Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • Chef Harry honoured in Icon Series Gala of flavours and song

    Chef Harry honoured in Icon Series Gala of flavours and song

    As the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) of Saint Lucia marked the 10th iteration of its beloved Icon Series, the three-day celebration blended world-class cuisine, vibrant local music and eye-catching floral-themed design to pay homage to one of the island nation’s most influential cultural pioneers. This year’s honor went to Edward “Chef Harry” Joseph, a trailblazing figure who reshaped Saint Lucia’s culinary landscape and left an indelible mark on the country’s hospitality and cultural sectors.

    Chef Harry’s legacy stretches back decades as one of Saint Lucia’s first homegrown hoteliers. Famous for his unwavering commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients, he founded the iconic Green Parrot Hotel at Morne Fortune, a destination that became far more than just a place to stay. Beyond his culinary innovations, Chef Harry was a beloved entertainer who drew guests from across the globe with both his signature dishes and nightly live local performances, where he often joined in on singing and dancing alongside guests and performers.

    To celebrate his decades-long impact, the CDF hosted two sold-out Icon Gala Dinners at Sandals Grande on April 24 and 25, 2026. Guests walked a red carpet into a grand marquee, where they were seated at elaborately decorated tables for a curated five-course menu crafted by a collective of Saint Lucia’s most talented working chefs. The team included Executive Sous Chef Elijah Jules of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, Chef Orlando Satchell of Orlando’s, Chef Trevor Felicien of Sandals Grande, Chef Shorne Benjamin — owner of the popular Fat Fowl restaurant in Brooklyn — Chef Damisa Williams of Royalton Resort, and a junior chef from Saint Lucia’s 2025 National Culinary Team.

    Every dish on the menu paid homage to Chef Harry’s iconic style, blending traditional Lucian Kweyol flavours with the creative twists that made his cooking famous. The meal opened with Bol Bwapen Sent Lisyen, a crispy breadfruit croquette, followed by Chef Harry’s own Soup Djouk Fouye. For main courses, guests sampled two of his most celebrated recipes: Fond Jacques Cocoa Duck and Harry’s Rainbow Dorado a La La. The dinner closed with two signature desserts: Green Parrot Cheesecake and a rich Chocolate Box filled with coconut banana mousse. After the meal, hosts Russel Lake and Tracy Pilgrim George polled attendees on their experience, and every guest reported complete satisfaction with the tribute menu.

    The celebration extended far beyond food, with a carefully curated lineup of entertainment that honoured Chef Harry’s love of local performance. An all-star band led by Gregory Piper accompanied dynamic dance sets from the Silver Shadow Dancers, with a setlist focused entirely on beloved Saint Lucian tracks that evoked a deep sense of local pride — a feeling summed up by long-time local media personality Barbara Jacobs Small’s iconic phrase “home have”. Standout performances included Manasseh’s take on Double Trouble’s “Heavenly Bliss”, Arthur Allain’s rendition of “Caribbean Rock”, and Mervyn Wilkinson’s original “Caribbean Woman”. The set also featured classic Kweyol tracks including “Bans Mwen a Ti Bo” and “Pas Mal Parlay Fam”, alongside a preview performance from the Reasons Orchestra ahead of their upcoming set at Soufriere Jazz. Attendees and organizers alike noted that the caliber of the performances was high enough to hold its own on the stage of the 2027 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.

    The CDF Icon Series is an official component of Saint Lucia’s annual Jazz and Arts Festival, which this year expanded to showcase a diverse range of creative disciplines including culinary arts, music, theater, dance and visual arts. Ernest Hilaire, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Tourism and the Creative Industry, attended the second gala on Saturday and praised the event as a fitting tribute to Chef Harry’s legacy.

    “It’s a fantastic evening,” Hilaire shared in his remarks. “The music was really good as well as the dishes, without singling out any one particular dish, and it just brought back memories of Chef Harry, who he was, his music, the Saint Lucian society at the time – it’s a really good story.”

    Hilaire commended the CDF organizers, participating chefs and performing musicians for putting together the seamless, moving tribute, noting that the event highlighted the world-class quality of Saint Lucian gastronomy. He also announced that the gala marked the start of a series of new government-led initiatives to promote Saint Lucia’s culinary arts sector to a global audience, turning the island’s rich culinary heritage into a draw for international visitors and food lovers worldwide.

  • Debrieul SDA Church donates 110 bed sheets to St. Jude Hospital

    Debrieul SDA Church donates 110 bed sheets to St. Jude Hospital

    On April 21, a heartfelt act of community service came to fruition when the Community Services Department of Debrieul Seventh-day Adventist Church delivered 110 bed sheets to St Jude’s Hospital, fulfilling the religious organization’s long-standing commitment to social responsibility.

    This donation is far more than a one-off charitable gesture; it is a direct reflection of the church’s core mission, rooted in the biblical teaching from Matthew 25:40, where Jesus instructs followers that service to the most vulnerable members of society is equivalent to service to God itself. The entire project was driven by the dedication of volunteer team members, who poured their free time and energy into making the donation a reality.

    Elder Curpris Charles, who currently leads the department, credited his team for the successful outcome. Since taking on the leadership role, Charles has received full backing from department volunteers, who spent countless evening planning sessions coordinating logistics and sourcing the bed sheets that would eventually be delivered to the hospital.

    This contribution is part of a sustained, mutually beneficial partnership between the church and the wider local community that supports its outreach work. Every year, the church runs its Harvest Ingathering campaign: members of the congregation walk through local neighborhoods to solicit small monetary donations from residents, which are then pooled to fund tangible community support projects like this bed sheet donation.

    Pastor Leeory David explained that this reciprocal model of giving back aligns with the church’s core values. “As a church, we prioritise giving back as the community partners with us through our annual Harvest Ingathering campaign,” he noted, highlighting how public support directly enables the organization to carry out projects that serve local institutions and vulnerable people.

    The ongoing collaboration underscores the church’s unwavering dedication to lifting up local community members, particularly amid challenging social and economic times that have put increased strain on healthcare institutions and the communities they serve.

  • Art and the City’s film push shows promise, despite quiet turnout

    Art and the City’s film push shows promise, despite quiet turnout

    The second day of the inaugural film program at Art and City, part of the broader Jazz and Arts Festival, drew a smaller-than-expected audience to its curated lineup of regional Caribbean creative work, capping off a debut that blends promising emerging talent with growing organizational challenges.

    For this year’s event, organizers added a dedicated film track to the two-day Art and the City schedule, marking the first time moving image work has taken a formal place at the festival. The day two lineup featured three independently produced short films, followed by a feature-length documentary. Two of the shorts came from Trinidadian filmmaker Demedrius Charles: *The Bench* and *Voice of Reason*, while the third, *Lettre La*, was created by US-based Saint Lucian filmmaker Kyvon Edwin. The feature on the schedule was *Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy*, which features photographer and storyteller Fiona Compton. Notably, one previously advertised title, Kevin Adams’ *Queen of Soca*, was ultimately not screened during the event.

    Organizational missteps contributed to the low turnout, attendees and organizers acknowledged. Full screening schedules for both days were only finalized and shared in the immediate lead-up to the festival’s opening day on Sunday, April 26, leaving many potential attendees unaware of the film programming timing. On day two, last-minute changes to the running order—an announcement that the short film block would be screened twice back-to-back before the feature presentation—created confusion for audience members who arrived without updated information, leading some to miss the feature screening entirely.

    Despite these logistical hurdles, the quality of the selected films demonstrated clear potential for the new program, with thoughtful curation that highlighted diverse voices and thematic perspectives from across the Caribbean. Charles’ *The Bench* centers on the experiences of adolescents navigating the complexities of coming of age in an increasingly digital world, exploring the harmful fallout of misuse of digital technology and the stabilizing power of human connection for young people. A core strength of the project is its commitment to elevating emerging young performance talent, giving emerging creators a chance to share their work on a public festival screen. Industry veteran Claudia Turner delivers a particularly memorable stand-out performance in the film. While the production does show minor technical flaws, most notably inconsistent audio levels, these issues do not overshadow the film’s core narrative; the low-budget, raw aesthetic aligns with the project’s independent, grassroots mission, so technical shortcomings do little to undermine the overall viewing experience.

    The strongest critical reception went to *Lettre La*, from writer-director and star Kyvon Edwin, who assembled a cast of creative talent from across the Caribbean, including artists from St. Kitts, for the project. Named for the iconic late radio show created by Juke Bois, the short film offers a intimate, raw portrait of the emotional upheaval that unfolds when a long-term romantic relationship nears its end. Edwin and his co-stars deliver grounded, compelling performances, paired with seamless, professional production quality that makes the narrative feel immersive and engaging from start to finish.

    Charles’ second short, *Voice of Reason*, takes a bold narrative approach to unpacking layered, complex topics ranging from family dynamics and public health to cultural heritage and alternative spiritual and medicinal practices. Like *The Bench*, the project’s greatest strength is its thoughtful, intentional storytelling, and it would reach an even higher level of quality with refined technical execution.

    Looking at the full debut of the Art and the City film program, the overall trajectory is a positive one: even with the logistical missteps that limited turnout and caused audience confusion, adding film to the festival lineup is a welcome, promising development for Caribbean creative industries. With more advance planning, clearer communication, and increased resourcing in future years, the film component has the potential to grow into a staple of the festival, providing a vital platform for emerging Caribbean filmmakers and supporting the continued expansion of the regional independent film sector.

  • Jazz En Vierge delivers another wonderful treat

    Jazz En Vierge delivers another wonderful treat

    The second iteration of Jazz En Vierge: The Micoud Experience, an all-white themed community gathering on the official Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival calendar, has cemented its reputation as a standout regional cultural event, exceeding all pre-event expectations after its latest staging on April 26.

    Tucked into the serene coastal landscape of Point Vierge in Micoud Village, the one-day festival blended world-class live jazz and reggae with authentic local community hospitality. Attendees were treated to a diverse spread of home-cooked local cuisine and specialty treats, alongside a dedicated “Made in Micoud” marketplace that highlighted handcrafted goods, artisanal beverages and one-of-a-kind locally produced goods from neighborhood creators.

    The performance lineup leaned heavily into homegrown Caribbean talent, kicking off the afternoon with sets from beloved local acts including rising vocalist Sherol Francis and popular local duo Level 4, who have already built a loyal following across Saint Lucia’s music circuit. Midday and early evening sets came from established local performers Rupert Lay, Glen Henry and 6 Mile, keeping the growing crowd engaged with their unique blend of jazz and Caribbean rhythms. As daylight faded into a tropical night, the festival’s energy stepped up a notch with a dynamic set from the Impulse band, who delivered a genre-spanning mix of classic and contemporary Caribbean hits, including tracks from their latest studio release. The band also backed up a trio of crowd-favorite solo acts—Michael Robinson, Level 4, and Meshach—each of whom earned roaring applause from attendees.

    Jamaican legendary reggae artist Luciano closed out the night as the event’s headliner, delivering a soulful, thought-provoking set of his most iconic conscious reggae tracks. Fan favorites including *Your World and Mine*, *Lord Give Me Strength*, *This One’s For The Leaders*, and *Messenger* resonated deeply with the packed crowd, wrapping the event in a memorable, heartfelt finale.

    In a statement released the day after the festival, Micoud North Member of Parliament Jeremiah Norbert declared the 2025 staging a transformative moment for the entire Micoud community, calling it the strongest community jazz event across the island. “I know other parliamentarians may hold a different opinion, but I have no doubt that attendees will agree: Jazz En Vierge is without a doubt Saint Lucia’s best community jazz festival,” Norbert said.

    Norbert confirmed that this year’s event saw a notable uptick in attendance compared to its debut, and it delivered on all projected local economic benefits. “What matters most to me is the tangible economic opportunities that an event like this creates for our community,” the MP explained, noting that nearly all local food vendors sold out of their entire inventory before the event closed. Every vendor on site was a Micoud resident, Norbert added, and the vast majority of event supplies were also sourced from local businesses, keeping all revenue circulating within the neighborhood.

    Looking ahead, Norbert outlined plans to expand the event’s community impact by closing gaps in local provision. The long-term vision, he said, is to establish Pointe Vierge as the premier entertainment hub for southern Saint Lucia, with a core focus on creating more partnerships and economic opportunities for local young people. He closed by extending public praise to event lead organizer Louise Victor, her entire planning team, and the army of community volunteers whose tireless work made the 2025 staging such a resounding success.

  • Carnival legend Dylan Pitcairn has died

    Carnival legend Dylan Pitcairn has died

    The tight-knit arts and culture community of Saint Lucia, along with island residents across the country, is in mourning following the recent death of legendary carnival figure Dylan Pitcairn. The 71-year-old, who passed away on April 28, 2026, leaves behind a decades-long legacy that has shaped the identity of Saint Lucian Carnival and traditional Caribbean performance art.

    A towering figure in the local carnival ecosystem, Pitcairn built his reputation as a master mas player, visionary bandleader, and award-winning costume designer. Over his storied career, he claimed an extensive collection of top Carnival titles for his original mas portrayals, racking up repeated victories in the prestigious King and Queen of the Bands competition. His elaborate, concept-driven costumes became celebrated fixtures of the annual festival, drawing crowds and setting new creative benchmarks for mas production across the island.

    Beyond his work in costume and band leadership, Pitcairn was also a talented composer, lending his songwriting skills to many of Saint Lucia’s most prominent leading calypsonians. His contributions extended across multiple layers of the island’s cultural landscape, cementing his status as one of the most influential creative voices in modern Saint Lucian entertainment.

    In a fitting tribute to his decades of service just months before his passing, Pitcairn was formally recognized as a Carnival Legend this past March during the official launch of the 2026 Lucian Carnival. He was one of only four industry trailblazers selected to receive the honor from the Carnival Planning and Management Committee, which presented him with a token of appreciation for his irreversible, invaluable contributions to the growth and evolution of the island’s signature cultural festival.

    Born August 22, 1954, Pitcairn dedicated nearly his entire life to advancing and preserving Saint Lucia’s rich carnival traditions. Tributes have poured in from across the cultural sector, with peers and fans alike honoring his creativity, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to the island’s cultural identity.

  • ‘No pressure’: St Rose takes on task of rebuilding SLNYC

    ‘No pressure’: St Rose takes on task of rebuilding SLNYC

    Stepping into one of the most high-profile roles for young leadership in Saint Lucia, newly installed president of the Saint Lucia National Youth Council (NYC) Bernell St Rose is defying expectations with a remarkable level of poise, even when others expect her to feel overwhelmed by the weight of the role.

    When reflecting on the pressure of the presidency, St Rose downplays the stress, noting that her experience competing as a Carnival Queen contestant in 2023 brought far more pressure than leading the nation’s peak youth body. That calm, she suggests, was forged not only during her pageant run but also through her prior tenure leading the Soufrière Youth and Sports Council, where she cut her teeth on grassroots youth work.

    Two months into her term, St Rose has already mapped out the urgent challenges that demand her executive’s attention, against a backdrop of growing systemic hardships facing young Saint Lucians: soaring living costs, unpredictable employment markets, restricted access to startup capital, and rising social instability. Most critically, she acknowledges that the NYC has lost the trust of young people across the island in recent years, a gap she is determined to close.

    Her core mission, she outlined in an interview with local publication St Lucia Times, is to rebuild public pride and trust in the organisation as a credible representative body that listens to young people’s needs and delivers tangible solutions. “Honestly, my journey has been eye-opening, to say the least, but also rewarding,” St Rose told the outlet. “I came in knowing what the challenges of NYC were, and knowing the extent of work and time that would have to be invested into NYC to make it what it’s supposed to be.”

    Among the most pressing issues is the widespread disengagement of young people from civic and community life, including the declining culture of volunteerism across the country. Another top priority is addressing the escalating mental health crisis among Saint Lucia’s youth: the council plans to create dedicated safe, supportive spaces where young people can grow without fear of judgment, surrounded by positive reinforcement to counter the widespread negative narratives impacting the nation.

    St Rose also flagged that strengthening student councils across all Saint Lucian schools will be a central pillar of her administration’s work. Truancy and falling youth participation in school governance have already been flagged as national concerns by Education Minister Kenson Casimir and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. To address this gap, the NYC has already opened formal discussions with the Ministry of Education, and is preparing for a national tour of schools in May to embed stronger, more effective student leadership structures. “We understand that we need to meet young people where they are, and where they are right now is at school,” St Rose explained.

    Past iterations of the NYC executive have drawn criticism for losing momentum and failing to deliver on campaign promises after the first year in office. But St Rose says her administration will chart a different path, pointing to her proven track record of delivering results at the Soufrière Youth and Sports Council, as well as new partnerships with the Saint Lucian private sector to support youth programs across financial literacy, sports, and advocacy.

    “We’re here on a whole new plane, with a whole different perspective, in just re-energising and revitalising the youth space in Saint Lucia,” she said.

    Far from being intimidated by the high expectations placed on her leadership, St Rose remains completely unfazed. This is not because she underestimates the scale of the work ahead, but because she entered the role with full awareness of what it would demand, and is confident she has the preparation and drive to deliver on her promises. “I know what I came into,” she said. “I feel confident being at the helm that I can do what I was set out to do.”

  • Adair shatters Saint Lucia marathon record in London

    Adair shatters Saint Lucia marathon record in London

    While Sebastian Sawe’s new men’s world record at the 2026 London Marathon has dominated global sports headlines, a lesser-known but landmark achievement from a Saint Lucian long-distance runner is drawing well-deserved celebration across the Caribbean nation.

    Forty-three-year-old Yvette Adair, a native of Dennery, Saint Lucia, crossed the London Marathon finish line with an official time of 3 hours, 24 minutes and 23 seconds – slashing a staggering 24 minutes and 18 seconds off the previous national record of 3:48:41 set by Ava Fevrier at the 2025 London Marathon, and retaining the national record for her hometown of Dennery. This race marked Adair’s fifth career marathon and her first major 26.2-mile event since 2018, a comeback that delivered far faster results than any of her prior outings.

    Adair first moved to the United Kingdom from Saint Lucia 26 years ago at age 18 to enlist in the British Army’s Royal Logistics Corps. She previously ran the London Marathon twice, in 2016 and 2018, while serving as a full-time active-duty soldier. Today, she serves as an army reserve and works full-time as a chef – a shift in career that opened up the extra time she needed to ramp up her training, she explained in an interview with the *St Lucia Times*.

    “When I was on active duty full-time, my job was incredibly hectic, and I never had the space to prioritize running or push myself seriously,” Adair shared. “I didn’t truly fall in love with the sport until I transitioned to reserve status. Once I had more free time to train consistently, I realized how much I enjoyed it, and how strong I could be – so the army kept encouraging me to keep chasing bigger goals.”

    Unlike her past marathons, which she ran purely for personal fulfillment, Adair noted this 2026 race carried extra weight as she competed officially representing the British Army. “There was a little more pressure this time around, but it was also really motivating,” she said.

    Adair’s connection to running stretches back to her earliest school years in Saint Lucia, though she never stood out as a competitive runner during her secondary school education at Clendon Mason Memorial. Today, she resides in Bulford, UK, near the army base where she works, but returns to her home country every summer to take part in Carnival and tackle hikes on Saint Lucia’s iconic Pitons. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she also counts cross-country skiing, mountain climbing and cross-country running among her hobbies, and in 2025 completed the grueling Three Peaks Challenge, summiting Gros Piton, Petit Piton and Morne Gimie all in a single day. Still, long-distance running remains her core passion.

    “When I’m out running, I enter my own little zone – it’s almost like moving meditation, and I just love every second of it,” Adair said. “I’ve been running since I was in infant school, it’s always been part of me, but I only truly embraced it after shifting to reserve status.”

    Nearly 60,000 runners crossed the finish line at this year’s London Marathon. Adair placed 8,086th overall, 1,528th among all female competitors, and 228th in the competitive women’s 40-44 age division. Already, she is planning her next challenge: Adair intends to partner with a professional running coach to prepare for the 2027 London Marathon, with the goal of cutting her time even further.

    For now, with encouragement from her sister, Adair said she is eager to build connections with the broader road running community in Saint Lucia, including record-holding runners like Six Star Marathon medallist Fevrier, Che Odlum-Vivenot, and Olympian Zepherinus Joseph.

  • Saint Lucia prepares for ECVA Senior Beach Volleyball

    Saint Lucia prepares for ECVA Senior Beach Volleyball

    The Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championship is set to kick off over the Labour Day weekend, running from May 1 to 3 at the iconic Buckeye Facility in Cul de Sac, and the official draw has already placed the tournament’s most dominant athletes in the spotlight. Three-time consecutive title holders Joseph Clercent and Sheldon Descartes, who are gunning for an unprecedented fourth straight championship, have earned their spot in Pool A of the men’s division. They will not have to wait long to face their first challengers, as the opening matches of the tournament will pit the defending champions against two hungry visiting teams: Darron Oxford and Jonell Phillip from St Kitts & Nevis, and Tahj Jno Jules and J’den Robinson representing Dominica, both eager to end the Saint Lucian duo’s multi-year winning streak.

    Beyond the defending champions, two more Saint Lucian squads will compete for the top spot in the men’s draw, split across two separate pools. In Pool B, Peter Emmanuel and Lindan Clarke will share competition space with the tournament’s second-seeded Kittitian pair, Julian Bristol and Elkreen Morton, as well as Ronaldo Franklyn and Jamaar Cropper from St Vincent & the Grenadines. Over in Pool D, the local pairing of Diallo Albert and Levi Leonce will go head-to-head against three visiting teams: Cairon Davis and George Freeland of Antigua & Barbuda, Aiden Hazzard and Da’Quwan Fredericks from Anguilla, and Shreefkerk Jacob and Rajheem Meulens, the duo representing St Maarten.

    Topping Pool C of the men’s division is last year’s runner-up pairing from Bermuda, Benjamin Barnett and Sean Tucker, who are one of the top favorites to dethrone the defending champions this year. They will be joined in their pool by Dominica’s Yahn Florent and Mervin Mingo, as well as Antigua & Barbuda’s Dwight Bonnie and Raenor Sharpe, all of whom are eyeing an upset run to the final rounds.

    In the women’s division, last year’s bronze medallists, the top-seeded Saint Lucian pair Clio Phillip and Tenayestlgni Joseph, lead the line-up in Pool A. Two more local women’s squads will also compete: Denila Prospere and Amalia Louis are set to contest Pool B, while Tiannie Severin and Abigail Evans will look to fight their way out of Pool C and into the knockout rounds.

    As an officially sanctioned event on the NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) calendar, this year’s championship brings together competitive athletes from nine ECVA member island nations, offering them a critical platform to test their skills against the best regional talent and earn higher standing in international beach volleyball rankings. In an official statement, the ECVA framed the upcoming tournament as more than just a competition: it is described as “a celebration of skill, passion and sportsmanship, uniting experienced players and emerging talent in an exciting beach volleyball showcase” that brings the Eastern Caribbean’s tight-knit volleyball community together.

  • Soufriere soar to the top of Southern football

    Soufriere soar to the top of Southern football

    On April 24, the Saint Lucia Football Association Southern Zone Under-20 Men’s District Tournament concluded its championship match at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds, where visiting side Soufriere pulled off a memorable penalty shootout victory against hosts Vieux Fort South, dashing the home team’s hopes of claiming the regional title on their own turf.

    The tightly contested final kept fans on the edge of their seats from the opening whistle. Coming into the match as the tournament’s top goal scorer with 11 total strikes to his name, Soufriere’s star striker Eymani Butcher was tightly marked and effectively neutralized by Vieux Fort South’s defensive unit throughout regulation play. The deadlock was broken just minutes before the halftime break, when Kailon Flavius slotted home a clinical finish to put Soufriere up 1-0. The hosts pushed hard for an equalizer through the second half, and their persistence paid off in the final minute of regulation: Keivin Sylvester found the back of the net in the 89th minute to force the match to a penalty shootout.

    When the match moved to penalties to decide the champion, Soufriere held their nerve, converting five straight spot kicks to secure a 5-4 shootout win and claim the Southern Zone crown. The result marked a sweet revenge for Soufriere, who had fallen to Vieux Fort South in their earlier preliminary round matchup.

    Vieux Fort South’s road to the final was marked by its own dramatic twists. After dropping a 2-1 preliminary round match to Choiseul, the side bounced back with a narrow 1-0 victory over Choiseul in the knockout stage to advance, then crushed Vieux Fort North by a dominant 6-0 scoreline in the semifinal to secure their spot in the final.

    In the tournament’s third-place playoff held alongside the final, Vieux Fort North claimed bronze over Choiseul following another match that went to penalties. Regulation ended 2-2, and Vieux Fort North held on to win the shootout 4-2, matching their result against Choiseul from the group stage of the competition. In the third-place match, Keshawn Charles opened the scoring for Vieux Fort North in the 33rd minute, and the side extended their lead in the 54th minute when a misplayed clearance from Shakari Faucher went into his own net. Choiseul responded with an explosive two-goal run within 60 seconds: Christopher Montoute found the net in the 60th minute, followed by Devin Phillip just a minute later to level the score and force penalties.

    Across the entire Southern Zone tournament, a total of 49 goals were scored by all participating teams, with Butcher’s 11-goal haul accounting for more than 22 percent of the tournament’s total goals, cementing his status as the competition’s most dangerous offensive weapon. Following the final whistle, Soufriere was presented with the Southern Zone U-20 championship trophy to cap off their comeback title run.

  • St Mary’s pleased with Penn Relays debut

    St Mary’s pleased with Penn Relays debut

    One of the most iconic and largest annual track and field gatherings in the region, the Penn Relays, welcomed a groundbreaking first-time participant this year: St Mary’s College (SMC), the very first secondary school from Saint Lucia to ever compete in the prestigious event. A five-member student squad represented the island nation at the meet, which draws more than 1,000 competing schools and athletic clubs from across North America and the Caribbean, and turned in a performance that observers have called exceptional for a debut team.

    The team’s historic participation was made possible through a generous primary sponsorship from Hamilton Reserve Bank, which covered the costs of sending the squad and accompanying support staff to the event hosted at the University of Pennsylvania. Among the traveling party was Dr. Clarence Henry, a parent accompanying the team who has publicly shared his enthusiasm and pride for the young athletes’ results.

    Against a stacked field of more than 600 high school 4x100m relay teams, SMC’s squad secured a win in their qualifying heat and finished 295th overall, landing firmly in the top half of all competing teams. In the 4x400m relay, the young Saint Lucian runners earned second place in their heat and notched a 355th overall finish out of 532 competing squads.

    Henry emphasized that these results are even more impressive when accounting for the team’s lack of prior experience at the elite, large-scale event. “Most of the schools competing here are regular Penn Relays participants,” he explained. “They know what to expect from the track, they understand the unique pressure of this competition, and they have years of experience on this stage. Our boys were stepping onto this platform for the very first time.”

    Against that backdrop, Henry said the team’s results exceed any expectations he held ahead of the meet. “Five incredibly talented young men got the chance to prove their abilities against the best competition in the region, and they rose to the challenge. To win your 4x100m heat, take second in your 4x400m heat, and place in the top half of hundreds of elite teams? That is an excellent performance, by any measure.”

    While neighboring Caribbean nations including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have long sent multiple schools to compete at the Penn Relays, 2026 marks the first time a Saint Lucian school has earned a spot at the event. Beyond the immediate results, Henry says the debut has already opened new doors for Saint Lucian track and field, with local schools already lining up to participate in future years.

    “This has been a goal of St Mary’s College for a long time, but it’s only now that it’s finally come to fruition,” Henry told reporters from St Lucia Times. “Now that this first barrier has been broken, doors are open for future teams. We’ve already gotten commitments to sponsor at least two or three Saint Lucian schools for future Penn Relays events.”

    The historic debut has created far greater opportunities for competitive Saint Lucian runners to test their skills against top international competition, Henry noted, adding that the island’s top competitive high schools will almost certainly prioritize securing a spot at future iterations of the event, now that sponsorship support is lined up. He closed by thanking Hamilton Reserve Bank for its critical support of this landmark moment for Saint Lucian athletics, and expressed hope that more local corporate partners will step up to back future participation.