The president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has endorsed Saint Lucia’s Sports Minister, Kenson Casimir, citing his record of “genuine sporting transformation” ahead of Monday’s general election.
Steve Ninvalle, who also serves as his country’s Director of Sport, praised Casimir’s leadership as the member of parliament for Gros Islet.
Casimir won Gros Islet in 2021 as a newcomer on the Saint Lucia Labour Party ticket, defeating former MP Lenard “Spider” Montoute. The former youth and sports worker, sports reporter and entrepreneur is seeking a second term against Marcella Johnson of the United Workers Party.
Ninvalle has served as GBA president for four terms, national sports director since 2021 and is a former deputy permanent secretary and member of parliament.
He has worked closely with Casimir in various capacities. Saint Lucia has hosted several boxing tournaments over the past three years, including the Caribbean Boxing Championships earlier this year.
“Minister Casimir has been a long-standing friend of boxing,” Ninvalle said. “Since taking office, he has shown unwavering support not just for our sport, but for almost every discipline in Saint Lucia. The growth seen over the last four years is no coincidence. It is the product of committed leadership, investment, and a clear understanding of what sports can do for young people and for national development.”
Ninvalle said the leadership of the Saint Lucia Labour Party under Prime Minister Philip J Pierre has been instrumental in elevating sports across the island. The island has seen upgrades to key sporting facilities, continued investment in athlete development, the revival of community programmes, and increased support for national federations. Ninvalle added that the continuity of this progress depends heavily on stable and visionary leadership.
“For the sake of ongoing development in Saint Lucia, I am hopeful that the party and Minister Casimir return to office. They have laid a strong foundation, and with another term, I believe they can take sports in Saint Lucia to even greater heights. The region is watching, and we value their partnership.”
Ninvalle has helped revitalise boxing across the region by delivering equipment and funds to national federations and local gyms. He says Casimir’s involvement in helping spur the sport in Saint Lucia has been “consistent, sincere, and impactful”.
