Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • CARICOM intensifies calls for reparations as King of England visits the region

    CARICOM intensifies calls for reparations as King of England visits the region

    As King Charles III embarks on a regional Caribbean tour in the lead-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by Antigua and Barbuda next month, a leading Caribbean reparations advocate has issued a direct, personal appeal to the monarch to take a public leadership role in addressing the enduring harms of the transatlantic chattel slave trade and centuries of British colonial rule. Sir Hilary Beckles, chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, framed his request not as a formal demand to the British head of state or the symbolic head of the Commonwealth, but as a plea to Charles Windsor the private citizen, a father and grandfather with a personal familial lineage tied to the institutions that perpetuated mass enslavement across the Caribbean.

    In public remarks, Beckles emphasized that the Commonwealth as an institution is historically rooted in the system of chattel enslavement that inflicted what he described as the gravest human rights crime of the modern era. He argued that the intergovernmental bloc, which unites 56 nations with historic ties to the former British Empire, could reposition itself as a global moral leader on human justice by centering reparatory action for descendant communities across the Caribbean, African Union member states, and other nations that suffered under colonial exploitation.

    The appeal has drawn cross-regional support: Eric Phillips, representative of the Guyana Reparations Committee, noted that King Charles’ long-documented public advocacy for environmental stewardship positions him as an enlightened, values-driven leader who can foster respectful, constructive dialogue on reparatory justice. “The King has spent decades treating the natural world as a sacred trust, and people of African descent whose communities were devastated by colonial violence are an inextricable part of that sacred community,” Phillips stated.

    Grassroots momentum for the cause is already visible across the monarch’s regional itinerary: during his first stop in The Bahamas on Tuesday, a group of local Rastafarian activists held a peaceful demonstration to demand formal restitution and redress for colonial harms. King Charles is scheduled to travel to Guyana for an official visit from October 29 to 30, immediately preceding the formal CHOGM proceedings running November 1 through 4.

    Guyanese President Irfaan Ali has publicly outlined a formal policy framework for structural reparations, which aligns closely with the CARICOM Reparations Commission’s established 10-point action plan: the proposal prioritizes a full, unreserved formal apology from the British government, targeted development financing, broad debt relief for Caribbean nations, and sustained public investment in underfunded local health and education systems to redress persistent structural economic inequalities that reparations advocates argue are direct legacies of enslavement and colonial dispossession. To date, the official British government has repeatedly rejected all formal demands for a state apology or targeted reparations payments linked to the transatlantic slave trade.

  • U19 netball wins for SJC, SLSA, SALCC, and VFCSS

    U19 netball wins for SJC, SLSA, SALCC, and VFCSS

    Wednesday’s slate of fixtures in the Saint Lucia Under-19 Secondary School Netball Tournament delivered a mix of dominant statement wins, tightly contested back-and-forth battles, and one edge-of-the-seat deadlock across two competition venues, as top-ranked sides across both groups consolidated their positions on the league table.

    Action kicked off at the Beausejour Gymnasium, where undefeated Group A frontrunner St. Joseph’s Convent (SJC) maintained its perfect start to the campaign with a commanding 35-18 triumph over Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School. The closely fought first half saw SJC cling to a narrow 9-7 lead at the halftime whistle, before the group leaders ramped up their defensive pressure and offensive precision to stretch their advantage to 25-12 by the end of the third quarter, closing out the match comfortably. Standout goal shooter Iyana Williams posted an impressive 23 successful conversions from 30 attempts, while her attacking partner at goal attack Xanaiia Emmanus chipped in with 12 goals from 16 shots. For Sir Ira Simmons Secondary, Jazan Willie notched 11 goals from 14 tries, and Valensia Joseph delivered a flawless performance, converting every single one of her seven shot attempts.

    The second Group A fixture of the day saw second-placed Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) cruise to a lopsided 40-4 victory over Entrepot Secondary School. Goal attack Isabella Emilienne anchored SLSA’s offensive output, racking up 33 goals from 39 attempts, with reliable support from goal shooter Cathyann Lucien who added 7 goals from 11 shots. Entrepot’s scorers were Traavia Marshall with 3 goals from 8 attempts and Jahnii Charlery who landed 1 of her 4 shots.

    In a highly anticipated non-group matchup, Babonneau Secondary and Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS) played out a pulsating, end-to-end 18-18 draw that kept spectators on their feet until the final whistle. Babonneau’s Keejan Severin led all scorers in the fixture with 12 goals from 24 attempts, while teammate Samara Edward contributed 6 goals from 13 shots. For CCSS, Kiana Delice matched Severin’s 12-goal haul, converting 12 of her 20 attempts, and Luwander Antoine added 6 goals from a hard-fought 19 shot opportunities.

    Over at the Micoud Multipurpose Court, Group B pace-setters Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) survived a tense, neck-and-neck battle to edge out Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School 29-25 in a contest that remained within a handful of goals for all four quarters. Neanna Francois led SALCC’s scoring with a stellar 12 goals from 14 attempts, Naija Ferdinand added 10 goals from 12 shots, and Aungel Augustin chipped in with 7 goals from 15 tries. In a remarkable individual performance for Beanefield, Jerannie Marquis single-handedly accounted for all 25 of her team’s total goals, landing 25 of her 40 shot attempts.

    Defending tournament champions Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) also kept their unbeaten streak alive on Wednesday, notching a solid 27-11 win over Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School. VFCSS’s Deriscia Mitchell led her side with 17 goals from 33 attempts, while Bernege Joseph delivered an efficient 10 goals from 15 shots. Leon Hess’s scorers were Destiny Edward with 7 goals from 10 attempts and Onyeka Enebeli who landed 4 of her 6 shot opportunities.

    Wrapping up the day’s action at Micoud, Soufriere Comprehensive secured a high-scoring 46-27 victory over Choiseul Secondary School, powered by a dynamic dual offensive performance: Kheryss Ferguson sunk 24 goals from 31 attempts, and Harriel William added 22 goals from 33 shots. Choiseul’s top performer was Malia Isidore with 18 goals from 26 attempts, and Kevlyn Fostin contributed 9 goals from 13 tries.

  • Saint Lucia’s Edward named for U23 Commonwealth cricket clash

    Saint Lucia’s Edward named for U23 Commonwealth cricket clash

    A standout former West Indies U-19 all-rounder, Tarrique Edward, is set to represent his home nation Saint Lucia and the broader Caribbean region this coming weekend, after earning a spot in the 12-player Caribbean Under-23 line-up scheduled to take on the Wider Commonwealth side in Antigua and Barbuda. The high-profile 10-overs-per-side exhibition fixture is slated to unfold this Sunday at the iconic Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, positioned as a centerpiece cricket event tied to the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting celebrations.

    Curated as a collaborative initiative between Cricket West Indies, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, the exhibition match falls under the umbrella of the global “One Commonwealth, One Team” community engagement programme. The carefully assembled Caribbean U-23 squad unites promising emerging cricketers drawn from 12 different regional Commonwealth territories, with all squad members falling in the 18 to 22 age bracket. Dominica’s top-order batsman Stephan Pascal will lead the side as captain, while legendary West Indies cricket icon Sir Vivian Richards steps into the honorary role of on-ground team manager, presiding over the action at the world-class stadium that bears his famous name.

    At 22 years old, Edward has followed a consistent upward trajectory through local and regional cricket development frameworks across the Caribbean. He previously secured a coveted spot on the West Indies roster for the 2024 ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in South Africa, and has claimed Most Valuable Player honors at multiple regional age-group competitive tournaments. A reliable right-arm off-break bowler and a technically sound middle-order batter, his standout performance during the international youth tournament came in the form of a game-defining bowling spell of 3 wickets for just 24 runs that secured a critical victory over Scotland.

    Over the last three years, Edward has dedicated himself to honing his skills as part of the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance programme and successive regional elite training cohorts, focusing intently on refining his game to make a seamless transition into senior professional cricket ranks.

    Sunday’s youth-focused fixture will be staged immediately after a special exhibition match featuring sitting Commonwealth Heads of Government, shining a global spotlight on the next wave of young Caribbean cricket talent on an international public stage. Edward’s selection marks the latest milestone in a remarkably strong run of form for Saint Lucian cricket, coming hot on the heels of Shadrack Descarte and Keon Gaston earning spots on the West Indies A team roster, and Theo Edward’s recent call-up to the Windward Islands Volcanoes senior competitive squad.

  • Halfway there: The teams to beat in schools’ football

    Halfway there: The teams to beat in schools’ football

    The ongoing national Schools’ Football competition spanning Under-19 and Under-15 age divisions has hit its halfway mark, with competitive intensity surging across all four tournament groups as early performance patterns and standout statistical benchmarks begin to define the race for playoff spots. After the first round of group stage fixtures, clear frontrunners have emerged across both age brackets, with lopsided attacking displays and rock-solid defensive records distinguishing the top contenders from the rest of the field. In the Under-15 division, the undisputed dominant force to date is the Gros Islet-based Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA). Across its first three group matches, the side has delivered a blistering attacking output of 26 total goals, far outpacing every other team in the division for offensive productivity, while boasting the tournament’s second-tightest defensive record with just two goals conceded. That exceptional run of form has placed SLSA firmly at the summit of the Under-15 Group C standings. The only Under-15 side with a better defensive track record is Group D leader St Mary’s College, which has won all three of its opening fixtures and conceded a grand total of just one goal through the midway point of the competition. Turning to the Under-19 division, Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School, hailing from the community widely known as Sulphur City, has emerged as the tournament’s most fearsome attacking unit by a wide margin. The side has found the back of the net an extraordinary 22 times across its first three outings, working out to a staggering average of 7.33 goals per match, and currently sits atop the Under-19 Group A table as one of the sides to beat for the overall title. The Under-19 division’s defensive stalwarts are a pair of Group D sides: Castries Comprehensive Secondary School and St Mary’s College. Neither of the two teams has conceded a single goal in their two opening group fixtures, setting the stage for a tightly contested intra-group battle that is likely to be decided on the very final day of group play. The three top sides in Under-19 Group D are deadlocked on equal points: St Mary’s College leads the table, followed by Ciceron, with Castries Comprehensive sitting in third place holding a critical unplayed match in hand to overtake the two teams above them. Individual star performers have also begun to cement their places at the top of the tournament’s scoring leaderboards. For the Under-15 cohort, Saint Lucia Sports Academy’s Shem Ismael leads all scorers with 10 goals, while Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School’s Jervon Charlery and Entrepot Secondary School’s Liam Jn. Baptiste are tied for joint second with four goals apiece. In the Under-19 division, Soufriere Comprehensive’s Curdin Jones matches the U15 top scorer’s tally with 10 goals to lead the individual rankings, followed by Sir Arthur Lewis Community College’s Keenan Joseph on six goals, and Beanfield Comprehensive’s Keonte Derose in third with five goals.

  • Witnesses recall rescue efforts after Anse Cochon boat collision

    Witnesses recall rescue efforts after Anse Cochon boat collision

    Three local men who stepped forward to rescue passengers and crew in the immediate aftermath of the deadly July 18 late-night boat collision near Anse Cochon shared their visceral, firsthand accounts of the tragedy during a public Commission of Inquiry hearing held on Wednesday, detailing the urgent life-saving measures they deployed, the severe injuries they witnessed, and their painstaking searches for unaccounted missing individuals.
    The catastrophic incident unfolded when two vessels, the northbound Ocean Angel and southbound Cazorla Jr which was en route to Soufriere, collided in the dark coastal waters. The crash claimed four lives: Tyrone Paul, Marley Williams, Mhakeida Nestor, and Debbie Dolor, while leaving 14 others with varying degrees of serious injuries. The three witnesses who took the stand were Larry John, a security officer at the nearby Ti Kaye Resort and Spa, and local commercial boat operators Nemius Joseph and Darren Joseph, widely known in the community by the nickname “Caffu.”
    John explained that he was on a scheduled work break at the resort when he first heard an approaching vessel, followed instantly by a deafening, unexpected crash. He rushed to the resort’s dock that overlooks the cove, but found visibility completely wiped out by the pitch-black night, leaving him unable to make out any details on the water. He immediately alerted a fellow security staff member and his on-duty supervisor, then made his way to the elevated Ti Manje Restaurant that faces Anse Cochon for a better vantage point to coordinate assistance. The resort’s management quickly lowered a pedestrian bridge connecting the main property to a floating dock, creating a safe access point to pull distressed passengers from the water. When a commissioner asked him to describe his emotional state during the chaos, John acknowledged the traumatic scenes left a deep impression. “I am doing fine now, but in those moments I was overwhelmed with emotion,” he testified. “I saw pools of blood and dozens of severe injuries. Six men were bleeding heavily and in a state of panic, so I kept reassuring them to stay calm that ambulances were on their way.”
    Nemius Joseph told the panel he had been traveling aboard his own vessel, the Finding Nemo, on a routine trip from Gros Islet to Soufriere when he passed the Ti Kaye resort shoreline on the night of the collision. He spotted unusual lights coming from a damaged yacht, adjusted his course to port to investigate, and soon heard a group of people screaming for help. He pulled alongside to bring the stranded survivors onto his boat and ferried them to the safety of the Ti Kaye dock. The survivors repeatedly alerted him that Cazorla Jr captain Tyson Hippolyte and passenger Taylor Riviere were still unaccounted for, so Joseph immediately turned his vessel back to the crash site to launch a search, until marine law enforcement officers arrived shortly after to take over official search and rescue operations.
    Darren “Caffu” Joseph, who testified in his native Kwéyòl language, recounted that he was also traveling south toward Soufriere after departing Gros Islet when he spotted someone waving a flashlight near Anse Cochon. Aware that the Cazorla Jr had set off on its journey before him, he grew concerned, shifted his boat’s engine to neutral, and began scanning the surrounding waters. He soon spotted the partially submerged wreckage of the Ocean Angel, then located the missing captain Tyson. The full scope of the tragedy hit him so hard that he nearly fainted and had to be steadied by a nearby person. He loaded multiple survivors onto his vessel, and was then asked to join the search for four additional missing people. During the search, he spotted a lifeless body floating in the water, and the team pulled it aboard, placing it on the lap of another injured passenger nicknamed “Chakabee” — whose real name is Elius Nicholas — as that was the only available open space on the crowded craft. By that point, his small boat was carrying 10 to 11 people, a mix of injured survivors and rescue volunteers. He navigated toward Canaries, hoping the rough, choppy sea conditions would ease enough to allow the injured to be brought safely ashore, and remained by Chakabee’s side until an ambulance arrived to transport the wounded man for medical care. Caffu disclosed that the tragedy had deeply personal stakes for him: he is a blood relative of one of the deceased, Tyrone Paul, and had shared a close, long-term friendship with another victim, Marley Williams. When commissioners asked if he would require professional trauma counselling to process the events, he responded that he was mentally resilient and drew strength from his religious faith. Commission Chair Mario Mitchell formally thanked all three witnesses for their brave, rapid response that saved dozens of lives the night of the crash, and confirmed that free, confidential trauma counselling services would be made available to all three men at any time if they chose to access it.

  • Vieux Fort back on top in SPFL, as contenders fall

    Vieux Fort back on top in SPFL, as contenders fall

    With only four matchdays remaining in the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL) Tier 1 campaign, a flurry of high-stakes fixtures over the past week has reshaped the top of the standings, upending pre-season expectations and blowing the title race wide open for unexpected contenders. League leaders Vieux Fort South have built a comfortable points buffer at the summit, notching consecutive wins at Soufrière Stadium to pull clear of chasing pack rivals that have stumbled dramatically in recent outings.

    The most notable collapse comes from two-time defending champions La Clery, who have managed to scrape together just a single point across their last three matches, officially eliminating themselves from title contention for the current season. Their recent slump deepened over the weekend, when they fell 1-0 to Gros Islet in a physically fraught, ill-tempered clash that ended with both sides reduced to depleted numbers. Gros Islet’s Thierry Morille netted the only goal of the game in the 34th minute, before the match spiraled into disciplinary chaos late on: La Clery’s Dante Fitz was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 86th minute, followed by teammate Lyndon Constantine receiving an immediate red card for violent conduct two minutes later. Gros Islet also finished the fixture with 10 men, after Samaiel Louisen was dismissed for violent conduct in the 88th minute. The defending side’s poor form has been widely attributed to a wave of key off-season transfers that stripped their squad of critical depth and experience.

    The side that briefly claimed the top spot earlier this month, Dennery, has also fallen sharply off the title pace, suffering back-to-back defeats in the span of a week. They first fell to Mabouya Valley last weekend, before a narrow late loss to Canaries on Tuesday night derailed their promotion chase. Robert Regis put Canaries ahead in the 14th minute, and Lorrick St. Omer sealed the full three points with a dramatic 90+3 minute strike deep into second-half stoppage time. The result keeps Canaries firmly planted in the league’s upper mid-table bracket, while effectively ending Dennery’s shot at the top prize.

    Elsewhere, Mabouya Valley delivered a statement 5-0 rout of Soufrière to catapult themselves clear of the relegation zone, in a dominant attacking display that saw multiple players put on standout performances. Maius Stanislaus opened the scoring in the 10th minute, before Canice Sandiford doubled the lead in the 21st minute. Sandiford notched his brace with a 76th-minute penalty, while Torian Joseph bagged a second-half double with goals in the 60th and 86th minutes to round out the lopsided victory.

    Capitalizing fully on the missteps of their competitors, Vieux Fort South secured a dominant 4-1 win over local rivals Vieux Fort North in the highly anticipated southern derby over the weekend. Vieux Fort North drew first blood early, when Riquelme Elva converted a 6th-minute penalty, but the league leaders responded with four unanswered goals to run away with the result: Saviola Elva equalized from the penalty spot in the 10th minute, Jerneil Alexander put Vieux Fort South ahead just two minutes later, Shaun Joseph added a third in first-half stoppage time (45+1), and Trent Alexander wrapped up the scoring in the 54th minute.

    At the bottom of the table, two relegation-threatened sides Anse La Raye and Central Castries played out a tightly contested 2-2 draw to split the points, leaving both still vulnerable to dropping out of the top tier. Brandon Williams put Anse La Raye ahead in the 17th minute, before Benerrero Wellington equalized for Central Castries in the 39th. Zedan Augustin restored Anse La Raye’s lead in the 54th minute, but Aazah Daniel fired home a second equalizer for Central Castries in the 70th minute to ensure no side walked away with a full three points.

    Official SPFL match photos capture key moments across the recent fixtures, including Mabouya Valley’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Soufrière, Vieux Fort South’s derby day celebrations, on-pitch action from the Vieux Fort local rivalry, and Canaries’ upset win over Dennery.

  • Giving vulnerable children a place to finally call home

    Giving vulnerable children a place to finally call home

    A wave of widespread local support at the 2026 annual fundraising gala for the Holy Family Children’s Home has moved the decades-long childcare institution one critical step closer to securing its long-envisioned permanent residential facility, dubbed its “forever home.” Held on Saturday, October 24 at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian resort, the star-studded community dinner drew a cross-section of Saint Lucian society, including ordinary residents, leading local business leaders, and prominent national public figures, all gathering to rally behind the vulnerable children under the home’s care.
    For years, the Holy Family Children’s Home has served as a critical safe haven for youth who have endured profound trauma, including familial abandonment, physical and emotional abuse, and the devastating loss of their primary caregivers. For years, its administrative team has prioritized the construction of a purpose-built, permanent facility that would eliminate the need for temporary relocations and deliver a stable, nurturing environment where the children can put down roots and thrive without the uncertainty of displacement.
    Sister Antonia David, the home’s administrator, emphasized that the consistent, unwavering backing from Saint Lucian communities — and particularly the corporate sector — has been the backbone of their progress toward this milestone. “We saw an incredible turnout this year, with corporate organizations showing up in droves, just as they have year after year, contributing their resources, time, and care in so many creative ways,” David shared. She added that the growing momentum around the project makes the dream of a dedicated, permanent home feel more tangible than ever: “This forever home is no longer a distant vision. We are so close to giving these children a space that is fully theirs, a place they can truly call home without ever having to move again. These young people have already faced so much upheaval in their short lives, and they deserve that unshakable stability more than anything.”
    The event also received robust support from local creatives and entertainers, who donated their time and talents free of charge to lift the evening and amplify the home’s mission. Popular host and performer Lance “Sirlancealot” Mongroo made a deliberate choice to prioritize the fundraiser over a paid performance engagement in Dominica, turning down the out-of-island gig to emcee the gala. “I knew my purpose was right here, showing up for these kids and this orphanage,” Mongroo explained. “Every single child deserves to feel safe, to feel unconditionally loved, and most of all, to believe that tomorrow can be brighter than the day they are living right now.”
    Award-winning local recording artist Michael “MR” Robinson also took the stage, performing his uplifting original single “Champion” for the attendees. Robinson noted that contributing his musical gift to the cause felt far more meaningful than any monetary donation he could have made, and he used his platform to issue a call to fellow local creatives to prioritize community care. “You don’t need to have large sums of money to give back,” he urged other entertainers across Saint Lucia. “Lend your unique talents, whatever they may be. There is so much we can do to lift up these young people and show them they are seen and valued.”
    As donations continue to be tallied and community support streams in in the wake of the successful gala, the Holy Family Children’s Home team says this collective outpouring of care is the fuel that will turn their years-long dream of a permanent, forever home into a reality for the vulnerable children they serve.

  • SCSS, SALCC on top going into schools basketball quarterfinals

    SCSS, SALCC on top going into schools basketball quarterfinals

    The preliminary stage of the Under-19 Secondary School Basketball Championship, hosted by the Department of Youth Development and Sports, drew to a close on Tuesday at the Beausejour Gymnasium in Saint Lucia, as two dominant blowout wins from Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School (SCSS) and title-holding Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) locked in the full lineup for the upcoming knockout quarterfinals.

    In the decisive Group B finale, SCSS ran roughshod over Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School (SISSS) with a lopsided 94-20 triumph to top their group standings. Standout talent Curdin Jones matched his own single-game tournament scoring record with a staggering 61-point outing, paired with an overwhelming 39 rebounds to control every inch of the paint, alongside 10 steals and 2 assists. Aloysious William turned in a historic defensive masterclass, notching 23 steals to go with 14 points, while Trenton Henry posted a well-rounded stat line of 12 points, 12 steals and 7 rebounds. For SISSS, Jaden Gabriel topped his side’s performance with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals, and Tyrese St. Rose chipped in 6 points and 4 steals in the losing effort.

    Defending champions SALCC kept their flawless group stage record intact with a commanding 60-23 defeat of Entrepôt Secondary School (ESS) to seal the top spot in Group A. The squad based in the Morne neighborhood seized control from the opening tip, building a 22-6 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play, and held ESS completely scoreless in the second quarter to carry a 25-6 lead into the halftime break. Nyel Joseph led the defending title holders with a game-high 26 points, supplemented by 6 steals and 4 assists. Nezan Lewis contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists, while Shaynne Edgar put up 9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists. ESS’s top performers included Terrance Alcee with 6 points and 2 steals, and Imani Gonzague who added 3 points.

    The final scheduled group stage fixture ended in an official walkover victory for Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary, after their opponents Micoud Secondary failed to arrive at the venue for the match.

    With all preliminary round action now finalized, the quarterfinal knockout phase is scheduled to tip off this Thursday at the Beausejour Gymnasium. The first matchup will see undefeated SALCC face off against Vieux Fort Comprehensive at 11:00 a.m., followed by a 12:00 noon clash between St Mary’s College and Entrepôt Secondary. SCSS will take on Beanefield Comprehensive at 1:00 p.m., before a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between Leon Hess Comprehensive and Castries Comprehensive at 2:00 p.m. wraps up the day’s action, with the winners of all four fixtures advancing to the tournament’s final four round.

  • Descarte, Gaston react to West Indies A selection

    Descarte, Gaston react to West Indies A selection

    Two promising cricketing talents from Saint Lucia, all-rounder Shadrack Descarte and emerging fast bowler Keon Gaston, have secured coveted call-ups to the West Indies A roster this week, as the side prepares for an eight-match white-ball showdown against England A hosted across St Kitts and Nevis. Both athletes are arriving at the training and match camp with sharp focus, determined to leave a lasting positive impression on head coach Ottis Gibson as they chase career-defining progress toward full senior West Indies national selection.

    For 29-year-old Descarte, the call-up marks a hard-earned milestone after years of consistent high performance across regional domestic and franchise cricket. A veteran of 17 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) appearances, he turned heads during the 2026 season representing the Barbados Tridents, amassing 123 total runs including a career-high knock of 56 against the Jamaica Kingsmen at the iconic Kensington Oval. Since making his regional debut for the Windward Islands Volcanoes in 2022, he has notched three half-centuries and one century across 28 competitive appearances for the side, cementing his reputation as a reliable, dynamic all-round threat.

    “This is an absolutely incredible opportunity, and I cannot be more grateful for it,” Descarte shared in a post-selection interview. “This brings me one huge step closer to the career goals I have mapped out for myself over the next few years, and it’s validation that all the hours of hard work I’ve put in over the years are paying off, that everything is falling into place as I hoped it would. I see this series as my chance to prove to West Indies selectors, and cricket fans across the globe, exactly what I am capable of delivering. I am going to pour every ounce of effort I have into this campaign, to make myself, my family, and the entire nation of Saint Lucia proud, and push my way into contention for a spot in the senior West Indies setup.”

    For 22-year-old rising fast bowling prospect Gaston, the series represents a rare chance to learn directly from one of the most decorated white-ball bowling figures in West Indies cricket history: head coach Ottis Gibson, who claimed 34 wickets in just 15 senior One Day International appearances, and racked up an extraordinary 328 scalps across his storied regional white-ball career.

    “Making the West Indies A squad is the proudest moment of my sporting life so far, it means the absolute world to me,” Gaston remarked. “This isn’t just a win for me, it’s a proud milestone for my whole family, and every coach, teammate and supporter who has stood by me and helped me get to this point. I am going to seize every single moment of this camp and series, give every performance my absolute best, and soak up every bit of knowledge and experience I can get from the coaching staff and senior players. I’ll learn just as much from any missteps as I do from the wins, and I’m fully focused on turning this into a standout, career-advancing A-team tour.”

  • Government explores electricity bill relief with LUCELEC

    Government explores electricity bill relief with LUCELEC

    The Saint Lucian government has launched active, ongoing negotiations with local utility provider LUCELEC to roll out targeted relief measures, as surging electricity bills create unprecedented financial strain for residential households and small-to-medium businesses across the island. Official government communications confirm that Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has led a series of high-level dialogues with LUCELEC leadership to design short-term, immediate interventions to reduce customer burdens, which are being evaluated to include flexible extended payment arrangements for overdue balances, a temporary moratorium on service disconnections for vulnerable customers, and additional targeted financial assistance packages for low-income groups. Moving beyond immediate stopgap solutions, the national Consumer Affairs Department will spearhead follow-up working groups with LUCELEC stakeholders to co-develop long-term, sustainable policy frameworks that permanently alleviate the persistent financial pressure facing energy consumers. The government explicitly attributes the sharp rise in local electricity costs to ongoing international geopolitical frictions, including heightened tensions in Iran that have pushed global fossil fuel market prices upward, a ripple effect that has directly driven up power generation expenses for the island’s energy network. While advancing negotiations with LUCELEC, the Pierre administration has already implemented a suite of existing cost-mitigation policies to shield consumers from the full brunt of global price spikes. Between October 26 and November 15, 2024, targeted subsidies are applied to road transport fuels: gasoline receives a $1.15 per imperial gallon subsidy, while diesel is subsidized at $2.50 per imperial gallon, locking both retail prices at a capped $17.25 per gallon. Without these interventions, consumers would face market rates of $18.40 per gallon for gasoline and $19.75 per gallon for diesel. The government has also extended substantial support for cooking gas, a core household essential: for a standard 20-pound cylinder refill, the pre-subsidy market price stands at $76.25, with the government covering $40.25 to bring the consumer’s out-of-pocket cost down to just $36. For the widely used 22-pound cylinder, the $83.87 pre-subsidy cost is cut by $43.87 via public funds, leaving end users to pay only $40. Administration officials openly acknowledge that sustaining these large-scale fuel subsidies creates significant fiscal pressure on the national budget, highlighting the urgent need for transformative long-term strategies to cut Saint Lucia’s decades-long dependence on costly imported fossil fuels. These forward-looking initiatives include ongoing feasibility assessments and development of domestic geothermal energy resources, paired with a full value-added tax exemption for eligible solar photovoltaic hardware and professional installation services. Government planners note that these renewable energy policies are designed to scale up local clean energy adoption, reduce exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets, and lock in stable, affordable electricity rates for all consumers over the coming decade.