Saint Lucia: Annual National Sports Award returns after two-year COVID break

Saint Lucia: On January 12, the Ministry of Youth and Development joyfully announced that, after a two-year hiatus, the annual National Sport Awards would be returning. 

According to the Ministry of Youth and Development, the annual National Sports Awards made a triumphant comeback in Saint Lucia on Thursday, January 12. The event was cancelled for the past two years as the virus was so prevalent in 2020 and 21

The Ministry postponed the sports award presentation for the safety and well-being of the island’s residents, but it will now be held again on February 18.

For their prompt submissions, which cover the sporting period from January 1 2020, to December 31, 2022, the various sports associations have received praise and thanks from the Ministry. The organisations listed below will participate in the award event.

• Volleyball Saint Lucia
• Saint Lucia National Darts Association
• Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union
• Saint Lucia Amateur Boxing Association
• Saint Lucia Athletics Association
• Saint Lucia National Netball Association
• Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation
• Saint Lucia Basketball Federation
• Saint Lucia National Cricket Association
• Saint Lucia National Table Tennis Association
• Karate-Do Federation Saint Lucia
• Saint Lucia Golf Association

A five-member judging panel will provide a shortlist of candidates, which will be announced later. The Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa.

Ahead of the 2023–2024 Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre also hosted the first official budget policy meeting yesterday. It was the Ministry’s first gathering in 2023 for youth and sports in Saint Lucia.

The prime minister met with National Security, Home Affairs, and Justice Department representatives to discuss budget requests and strategies for enhancing governmental operations.

The government is working to strengthen the police force, deal with case backlogs, and implement several strategic interventions to deal with national security issues, according to Prime Minister Pierre, who stated that these agencies would be given priority in the upcoming budget presentation.