This coming weekend will be historic for sports in Saint Lucia, as the island gears up to host the 40th Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Congress.
This gathering serves as the annual general meeting for the region’s governing body for the beautiful game. Key decisions will be made regarding the future of football within its 41 member states. Over 250 delegates from across the world of football will be present, including prominent figures such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Notably, Saint Lucia is the first small island developing state to host a CONCACAF Congress. The significance of this event was highlighted by Minister for Youth Development and Sports Kenson Casimir, during Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing.
“For an island as small as Saint Lucia to be in a position and have the wherewithal to host a CONCACAF Congress, it speaks volumes about our social and economic position in the region. It means that we have all the dynamics that a global entity like CONCACAF requires to host all the delegates,” he noted.
“It means that we have the hotels. It means that we have the conference space. It means that we have the logistics on the ground. It means that we are in a fundamental economic position to host them successfully as a Ministry of Economic Development, and it means that Saint Lucia is putting the rest of the world on notice that when it comes to sports development, the rest of the world could look to Saint Lucia to host significant events such as this.”
The Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA), in collaboration with local agencies, has been instrumental in organising this congress. Recent initiatives, such as the launch of the inaugural Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL), highlight the nation’s commitment to advancing football. Casimir revealed that football administrators will benefit from the opportunity to engage in discussions with CONCACAF officials regarding the development of the SPFL, particularly in terms of logistics.
Hosting the CONCACAF Congress is expected to enhance Saint Lucia’s reputation as a capable host for major sporting events, potentially leading to further opportunities in the future. This aligns with the growth of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector of the tourism industry—a segment in which Saint Lucia won the Caribbean’s Best MICE Destination Award at the 2023 World MICE Awards. Minister for Tourism, Dr Ernest Hilaire, emphasised the significance of this landmark event, stating that it “gives us a kind of exposure that we need.”
