“It’s a wonderful time for Sports in Saint Lucia,” he says. According to him, the year 1987 was Saint Lucia’s most successful sporting year. However, with the notable achievements of athletes in 2023, this year tops its 20th-century counterpart.
“1987 was our pretty much barometer year in achievement, winning the Caribbean Cup in football, cricket, doing great things. But this year, we have seen Julien Alfred reach the absolute pinnacle of collegiate track and field.”
Alfred, after being named the USTFCCCA Female National Track Athlete of the Year, seized the elusive Bowerman Award on Dec. 14, 2023. Up-and-coming female cricketer, Zaida James, was awarded her first contract with Cricket West Indies. The island is also performing well in the arena of Alternative Sports. This November, the Saint Lucia’s Auto Sound Club dominated other clubs in the region in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“We also had a weekend where our table tennis team came out on top, in fact, in every division – male, female, overall champions in table tennis at the OECS level and so we are very proud of where we’re going in terms of sport,” Casimir added.
At present, the Minister clarified, that Saint Lucia has athletes on retainer for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. “Certainly, Saint Lucia may have six [athletes], perhaps not at the Paris Olympics, but certainly at the Olympics after. A minimum of six athletes in terms of the field events [with] javelin as well.”
Casimir says the government is also focusing on the mental health of the nation’s athletes. He notes the mental health of athletes has historically been ignored.
“This government has really focused on the psychosocial [aspect]. When I say psychosocial, I mean their social life, their parenting, their background, their society, the community they live in, and what they eat – all those sorts of things so we could take care of that aspect of their lives, so they can focus on the field and then focusing on the physical development,” the Minister explained.
The Minister says the government will continue providing opportunities for young athletes to compete regionally and intentionally.