With the Saint Lucia Labour Party securing a second straight term, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has undertaken a limited cabinet reshuffle. Notably, Kenson Casimir has been reappointed as Minister for Youth Development and Sports, marking a departure from the long‑standing pattern of one‑term appointments within the portfolio.
Casimir has additionally been assigned responsibility for education, reuniting the education and sports ministries for the first time since 2006. This consolidation, while broadening his brief, signals continuity in the sports sector and in the policy direction established during the 2021–2025 term.
Such stability creates an opportunity to develop a comprehensive National Sports Policy and establish a School Sports Commission – now more feasible under a unified ministerial structure.
To determine the areas most in need of enhancement as the sector moves into its next phase, St. Lucia Times consulted expert insiders for their perspectives.
Investment in infrastructure
One of the most prominent areas requiring advancement is infrastructure. Saint Lucia lacks state-of-the-art sports facilities. David Shakes Christopher, president of the Saint Lucia Boxing Federation, reiterated his call for the establishment of facilities in the south of the island, which he views as a major need, decentralising the sport in the process.
“We need a gym for the Vieux Fort boxers. If you notice, one of the Vieux Fort boxers just created history by winning his first bout at the men’s international in Dubai. First time a Saint Lucian boxer won such a prestigious bout on the international scene,” he said.
“We’ve been clamouring and calling for a gym for the south of the island. I think the time is right now for the government to establish a gym out in the south. We already earmarked a gym for Soufrière. Gros Islet, we had discussions with the parliamentary rep regarding a space for some equipment in the Gros Islet area. The Castries are up and running. We just need these gyms so we can create more champions and better citizens.”
Dora Henry, president of the Saint Lucia Athletics Association, echoed these sentiments, calling for the modernisation of track infrastructure to better serve athletes, noting:
“When we speak about infrastructure, it must extend beyond simply having a track available. Saint Lucia needs safe, modern and well-maintained facilities in both the north and south, along with clear policies for management, access and maintenance. When athletes train on inadequate surfaces or clubs face obstacles in accessing venues, performance, safety, and retention are directly affected.”
Investment in clubs
Another area of concern is the state of the island’s sports club structure. Saint Lucia has a few thriving clubs, with others struggling to remain viable. Several observers have highlighted this shortcoming, including regular St. Lucia Times contributor Joseph Reds Perreira and Leader of the Opposition Allen Chastanet.
Henry believes that bridging this gap lies in the early identification and support of talent from a young age.
“At this point in our development, Saint Lucia’s most urgent need is sustained investment across the entire athletics pathway from early talent identification at the grassroots level to world-class high-performance support,” he said. “We have some remarkable athletes, committed coaches/officials and strong community clubs, but without consistent resources and capacity building, it becomes challenging to maintain momentum or achieve long-term growth.
“What we require from the government is not one-off or event-based support, but a structured, long-term framework that prioritises facilities, equipment, sport science, coach education, and athlete welfare. These are the pillars that convert raw talent into results, and results into legacy.”
Investment in people
There’s still a noticeable gap between the amateur ranks and the professional circuit, not just for athletes, but for the coaches, trainers, and administrators who support them. The rise of semi-professional leagues has helped close that distance, but insiders say there’s still a long way to go if local sport is going to keep moving forward.
“What we have achieved so far is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Francis Daniel, CEO of the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League. “The Semi-Pro League has already demonstrated its power to transform football in Saint Lucia, strengthening communities, creating professional pathways, empowering players financially and raising the standard of the game across the island.
“However, with these gains also come new responsibilities. The next phase of growth will require us to streamline our operations to maximise efficiency and ensure consistent delivery, build and protect the League’s brand, enhance its presence, credibility and value, develop and implement a long-term strategic business plan to sustain the league and safeguard its future.
“The League has shown what is possible when vision meets commitment. Now, the challenge and opportunity is to strengthen our foundation, expand our reach, and elevate the league into a fully sustainable national sporting product.”
Adding his voice to this area of concern, Christopher called for the development of a semi-professional league circuit in boxing.
“We would like to see most of our young boxers, especially those young elites, being put under a programme where they can train more and do more preparation instead of going and working in kitchens and working in hotels and working in restaurants that have them on their feet all day. We need to put these guys in a special programme. You have semi-pro football, you have semi-pro cricket. It’s time we see some semi-pro coming into the boxing area.”
The work-sport conundrum is also evident in the rapidly growing discipline of mixed martial arts, according to Mandalee Mason, public relations officer for the Saint Lucia Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Mason noted that despite the presence of many individuals with deep experience in combat sports – including MMA practitioners, local coaches and athletes who have represented Saint Lucia in disciplines such as combat Sambo – too few possess the formal certification required to train others.
She stressed that developing a cadre of certified MMA trainers is essential if the sport is to progress. In her view, equipping local personnel with recognised coaching qualifications would not only strengthen athlete development but also create a pool of trained coaches who could support school programmes and other grassroots initiatives across the island.
Conclusion
Based on the information provided by these administrators, Saint Lucia appears to be on the right path for development in the sports arena. However, there are still significant issues that must be addressed to move forward. Perhaps the current state of Saint Lucian athletics can best be defined through the following quote from Athletics Association President Henry:
“Saint Lucia already has the talent and the passion. What we now require is an environment that makes high performance achievable and sustainable for generations to come.”
