trigger a cascade of negative outcomes for regional labour markets: reduced employment opportunities, declining household incomes, and deteriorated working conditions, with disproportionate harm falling on informal workers, rural communities, and outdoor laborers who lack buffers against climate shocks. Beyond direct employment impacts, the report warns that the event could exacerbate existing food insecurity, push up already strained food and energy prices, lower overall labour productivity, and increase the likelihood of child labour as vulnerable households struggle to cover basic living costs. Additional risks include widespread losses of rural income, increased internal labour migration, a growth in informal labour market participation, and dangerous levels of heat stress that threaten the health and safety of outdoor workers. Fabio Bertranou, ILO Deputy Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized that the 2026-2027 El Niño presents a major systemic challenge to sustaining employment and decent work across the region. “The scale of its impacts will depend on countries’ ability to anticipate them through strong labour market institutions, social protection systems and social dialogue that protect those who are most vulnerable,” Bertranou noted. The Caribbean’s exceptionally high rate of informal employment amplifies these risks, the ILO explains, as most informal workers lack access to formal social protection schemes or other support systems that enable households to recover from climate-related economic shocks. Critically, the ILO stresses that these severe outcomes are not unavoidable. Governments across the region can substantially reduce risk levels by prioritizing a series of targeted interventions: strengthening national social protection frameworks, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, updating and enforcing occupational safety and health regulations to address heat-related risks, expanding coverage of early extreme weather warning systems, and fostering inclusive social dialogue between government, business, and labour groups. The organization has called on regional policymakers to reframe El Niño not as an isolated weather event, but as a multifaceted threat that can destabilize national economies, labour markets, and household livelihoods, requiring coordinated, cross-sector action to protect the most vulnerable workers across the Caribbean.

  • Emmanuel sets new Under-18 record in Oregon

    Emmanuel sets new Under-18 record in Oregon

    The 2026 World Athletics Under-20 Championships officially kicked off on Wednesday morning at Eugene’s iconic Hayward Field, bringing together hundreds of the most promising young track and field talents from every corner of the globe to compete for global titles in their age categories. Among the rising stars competing is 17-year-old sprinter Jady Emmanuel, a product of the Laborie community of Morne Paul in Saint Lucia, who has already turned heads with a historic performance in the women’s 100-meter preliminary rounds.

    Competing in Heat 2 of the opening round, Emmanuel delivered a personal best time of 11.28 seconds, outpacing a stacked field that included pre-event favorites such as Jamaica’s Sahnoya Douglas and the United States’ Maxwell twins. The legal wind reading of 1.9 meters per second confirms the result stands as an official personal best, knocking 0.11 seconds off her previous top time of 11.39 set just last month at a competition in St Kitts & Nevis. The run also broke Emmanuel’s own national Under-18 record, marking another career milestone for the young sprinter who will soon take up a collegiate athletics scholarship at the University of Texas.

    Guyana’s Athaleyha Hinckson claimed second place in the heat with a time of 11.31 seconds, while Australia’s Maya Taber rounded out the top three in 11.39 seconds. Only Jamaica’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge posted a faster time in the first round, clocking 11.21 seconds to win Heat 4. That puts Emmanuel as the second-fastest qualifier heading into Wednesday evening’s semifinals, scheduled to begin at 9:05 p.m. local time, where she will aim to secure a spot in her first ever global championship final.

    The result adds to a breakout stretch for Emmanuel, who already claimed two CARIFTA Under-17 titles in 2025 and took home the senior 100-meter gold at the 2026 ANOCES/OECS Championships earlier this year. Her opening-round performance has cemented her status as a surprise contender for a podium spot in the competition, drawing international attention to one of the Caribbean’s most exciting young athletics prospects.

  • Windies collapse! Pakistan cruise to 8-wicket win to share honours

    Windies collapse! Pakistan cruise to 8-wicket win to share honours

    The two-match Test cricket series between Pakistan and the West Indies ended in a shared split of honours on Wednesday, after Pakistan secured an eight-wicket victory over the host side in the second fixture at Port-of-Spain’s Queen’s Park Oval. The result leaves both teams with one win apiece, bringing the series to a balanced 1-1 conclusion.

    West Indies captain Roston Chase won the pre-match coin toss and elected to set a first-innings target batting first. The home side posted a solid total of 344 runs, built on standout middle-order contributions: opening batter Brandon King struck a brisk 46 runs off just 50 deliveries, all-rounder Justin Greaves continued his run of good form with a 73-run knock, and Chase himself added a steady 70 to the scoreboard. While several other West Indian batters got off to promising starts, none were able to convert their early momentum into large match-changing scores.

    The series had seen a surprising lack of spin success in the opening Test, where spin bowlers failed to take a single wicket. That trend shifted dramatically in the second match, with Pakistan’s off-spinner Sajid Khan signalling the change in conditions by finishing the first innings with four wickets for 85 runs, setting the tone for spin-led play across both sides’ second innings.

    Pakistan’s reply in the first innings was headlined by a career-defining performance from opener Abdullah Shafique, who scored a match-high 160 runs – the highest individual total recorded across the entire two-match series. Shafique received valuable support from Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who compiled an well-crafted 88 runs before being run out in a direct hit from Brandon King. The collision that ended Azam’s innings left King injured, forcing the batter to stretchered off the field and ruled him out of any further play in the fixture.

    West Indies vice-captain Jomel Warrican turned in a dominant bowling performance in Pakistan’s first innings, taking six wickets for just 112 runs to restrict the visitors and keep the hosts in the match. However, West Indies’ batting collapsed in their second turn at the crease, as Pakistan’s spin pair of Sajid Khan and Ali Usman claimed four wickets each to dismantle the host batting line-up. West Indies were bowled out for only 117 runs, setting Pakistan a modest target of 75 runs to secure victory. The visitors chased down the required runs in rapid time, sealing the win to notch a rare away Test victory for Pakistan.

    In an unusual move for international cricket, both Babar Azam of Pakistan and Justin Greaves of the West Indies were named joint Players of the Series for their consistent performances across both matches. While the West Indies retain their unbeaten record in home Test series this calendar year, the defeat marks their first loss in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

  • ICAR says cannabis law moving ‘too slow’; Hilaire says it’s ‘at finish line’

    ICAR says cannabis law moving ‘too slow’; Hilaire says it’s ‘at finish line’

    Thousands gathered in Vieux Fort on Sunday to mark Saint Lucia’s annual Emancipation Day observance, an event that spotlighted both a decades-long win for the island’s Rastafarian community and growing calls for accelerated action on long-awaited cannabis regulation reform.

    Opening his address to attendees, Aaron Alexander, president of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari and Pan African People (ICAR), opened with a reflection on how far the national recognition of Emancipation Day has come, rather than immediately turning to the cannabis policy debate that looms over the Rastafarian community. For more than 40 years, Alexander explained, Saint Lucia’s Rastafari community has borne the full responsibility of organizing and celebrating Emancipation Day alone, with little formal support or national recognition from government bodies. What was once dismissed by many as “another Rasta ting,” a local, niche observance, has now grown into a core national holiday and is gaining traction across the Caribbean region as a critical marker of shared regional history. That shift, Alexander told the crowd, represents a long-overdue milestone worth celebrating.

    After honoring that progress, Alexander shifted to the core policy priority his community has advocated for over decades: comprehensive cannabis reform that recognizes the cultural and spiritual role of cannabis in Rastafarian tradition, while building a formal, inclusive regulated industry. In his remarks, he emphasized that the drafting and parliamentary consideration of the necessary regulatory legislation has moved at a glacial pace, leaving the community waiting for action that has been promised for years. Despite that frustration, Alexander stressed that the Rastafarian community remains optimistic and committed to holding steady patience as the government works through the final stages of the policy process.

    Earlier the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire responded directly to those community concerns in a pre-recorded address released by the Regulatory Substance Authority (RSA), the government body tasked with developing the new regulatory framework. Hilaire acknowledged that Rastafarian community members and other key stakeholders have grown increasingly frustrated with the slow timeline of reform.

    “I hear your frustration… I assure you our work behind the scenes has been deliberate and unwavering,” Hilaire said in the address. The deputy prime minister added that regulators have prioritized building a robust, tightly controlled system that balances legal access for responsible use with strict public safety safeguards, a process that requires careful deliberation to avoid missteps.

    Central to the proposed framework, Hilaire explained, is a commitment to inclusion: the policy is designed to ensure that generations of Saint Lucians who have long cultivated and used cannabis, often at great personal risk under existing laws, are not sidelined as the legal industry grows and develops. The final legislation will center the protection of domestic Saint Lucian interests while laying the groundwork for a transparent, responsible, and well-regulated national cannabis sector.

    Closing his remarks, Hilaire struck an optimistic tone, telling stakeholders the reform process is nearly complete. “We are almost at the finish line. Together we will build a cannabis industry that serves and safeguards every Saint Lucian,” he said.

  • Embassy ties carve opportunity for wood sculptors

    Embassy ties carve opportunity for wood sculptors

    A long-standing collaborative initiative to nurture creative talent in Saint Lucia has gained new momentum, as the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) has formally extended its creative partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Caribbean nation. The milestone agreement was marked during a recent welcome gathering, where CDF representatives hosted Veronika L.C. Liu, the embassy’s newly appointed Third Secretary, who will take the lead on the next phase of the partnership’s flagship arts training program.

    At the core of this renewed collaboration is the upcoming Spotlight Taiwan Wood Sculpting Workshop Level 2, a follow-up to the successful inaugural training held earlier. This advanced iteration of the program is designed to help established and emerging Saint Lucian wood sculptors refine their technical craft, while also equipping them with the tools to access untapped regional and global commercial markets. The workshop forms a key component of the broader “Workshop to World Shop” initiative, an integrated framework that merges artistic skill development, business strategy, and end-to-end product development to support local creatives.

    CDF officials emphasize that this advanced training goes far beyond basic skill-building: it directly addresses the gap between art creation and market sustainability, giving sculptors the resources they need to build lasting, profitable careers. For both organizations, the renewed partnership is more than an arts program—it is a demonstration of shared dedication to cross-cultural innovation, meaningful people-to-people exchange, and the long-term growth of Saint Lucia’s creative economy, a sector that contributes significantly to the island’s livelihood and global cultural profile.

    During the recent strategic meeting, representatives from both the CDF and the embassy conducted a full review of past program outcomes, celebrating the successes of the first workshop and outlining actionable next steps for the advanced training and future initiatives. The CDF extended formal gratitude to Taiwan for its consistent, long-term support of the island’s creative sector, and officially welcomed Liu to her new role leading the program.

    As the partnership enters its next chapter, leaders from both sides have expressed enthusiasm for the work ahead. Their shared vision remains clear: to remove barriers for Saint Lucia’s local artists, create tangible pathways to international success, and strengthen the island’s position as a hub for exceptional Caribbean craft and artistry.

  • CPL to honour Sir Garfield Sobers during 2026 tournament

    CPL to honour Sir Garfield Sobers during 2026 tournament

    The cricketing world is continuing to celebrate the unparalleled life and enduring legacy of Sir Garfield Sobers, with the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) announcing a series of formal tributes to the iconic all-rounder across its 2026 tournament season.

    Sobers, widely hailed as the greatest all-round cricketer to ever step onto a cricket pitch, passed away on July 17, 2026, at his residence in Saint Michael, Barbados. He was 89 years old.

    Over a celebrated 20-year international career representing the West Indies, Sobers redefined standards of excellence in cricket, leaving a trail of historic achievements that still stand the test of time. As West Indies captain, he led his side with a combination of tactical brilliance and inspirational flair that cemented his status as a global sporting icon. Among his most ground-breaking records was his 1958 unbeaten innings of 365 runs against Pakistan, which remained the highest individual score in Test match cricket for 36 years. A decade later, in 1968, he made history again when he became the first cricketer ever to hit six consecutive sixes in a single over during a first-class match, playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan.

    To honor Sobers’ unparalleled contribution to Caribbean and global cricket, the CPL has organized tributes at every venue of the 2026 season. The centerpiece of the commemoration will be a minute of applause held ahead of the opening match at each host location across the tournament. This public tribute is just the first of multiple planned honors for Sir Garfield throughout the 2026 CPL season, with additional details expected to be announced in coming weeks.

    Pete Russell, Chief Executive Officer of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, emphasized how fitting the league-wide tribute is for a figure of Sobers’ standing. “It is only fitting that every ground we play on this season pauses to honour him,” Russell said, echoing the widespread respect held for the legend across the global cricketing community.

  • Choiseul grab local women’s cricket crown

    Choiseul grab local women’s cricket crown

    After half a decade without domestic women’s cricket action on the island, Saint Lucia’s top female cricketers returned to the pitch this July, culminating in a tense, exciting final held Sunday at the La Fargue Playing Field hosted by the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA). In an all-district clash between neighboring communities, home side Choiseul clinched the tournament title with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Laborie, powered by a career-defining all-round display from all-rounder Alyiah Alfred.

    The day got off to a promising start for Laborie, after captain Skyy Smith won the pre-match coin toss and elected to set a target by batting first. What looked like a solid strategic choice quickly unraveled, however, as Choiseul’s leading bowlers imposed relentless pressure on the Laborie batting line-up from the first over. Tight line-and-length bowling from Alfred, Choiseul captain Roylin Cooper and veteran Swayline Williams kept run rates low and created constant wicket threats, bundling Laborie out for just 99 runs inside 20 overs, at 99 all out in the 19.1st over.

    Alfred delivered the most devastating bowling performance of the match, finishing with four wickets for only 18 runs conceded across her four overs (24 legal deliveries). A remarkable 17 of those deliveries were dot balls, leaving Laborie batters unable to get any momentum against her spin. Cooper backed her up perfectly, taking two wickets for 19 runs across her four-over spell, while Williams turned in an equally impressive outing, claiming 2 wickets for just 8 runs in only two overs of tight bowling.

    Laborie’s innings was marked by small partnerships that failed to turn into a match-winning total. Manissa Paul fell for only five runs with the team score at 16, leaving Chewed Verneuil to join opener Makeva Anthony for a 35-run second-wicket stand that briefly steadied the innings. A run-out, followed by two quick wickets from Alfred, halted Laborie’s progress just as they looked to build a competitive total.

    Anthony later put on a 26-run partnership with Alisha Emmanuel to push Laborie’s total to 91 for 6, but the end came quickly after that. Cooper and Williams cleaned up the tail, taking the final four wickets for just eight runs to wrap up the Laborie innings before the full 20 overs were completed.

    Chasing a modest target of 100 runs for victory, Choiseul made light work of the chase with Alfred once again leading the charge from the top of the batting order. She guided the side to the required total in just 10.4 overs, finishing the match not out on a blistering 56 runs from only 33 deliveries, including four towering sixes and two clinical fours. Alicia Herman chipped in with 12 runs from 12 balls, while Britnee Norbal added an unbeaten 11 from 14 deliveries to help Choiseul reach 103 for 3 and secure the seven-wicket win.

    The four-team tournament, which kicked off in early July, marked a landmark moment for women’s cricket in Saint Lucia, bringing back domestic competitive women’s action after a five-year hiatus. Alongside finalists Choiseul and Laborie, South Castries and the SLNCA Development Team also took part in the historic competition, giving young emerging players a chance to compete at the domestic level and grow the women’s game on the island.

  • Ex-Arsenal star Sagna visits Saint Lucia

    Ex-Arsenal star Sagna visits Saint Lucia

    A new groundbreaking partnership between the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) and English Premier League champions Arsenal kicked off this week with a high-profile visit from club legend Bacary Sagna, capping off a week of community engagement, promotional content production, and youth football development on the Caribbean island.

    This visit marked the first public event since the SLTA unveiled its new landmark brand partnership with the London-based top-flight football club, timed ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season. Sagna, who starred as a right back for Arsenal from 2007 to 2014, joined the club’s commercial team to film and photograph promotional content that will put Saint Lucia front and center in global tourism marketing campaigns. Sagna’s name, image, and personal brand will be featured across a range of SLTA initiatives to draw international visitors to the island.

    During his stay, the French former footballer opened up about his surprise and delight at the warm welcome he received, saying: “I was speechless, honestly. I knew the Caribbean was nice, but your country is special. The hospitality, the kindness of people, the beauty, the mix of modernisation and nature… You’re respecting your island, and I think this is nice to see in 2026. It’s not everywhere the same case, and I feel home—and this is because of you guys.”

    Sagna’s itinerary included multiple engagements with local football communities and Arsenal supporters. On July 31, he attended an exclusive cocktail reception hosted for the island’s growing Arsenal fanbase, where supporters got the chance to join a question-and-answer session and celebrate the new partnership between the small Caribbean nation and one of the world’s most recognizable sports brands.

    A core focus of the partnership beyond tourism promotion is advancing youth football development in Saint Lucia. Sagna led a special coaching clinic at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground with the Saint Lucia national under-14 boys’ team, who are preparing for the upcoming Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Boys Challenge Series set to kick off this month in the Dominican Republic. Beyond on-field drills, Sagna shared personal insights from his decades-long professional career, urging the young athletes to prioritize discipline, commitment, and consistent growth, stressing that dedication is the foundation of unlocking opportunities in professional football.

    Earl Jean, assistant coach of the Saint Lucia U14 national team, highlighted the long-term value of this kind of engagement for young players. “The holistic development of our kids is vital for life lessons,” Jean explained. “The importance of giving our kids access to international stars, legends, and institutions is part of that development process. We must dream big, work hard, and set our goals to be successful in all we do.”

    The SLTA has outlined that the multi-faceted partnership will deliver unprecedented global visibility for Saint Lucia as a travel destination. Per an official release from the authority, the island’s branding will be featured prominently throughout Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, integrated across both the club’s men’s and women’s football programs, and included in a wide range of high-impact promotional placements. This positioning will put Saint Lucia in front of millions of football fans across the globe, driving tourism interest and supporting the island’s travel economy.

    For both organizations, the collaboration marks a rare intersection of tourism promotion and grassroots sports development, creating mutual benefits that extend far beyond traditional brand partnerships.

  • Piton Sparks beat Dominican Republic in CAC netball

    Piton Sparks beat Dominican Republic in CAC netball

    The 25th edition of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games delivered a landmark achievement for the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia on Tuesday, as the country’s national netball squad, the Piton Sparks, secured the first-ever victory in the history of their participation at this elite regional multisport competition.

    This year’s CAC Games marks only the second time netball has been included as an official medal sport across the event’s history, and Saint Lucia is making its debut appearance in the six-team tournament. Earning a spot on the medal podium will require the Piton Sparks to finish in the top three of the group, an uphill battle given the presence of regional powerhouses Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as a highly competitive Barbados roster.

    The round-robin stage of the competition got off to a rocky start for the Saint Lucian side on Monday, when the team dropped an opening match to Trinidad and Tobago by a 52-25 scoreline. Just 24 hours later, however, the Piton Sparks bounced back in impressive fashion at the Ciudad Juan Bosch Sports Complex, cruising to a 27-point victory over host nation Dominican Republic with a final score of 49-22.

    From the first whistle, Saint Lucia established control, holding a narrow 9-6 lead at the end of the opening quarter, where the team’s defensive unit already notched two critical interceptions to disrupt the Dominican offense. The second quarter marked a turning point for the Piton Sparks, who broke open the contest with an 11-5 scoring advantage over their hosts. By halftime, the squad boosted its shooting accuracy to 85% and carried a comfortable 20-11 lead into the break.

    Extending their dominance in the third quarter, Saint Lucia added 13 more goals while limiting the Dominican side to just five. The Piton Sparks saved their strongest performance for the final quarter, sinking 16 goals at an 89% conversion rate to lock in the historic win and secure the squad’s first CAC Games victory.

    Offensively, the team was led by standout performances across its roster. Starting goal shooter Dasha Eugene anchored the attack, netting 23 goals on an 80% completion rate. Fifteen-year-old Neriah Charlery, who made her senior national team debut just one day earlier in the match against Trinidad and Tobago, delivered a breakout performance off the bench: the young phenom converted 20 of her 23 shot attempts for an 87% accuracy rate. Veteran utility player Roxanne Snyder added valuable depth scoring, chipping in six goals on just seven attempts as a reserve.

    Saint Lucia’s defensive unit was equally critical to the lopsided win, laying the groundwork for the team’s full domination of the match. Goal defence Lizzy Dorvius led all players with four interceptions, while defenders Megan Nestor and Aaliyah Estephor added three and two interceptions respectively. Collectively, the defensive unit held the host Dominican side to only 22 total goals on 35 shot attempts, stifling offensive opportunities throughout the 60-minute contest.

    Looking ahead to Wednesday, the Piton Sparks will face off against Bermuda’s Longtails, a side that remains winless through the early stages of this year’s tournament. While Bermuda holds a higher global ranking than Saint Lucia, sitting 21st compared to Saint Lucia’s 31st position in the latest World Netball rankings, a victory against Bermuda would give the Piton Sparks a critical momentum boost ahead of their upcoming challenging group matches against regional giants Jamaica and Barbados.