Castries, St Lucia – The Republic Bank “Five for Fun Cricket” programme has returned to St. Lucia as Republic Bank (EC) Limited (RBEC) in collaboration with Cricket West Indies (CWI), launched this year’s edition of the exciting all-inclusive cricket programme, at Republic Bank’s Castries Branch on Thursday 13th March 2025. The launch also marked the commencement of the fifth edition of the programme in St. Lucia.
The initiative, which was first successfully piloted in Saint Lucia in 2021, is an Under 12 short-format cricket competition, designed for both boys’ and girls’ participation at the primary school level.
It is set to engage students aged 8 to 12 years in formal cricket coaching and the fundamentals of the game. Republic Bank “Five for Fun” forms the base of CWI’s developmental pathway and ensures that children not only have access to cricket at the primary school level, but promotes the game in a fun, safe, player-centered environment, with opportunities for social and life skills development through cricket.
The launch event was well-attended by participating students of the Bocage Primary, Anse La Raye Primary and Ciceron Primary Schools, the Honourable Shawn Edward, Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, the Honourable Kenson Casimir, Minister of Youth Development and Sports, representatives from Republic Bank (EC) Limited, programme coaches, national and West Indian youth cricketers, and representatives from the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA).
Minister of Youth Development and Sports, the Honourable Kenson Casimir, who attended the launch, shared the following comments on the 5th instalment of the programme and cricket’s importance to St. Lucia: “Cricket is very important to St. Lucia, and sharing in the sentiments of Permanent Secretary Dr. Uralise Delaire who spoke at the ceremony today, cricket ticks every single box as it aligns to the objectives set out by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Development, for personal, physical and mental development of children. Our young people have the opportunity to progress in a structured development pathway, with opportunities of becoming professional cricketers, with a solid start in programmes such as this.” Minister Casimir continued; “When we invest in cricket we invest in community. This helps kids foster discipline and become productive citizens of St. Lucia following in the footsteps of Daren Sammy, Johnson Charles, Julian Alfred, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph and many others. As the Minister of Youth Development and Sport we are about to invest in a semi-professional cricket league so we appreciate measures such as these that can hone in on cricket development skills at the base of our cricket development pyramid.”
Mrs. Gezella Claxton, Country Manager, Republic Bank St. Lucia also made brief remarks to the gathering: "The development of cricket in St. Lucia is a key component of our broader mission to contribute positively to the communities we serve. As a signatory of the Principles of Responsible Banking (PRB), we see sports as a powerful tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting health, education, and equality. We are particularly proud to emphasise the programme's focus on inclusion and equality.”
Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mr. Cyrus Cepal, speaking on behalf the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology, and Vocational Training in a passionate address said: “On behalf of the Minister of Education, I want to register our appreciation to Republic Bank and CWI for once again committing to the continuation of the Five for Fun cricket at selected primary schools. We are of the firm belief that Sports and Education have a direct correlation to the learning process of students. Cricket is in our DNA, and there is a bright future for anyone who decides to make it a career. We subscribe to the 21st century definition of Education; giving students the skills they need to succeed in this new world and helping them grow the confidence to practice those skills. We are promoting this modality of Education against the traditional rote learning method. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are some of the skills being developed and cricket provides the perfect condition to accelerate that process. On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I confirm our commitment to ensuring a successful implementation of the Five for Fun 5th year programme.
Recognizing the value of the Republic Bank “Five for Fun” Cricket programme towards the development of the island’s cricket, First Vice President of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA) Mr. John Estephane, brought remarks on behalf of the national cricket association: “The SLNCA is extremely grateful for the continued contributions of Cricket West Indies and Republic Bank towards cricket development in St. Lucia through the Five for Fun Initiative. The Five for Fun program has ensured that many of our young cricketers have an opportunity to participate in a very exciting cricket program. Growing cricket at the grassroots level is a strategic priority of SLNCA, and Five for fun helps us tremendously in meeting that objective. We appreciate the direct positive impact on our cricket program and the overall benefit of fostering teamwork, discipline, and a spirit of healthy competition among our students and budding cricketers.”
This year will see thirty (30) primary schools across six (6) zones in St. Lucia engaged in training and matches, with 5 additional schools added to the schedule. Riviere Doree Anglican Combined School, winner of the 2024 RBL Five for Fun Cricket tournament, will be participating in this year’s programme and aim to defend their title as reigning national champions. After successful completion of preliminary matches within zones, the six (6) zonal Champions will then proceed to the Five for Fun National Finals slated for June 2025.