Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • Choiseul SPL leg delivers fireworks

    Choiseul SPL leg delivers fireworks

    The Saint Lucia Premier League T20 delivered another action-packed weekend of cricketing drama as the tournament entered its highly anticipated Choiseul leg, with four enthralling fixtures played across Saturday and Sunday at the La Fargue Playing Field — a venue that hosted both day matches and floodlit evening contests.

    The weekend’s opening clash on Saturday delivered instant tension, as the Soufriere Titans secured a last-over thriller against the Micoud Eagles by the narrowest of margins. Micoud won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a competitive total of 177 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Captain Mervin Wells laid a solid foundation for the innings, scoring a steady 48 runs from 40 deliveries, while Keygan Arnold stole the show with a blistering knock of 76 runs off just 45 balls, which included eight fours and four towering sixes to finish as the match’s top run-scorer. For the Titans, Djourn Charles delivered the most impactful bowling performance, claiming two wickets for 44 runs, while overseas recruit Kevin Sinclair put on a tight display of line and length, restricting the Eagles to just 13 runs from his four overs, picking up one wicket in the process.

    In their chase, the Titans got off to a disastrous start, losing Sinclair for a first-ball duck before Dwight Thomas was trapped leg before wicket just a few overs later. Middle-order batter Mateo Boulogne stepped up to steady the innings, hitting a quickfire 48 from 34 balls to keep the Titans in the hunt. While multiple batters got starts, consistent wickets from the Eagles bowlers meant the result would go down to the final over. The Soufriere-based side, nicknamed the men from Sulphur City, crossed the winning line with one wicket remaining and four balls left to spare, securing a hard-fought two-wicket victory.

    The second fixture of Saturday saw the Mon Repos Pioneers claim a 16-run win over the South Castries Lions. Batting first, the Pioneers were bowled out for 168 runs — a modest total that proved challenging enough for the Lions to chase. The total was almost single-handedly built by opener Sabinus Emmanuel, who smashed an explosive 76 runs off just 30 deliveries, hitting seven fours and seven sixes in a devastating display of power hitting. Apart from Emmanuel’s opening partner Gian Benjamin, who contributed 27 runs, the rest of the Pioneers batting line-up failed to make significant contributions, leaving the side with a smaller total than Emmanuel’s knock promised.

    The South Castries Lions’ key batters never got going in their chase. Star batter Johnson Charles fell for a first-ball duck, while Andre Fletcher, batting at four, managed only five runs. Bolton Sayers produced the standout performance for the Lions, scoring a well-crafted 51 off 27 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes, and Ephron Charles added a useful 38 runs lower down the order. Their late contributions were not enough to turn the tide, however, as the Lions were bowled out for 152, handing the Pioneers a comfortable victory in the end.

    Sunday afternoon’s contest between the Babonneau Leatherbacks and the City Blasters was dominated from start to finish by the central Castries-based side. Batting first, the Blasters piled up a mammoth total of 247 runs for the loss of four wickets, taking advantage of good batting conditions to hit at over 12 runs per over. Amari Goodridge led the charge with a brutal knock of 74 runs from just 23 deliveries, including 10 maximums and two fours. Kensley Paul (64) and Ryshon Williams (51) both contributed well-compiled half-centuries to build the huge total. For the Leatherbacks, Nyeem Rosemond’s one wicket for 28 runs was a standout effort on a day batters dominated, while Khan Elcock finished as the side’s most successful bowler with two wickets for 20 runs.

    The massive total proved far too much for the Leatherbacks, who were all out for 178 in reply. Joshua Mann produced a defiant fightback, scoring 72 runs off 37 deliveries, and captain Shervon Joseph chipped in with 35 runs. Beyond those two contributions, the batting line-up struggled to gain momentum, and the side fell to a 69-run defeat. Pacer McKenny Clarke was the star of the Blasters bowling attack, claiming four wickets for just 22 runs, including the key wicket of Mann, who he dismissed via a caught-and-bowled effort.

    The weekend’s final fixture saw Choiseul Craft Middle batter Junior Henry produce the performance of the tournament so far, as his record-breaking knock guided his side to a 28-run victory over the Soufriere Titans in a hotly contested local derby between neighbouring communities. Henry hit an astonishing 143 runs off just 61 balls, smashing 13 fours and 12 sixes to post the highest individual score of the 2026 tournament to date. With supporting contributions from his teammates, Henry’s knock powered the Craft Masters to a total of 236 runs from their 20 overs.

    Choiseul’s bowlers made early inroads into the Titans batting line-up, striking at regular intervals and putting the side firmly on track for a comfortable win. However, number 10 batter Shanii Mesmain produced a late counter-attack, blasting 64 runs from 28 deliveries to pull the Titans back into contention and launch a late surge. Despite his spectacular knock, the Titans fell short of the required target, handing the hosts a well-earned victory.

    Following the weekend’s action, City Blasters retain their position at the top of the tournament standings with 16 points. Soufriere Titans sit in second place with nine points, while Babonneau Leatherbacks and South Castries Lions are tied on seven points, with the Leatherbacks holding the higher position courtesy of a superior net run rate.

  • Pierre: 1,000-dollar grant was ‘never meant to be enough’

    Pierre: 1,000-dollar grant was ‘never meant to be enough’

    St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has pushed back against widespread public and social media criticism of a new family-focused policy unveiled during his recent annual Budget address, pushing to correct misinformation that has overshadowed the full scope of the government’s planned support package.

    During the three-hour Budget policy speech last week, Pierre announced a core policy measure: a one-time EC$1,000 grant that will be disbursed to eligible first-time mothers with registered newborn children, set to take effect on August 1, 2026. In the days following the address, the single grant announcement dominated public discourse, drawing critical commentary on social media and in local community discussions that framed the policy as a misguided attempt to incentivize higher birth rates.

    Speaking at a pre-Cabinet press briefing held on Monday, Pierre addressed the swirling controversy head-on, noting that critics had fixated on the grant while entirely overlooking a suite of complementary, far-reaching family support policies included in the Budget plan. “It’s one of the policy proposals for mothers of registered newborn babies who will receive a one-time grant of one thousand dollars… but there are some below it that everybody seems not to have seen,” he told reporters.

    Beyond the one-time grant, the Prime Minister outlined, the government’s full plan begins with a comprehensive review of national parental leave regulations following childbirth, designed to update existing provisions to better meet the needs of modern families. That policy overhual will be followed by a review of the island’s Affiliation Maintenance Act, alongside an expansion of the national school feeding programme that will deliver enhanced nutritional support to students across the country. Pierre argued that these context-setting measures had been erased from public conversation, replaced by superficial, politically motivated criticism.

    The Prime Minister also pushed back against claims that the grant program is intended to encourage higher birth rates to address the island’s well-documented low fertility rate and stagnating population growth. He emphasized that while population growth is a widely acknowledged concern for the small island nation, the government is seeking a thoughtful, responsible public conversation about the issue rather than pushing hasty, poorly targeted policies.

    “Whether we like it or not, there are concerns about population growth in this island, that’s a fact and what we ask for is a mature conversation by the country, a responsible discussion,” Pierre said. He dismissed claims that the grant amounts to a government payout to incentivize having children as political mischief, stressing that the policy’s core purpose is far more targeted.

    “People like to make political mischief when they talk about the government will give you a thousand dollars to make children, that is really not true, it was never true, and the buildup to it shows that it is not true,” he added.

    The Prime Minister clarified that the EC$1,000 grant is only intended to cover the initial costs associated with welcoming a new child, a burden that disproportionately impacts low-income and unemployed first-time mothers. Raising a child carries significant financial costs from birth, he noted, and the grant is a limited initial support measure — not a comprehensive solution, nor a reward for having children.

    “Babies are expensive, so the thousand-dollar grant is just an incentive to help people with their initial expenses; it is not a reward, nor is it a payment, nor is it something we give you, because the government wants you to make children. It is far from enough, it was never meant to be enough, nor was it meant to be any situation where the government is giving you an incentive to make babies, what it is, it is support for mothers, especially low-income or unemployed mothers,” Pierre explained.

    To round out the government’s broader family policy push, Pierre added that the grant will be paired with two additional support measures: expanded government assistance for parents with children enrolled in early childhood education facilities, and new financial incentives for private sector businesses that offer on-site or subsidized child care facilities for their employees.

  • Lamontagne defends Sports Academy’s track record amid public debate

    Lamontagne defends Sports Academy’s track record amid public debate

    Public debate over the performance and future of the Gros Islet-based Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) has intensified in recent weeks, sparked in part by recent coverage from local outlet St Lucia Times. While most public contributors to the conversation have expressed cautious optimism about the institution’s untapped potential, little has been shared about the on-the-ground challenges of steering the country’s sporting development under constant public attention. Now, a top SLSA leader has broken his silence to share an inside perspective on the academy’s progress and its path forward.

    Anthony Lamontagne, SLSA’s Programme Director, brings decades of sports sector experience to his role, with prior leadership roles including president and secretary of the Saint Lucia Basketball Federation, coaching coordinator, and physical education teacher. Speaking exclusively to St Lucia Times, Lamontagne noted that as the academy marks its sixth year of operation, it has stayed firmly on course to meet its founding mission of nurturing athletic talent for the island nation. Even so, he emphasized that complacency has no place in the push for excellence, stressing that the institution is far from reaching its full potential.

    “Comfort is not a characteristic of performance,” Lamontagne said. “It is useless to believe and assume that we have arrived and are seated on top.” To drive ongoing improvement, he called for a sharp focus on boosting productivity, cutting waste across all operations, and regular reviews of internal policies and workflows to support continuous growth. Lamontagne also called for greater cross-departmental alignment across the academy’s three core functional areas: academics, athletic training, and residential dormitory operations. He noted that while structural separation is necessary for day-to-day functionality, all teams must work collaboratively to support whole-person development for student-athletes. Non-sports administrative and academic staff should be open to taking on sports-related tasks, Lamontagne said, while coaches must recognize their role extends far beyond building physical skill — they are also positioned to shape athletes’ communication skills, personal conduct, respect for others, and social boundaries through their daily influence.

    Most critically, Lamontagne argued that lasting, meaningful improvement and long-term success for SLSA will require collective buy-in and collaboration across Saint Lucia’s entire sports ecosystem, not just work from the academy’s internal team. He called for moving past symbolic support for the institution to tangible cross-sector partnership that can unlock SLSA’s full potential and deliver cascading benefits to the entire nation. Key stakeholders that must have a formal seat at the table for strategic planning, Lamontagne said, include the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee, government departments for education, sports and health, the Saint Lucia National Lottery, sports science experts, and all national sports federations.

    This inclusive collaborative approach, he explained, will build widespread investment in the academy’s success, align all stakeholders around clear shared goals, and leverage overlapping institutional mandates. “We can only become a better sporting nation when we pull resources and work together for success,” Lamontagne said. He added that a culture of accountability is foundational to building a high-performance program, with strong, values-driven leadership required to inspire teams and set positive examples for emerging athletes. If these steps are taken, Lamontagne affirmed, a stronger SLSA will deliver widespread, long-term benefits that lift the entire country’s sporting standing and future.

  • From Saint Lucia stages to NAACP spotlight: Kyvon Edwin’s film journey

    From Saint Lucia stages to NAACP spotlight: Kyvon Edwin’s film journey

    Nine years ago, a young performer named Kyvon Edwin left his home in Saint Lucia to chase a big dream in New York City: refining his craft as an actor and storyteller. That initial leap of faith has grown into a thriving, multi-faceted career in global cinema, marked by a string of milestones that showcase both his talent and his unwavering commitment to centering authentic Caribbean narratives on the world stage.

    After two years of rigorous training at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Edwin graduated in 2019, laying a solid foundation for what would quickly become a burgeoning career in film. His work has already earned him a spot at the renowned Short Film Corner at the Festival de Cannes, one of the most high-profile platforms for emerging cinematic talent. Beyond his work in front of the camera, Edwin launched his own production banner, Roots Production, a venture that has already sent multiple original short films to screenings at festivals across the globe.

    Most recently, Edwin earned a spot as a finalist in the NAACP Cinematic Shorts Competition, a landmark achievement that opened doors to invaluable industry connections. Through the competition, he got the chance to network with top executives and established talent from some of the most recognizable entertainment studios and companies in the world. As part of the program, Roots Production co-created the short film *In/Finite* with NAACP Studios, with Edwin stepping into roles as co-writer and co-director alongside collaborator Auriyana Armour. Advancing to the competition’s finals also granted him access to the annual NAACP convention, the organization’s awards week, and exclusive visits to major Hollywood studios.

    Speaking candidly to St. Lucia Times, Edwin reflected on his winding journey, calling it eventful but reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to storytelling. Even as he has taken on producing, directing and enterprise leadership, Edwin says his first love remains acting – a passion that first ignited when he was a theatre-loving teenager growing up in Saint Lucia, and one that has never faded. “In the midst of pursuing filmmaking, I still audition and go out for film projects,” he shared, emphasizing his identity as a full-time storyteller first.

    Roots Production, for Edwin, is more than just a business: it is a purpose-driven platform to amplify underrepresented stories and create meaningful cultural impact. In 2023, he took on nearly every key role for one of the company’s flagship projects: *Lettre La (The Letter)*, a short film inspired by the iconic late radio host Juke Bois’ beloved cult show of the same name. Edwin produced, wrote, directed and starred in the project, which cast a roster of local talent including Okeema Moore, Rory Clarke, Rudolph Shaw, and even Edwin’s own mother, Yvonne Edwin. After completing a run on the global film festival circuit – where strict rules often bar films from public screenings before their festival premieres conclude – *Lettre La* is finally set for its first public screening in Edwin’s home country of Saint Lucia. The screening will take place as part of the upcoming Arts and the City event on April 26 and 27, with screening times to be announced by Caribbean Cinemas and the Cultural Development Foundation.

    A second original short from Roots Production, *Bagay La Nou Pòté (The Things We Carry)*, marks another milestone for Edwin, who served as producer and director on the project. The film was funded through a mix of grants, corporate sponsorships, and community crowdfunding, and was filmed entirely on location in Saint Lucia with a mostly local cast and crew. The story follows one full day in the life of a young rising cricket star, a narrative rooted deeply in Saint Lucian culture. “When I was thinking about this story, something just clicked about how much cricket is a cornerstone of our culture – how we go to games and enjoy it, how we support our players. I thought it was a very nuanced look at what it means to be Saint Lucian,” Edwin explained. He drew inspiration from iconic Saint Lucian athletes like cricket star Daren Sammy and track star Julien Alfred, whose incredible careers grew from humble beginnings. “Just seeing our athletes who have incredible careers when they’ve come from such humble beginnings, I just wanted to reflect that story,” he said.

    *Bagay La Nou Pòté* has already screened at two major North American festivals: the Chelsea Film Festival in New York and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and has been submitted to dozens more festivals around the world. For Edwin, the next step for the story is to expand it into a fully realized coming-of-age hybrid series that follows the young protagonist’s journey to earn a spot on the West Indies cricket team, and he is currently building momentum and securing support for the development process.

    Beyond his own original projects, Edwin is also supporting the next generation of Caribbean filmmakers as a producer on upcoming Saint Lucian director Shanice Brette’s new feature. The film centers on a Saint Lucian woman navigating the final week of her pregnancy during a sweltering New York summer, as she comes to terms with what impending motherhood will mean for her. “I’m really excited about that project as well,” Edwin says.

    Building a successful film career as an emerging storyteller from a small Caribbean nation has not been without its challenges, but Edwin’s vision has remained consistent through every step: to create cinematic work that tells authentic Caribbean stories that resonate with audiences around the globe. For the 9-year journey from a young immigrant actor in New York to a festival-screened, NAACP-recognized filmmaker, that vision continues to drive every new project he takes on.

  • Accused gunman at correspondents’ dinner was likely targeting Trump and top officials, Blanche says

    Accused gunman at correspondents’ dinner was likely targeting Trump and top officials, Blanche says

    WASHINGTON – A shocking attempt to breach one of Washington D.C.’s most high-profile annual political gatherings has brought new details of a premeditated attack targeting former President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed in public comments Sunday.

    According to Blanche, the suspect accused of carrying weapons to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner ballroom plotted the incident well in advance, traveling across the United States over multiple days to reach the nation’s capital. Investigative accounts show the man journeyed by rail from his home state of California to Chicago, before continuing on to Washington D.C. Once in the city, he checked in as a paying guest at the Washington Hilton – the venue hosting the invite-only, glitzy Saturday night dinner that draws hundreds of top politicians, journalists, and media figures from across the country.

    While law enforcement has not officially released the suspect’s identity to the public, two unnamed law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the investigation confirmed to the Associated Press that the individual is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California.

    Preliminary assessments of evidence taken from Allen’s electronic devices and written materials have led investigators to conclude he came to the dinner with clear violent intentions: he planned to attack current and former Trump administration officials in attendance at the event. The chaotic attempt to force entry into the sprawling ballroom unfolded quickly: Allen was taken down by security before he could enter the main event space, but the struggle resulted in stray gunfire, prompting immediate emergency action. Trump, who was speaking at the dinner at the time, was rapidly escorted off stage by security personnel, and hundreds of guests scrambled for safety, taking cover under their dining tables.

    Blanche confirmed the preliminary findings during an interview on NBC News’ weekly public affairs program *Meet the Press*, stating “It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president.”

    Blanche added that the two firearms recovered from the suspect were purchased by Allen within the past two years. As of Sunday, the suspect has refused to cooperate with investigators, and federal prosecutors are set to file multiple criminal charges against him during a Monday court hearing.

  • He’s 16—and already running his own marine services business

    He’s 16—and already running his own marine services business

    Against the overcast, quiet backdrop of Rodney Bay Marina, 16-year-old Elim Estava and his mother Darnelly Estava-St Ange paused their pre-travel preparations to sit down with the St. Lucia Times to share the inspiring origin story of the young man’s bold new entrepreneurial venture, King of Clean Marine Services.

    Tall, laid-back and remarkably thoughtful for his age, Elim openly admits he carries a small amount of nervous excitement as he navigates his first months running a business while still balancing studies at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy. Just two months before this conversation, he stood before a packed crowd at the islands’ first ever Creativity and Innovation Forum to formally announce his launch, a leap of faith encouraged by his mentor from the program, Natalie John. The early returns have already been promising: his dedicated business Instagram page has quickly built an engaged audience of local boat owners.

    The business idea grew organically from Elim’s lifelong connection to the water, a bond rooted in his family’s multi-generational history of sailing. It all started when he helped a friend scrub down a long-uncleaned vessel, and he felt immediate satisfaction seeing the dull, neglected boat shine again after a thorough cleaning. He brought the idea of turning this enjoyable task into a full business to his mother, and together they mapped out the brand: King of Clean, a name that honors Elim’s grandfather while nodding to his commitment to spotless results. Today, Elim offers comprehensive hull scrubs plus full interior and exterior cleaning services for marine vessels, with plans to expand his offerings as his customer base grows.

    Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Elim is also an accomplished competitive cyclist who competes at the national level, proving his ability to juggle multiple passions alongside his high school studies. But his path to launching his own business has not been without obstacles. Elim lives with ADHD and dyslexia, neurodivergent conditions that have led to unfair misunderstandings in some academic settings. In interviews, Elim and his mother explained that many educators fail to accommodate neurodiverse learning differences, often writing off struggling students as unmotivated or difficult rather than investigating the root of their challenges. While Elim has found supportive mentors including cycling coach Andy Bail and some understanding school faculty, his family has long fought to reframe what success looks like for neurodivergent young people.

    As a parent, Darnelly has positioned herself as Elim’s biggest advocate and supporter, rejecting the common narrative that pushes all young people toward traditional employment after graduation. “The education system often trains young people to be employees, but I want Elim to chart his own path,” she explained. “I’ve always told him that success doesn’t only come from academic excellence. You can thrive in any field you’re passionate about, so long as you commit to it.” She added that from the time Elim could walk, he has felt most at home on the water, so building a marine-focused business was a natural fit for his strengths and interests.

    For Elim, building his own business is also a personal stand against the negative cycles that trap many young people in his community. He notes that too many local youth with untapped talent end up drawn into gang violence, in large part because they lack the support and encouragement to pursue their own positive ambitions. “I want to build something of my own, for myself,” he said. “I want to show other young people what’s possible when you get the right support.”

    Just over a month into official operations, Elim is still balancing business growth with his academic responsibilities, so he is moving at a deliberate pace, sourcing all his current clients through his Instagram page. After he graduates, he plans to scale the business, expand his service range to cover more vessel types beyond the sailboats he currently serves, and eventually bring the King of Clean brand to other countries. For now, though, he remains focused on what drew him to the work in the first place: helping more boat owners get back that sparkling, like-new finish he loves to create.

  • Dennery rule in Eastern Zone football

    Dennery rule in Eastern Zone football

    The final matchday of the Saint Lucia Football Association’s highly anticipated Eastern Zone Under-20 Men’s District Tournament wrapped up Thursday evening at Micoud’s iconic Playing Field, where Dennery secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over host side Micoud to claim the regional championship trophy.

    The only goal of the tightly contested final came 25 minutes into the first half, when young forward Corin Hunte found the back of the net for Dennery, cementing their winning margin that would hold through the final whistle. This final win marked Dennery’s second victory over Micoud in the tournament, following a 3-0 blanking of the home side during the preliminary group stage.

    Before the main championship final, the tournament’s third-place playoff delivered an action-packed second-half comeback that saw Mabouya Valley secure a 4-2 win over Mon Repos. Mon Repos drew first blood in the 21st minute, as Dandre Jonas put his side ahead to open the scoring. Just five minutes later, Mabouya Valley’s Cody Alexander leveled the score at 1-1, a goal that pushed his total tournament tally to four goals going into halftime.

    After the break, Mabouya Valley seized control of the match. Kurdege Johnny notched two quick goals in the 53rd and 63rd minutes, flipping the scoreline to 3-1 in his side’s favor. Kermany Velinor extended the lead to 4-1 in the 76th minute to seal the third-place finish, while Mon Repos’ Tafari Peter netted a late consolation goal in the 85th minute to cap the scoring.

    Across the entire Eastern Zone tournament, a total of 57 goals were scored by competing young talent, highlighting the attacking intensity of this year’s competition. Mon Repos’ Andreaus Charlery finished as the tournament’s top goal scorer with six goals, while Alexander (Mabouya Valley) and Dennery’s Bourne Innocent tied for second place with four goals each. Ethan Oculi of Mabouya Valley and Mathaus Aubert of Micoud rounded out the top goal scorers with three goals apiece.

    As the regional tournament concludes, the top finishing teams from each of Saint Lucia’s zonal competitions will advance to the national 2026 Blackheart Tournament, an annual national competition that will feature exclusively Under-20 men’s teams for this upcoming iteration.

  • Young man shot dead in Vieux Fort

    Young man shot dead in Vieux Fort

    A fatal shooting has shaken the coastal community of Vieux Fort in St. Lucia, after a 23-year-old man was killed in an early morning attack on Thursday. The incident took place at the Westhall Group neighborhood, a local area widely known by its nickname “The Mang”.

    First responders and law enforcement arrived at the scene after the victim’s body was located, partially concealed in a mound of construction rubble. Multiple sources familiar with the case have confirmed the identity of the deceased as Mershan Sumra, a man who was not a permanent resident of the Westhall Group area, according to accounts from long-term local residents.

    Visual footage captured at the crime site shows uniformed police officers systematically processing the area, collecting forensic evidence and interviewing witnesses as the official investigation into the shooting moves into its early stages. As is standard in active homicide probes, many details surrounding the motive, potential suspects, and sequence of events remain undisclosed to the public at this time.

    Local news outlet St Lucia Times, which first broke details of the incident, has confirmed it will continue monitoring developments in the case and release additional updates to the public as new, verified information becomes available.

  • Barclett, Doxilly join Mo Bay Utd after transfer drama

    Barclett, Doxilly join Mo Bay Utd after transfer drama

    After months of lingering uncertainty over their transfer status, Jamaica Premier League (JPL) table-toppers Montego Bay United (MBU) have officially welcomed two high-profile Saint Lucian internationals, experienced goalkeeper Vino Barclett and versatile utility man Melvin Doxilly, into their first-team squad. The club made the long-awaited announcement publicly via its official social media channels on Thursday, April 23.

    First signed by the club back in January 2026, the pair’s arrival was held up by unresolved administrative eligibility issues that kept them sidelined for months. Even as those administrative matters remain ongoing, MBU has confirmed the duo are eligible to join matchday squads for the remainder of the current campaign, and moved to publicly welcome their new signings in an official club statement.

    Doxilly, a player capable of lining up as both a defender and midfielder, brings a wealth of experience and a proven winning pedigree to MBU. A former captain of Saint Lucia’s senior men’s national team, nicknamed the Piton Boyz, Doxilly already has a JPL title to his name, having lifted the trophy during his time at Mount Pleasant FA. The club has been vocal about its excitement to add the leader to their ranks, highlighting the impact he is expected to make in their title push this season.

    “Now he’s bringing that grit, versatility, and championship mentality to MBU. Watch him shut down attacks, rally the squad, and boost our title hopes this season,” the club wrote in its introduction of Doxilly.

    For Barclett, the signing marks a homecoming of sorts to the JPL, where he already built his reputation as one of the region’s top goalkeepers during a successful stint at Cavalier SC. Saint Lucia’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, Barclett was instrumental in guiding Cavalier SC to their maiden Caribbean Cup title, a run of form that cemented his status as one of the Caribbean’s most outstanding shot-stoppers. Across his tenure at Cavalier, Barclett racked up more than 100 senior appearances and recorded an impressive 43 clean sheets, a stat line that speaks to his consistent elite performance.

    “After overcoming transfer delays, he now brings his shot-stopping pedigree, leadership, and international experience to MBU. Expect big saves, louder celebrations, and a wall you can’t break through,” the club said of Barclett.

    Interestingly, the two new signings are no strangers to playing alongside each other: the pair have been teammates since their early teenage years, sharing pitches both for Saint Lucia’s national team and later for Cavalier SC, where they enjoyed multiple successful trophy runs together in the JPL. Both players were represented during the transfer process by Canada-based sports lawyer Andrew Werners of Pitchside Sports Consulting.

    The addition of Barclett and Doxilly grows MBU’s contingent of Saint Lucian players to three: young forward Kegan Caull has already been part of the club’s squad for the past three months. Across the JPL, there are three other Saint Lucian players currently plying their trade: goalkeeper Darren Donaie features for Molynes United, while right-back Alvinus Myers is on the books at Spanish Town FC.

  • Lionel’s ‘A Soft Place’ on Commonwealth Short Story Prize longlist

    Lionel’s ‘A Soft Place’ on Commonwealth Short Story Prize longlist

    For emerging writers, navigating a landscape dotted with constant rejection, every nod of recognition carries far more meaning than just an award nod — it is validation that their creative voice and chosen path matter. For St. Lucian writer Tresha Lionel, that validation came recently when she spotted her name on the longlist for the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Prize, marking the second time her work has earned a place among the competition’s standout entries.\n\n”I was really happy about it… It’s a sort of validation that I’m on the right path,” Lionel shared in an interview with local outlet St Lucia Times, reflecting on the moment she learned of her longlisting. Lionel knows firsthand how unforgiving the submission process can be for working writers. “Being a writer and sending in submissions can mean a lot of rejection, so any acceptance and recognition feels great,” she added.\n\nLionel’s first recognition from the prize came for her earlier work *God Don’t Need Long Pants*, a deeply personal narrative that centered on her grandmother’s illness and the heavy emotional toll it placed on her entire family. Today, as she pursues a Master’s degree in Creative Writing, her work remains firmly rooted in the lived experiences, communities, and landscapes that shaped her growing up in Vieux Fort’s Shanty Town neighborhood. All of her stories draw from the people, spaces and quiet, overlooked moments she has known intimately.\n\nThe longlisted story at the center of her latest recognition is *A Soft Place*, a nuanced narrative that follows a woman’s lifelong, evolving search for safety that begins in early childhood and unfolds across decades of adulthood. At the core of the story is the thematic exploration of “softness” — a concept Lionel frames as both a literal and symbolic journey toward emotional safety, rest, love, and an escape from cycles of violence. \n\n”I write about memory, survival and joy in our ordinary lives and the deeper truths held within them. I focus on community. As a writer, I think I’m really an observer trying to make sense of the world around me,” Lionel explained of her creative focus. “Certain themes are really important to me. Softness, for example, is a theme because it operates as both a literal and symbolic pursuit by representing emotional safety, rest, love and escape from violence. I write it in because I think in the end we all seek and want some softness.”\n\nWeaving between past and present, across rural and urban regions of Saint Lucia, the narrative unpacks how family bonds, collective memory and community ties shape the search for personal comfort. It also confronts a universal, underdiscussed reality: that the spaces and people we perceive as safe can be taken from us, or shift irreversibly, over the course of a lifetime.\n\nAnother core layer of the story explores the tension between Kwéyòl (Saint Lucian Creole) and standard English — a dynamic Lionel experienced growing up firsthand. Her grandmother spoke only Kwéyòl, but the language was actively discouraged in formal school settings. For Lionel, this contrast is not merely about language itself; it is a broader exploration of cultural identity and which forms of knowledge are deemed valuable by dominant institutions. It is this kind of quiet, deeply felt, often overlooked detail of everyday Caribbean life that she prioritizes capturing in her prose.\n\nBreaking down the story’s core arc in her own words, Lionel explained: “My story, *A Soft Place*, traces a woman’s lifelong search for safety, comfort, and emotional refuge. Beginning in childhood, she associates softness with her mother’s hair and body. As she grows, these sources of comfort are repeatedly taken away or transformed, forcing her to find new, often temporary, forms of refuge. The narrative moves between past and present, rural and urban Saint Lucia, between memory and reality and shows how cultural knowledge, family, language, and community shape her understanding of survival. As an adult, she navigates exhaustion, responsibility, and political possibility, returning finally to a fragile but real moment of connection. The story follows parts of my own life and my observations living in Shanty Town, Vieux Fort, working as a journalist, and engaging in Saint Lucia’s political landscape.”\n\nFor Lionel, this latest longlisting reinforces that the deeply personal, community-centered stories she chooses to tell resonate beyond the borders of her home island, earning a place on a global literary stage.