THE locally owned and operated resort chain, Bay Gardens Resorts, has given cricketers Darren Sammy and Johnson Charles the keys to Bay Gardens Resorts which includes Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa, Bay Gardens Hotel, Bay Gardens Inn and the Caribbean’s first ever open-water park, Splash Island Water Park.
The chain said this reward was to honour their achievements at the recent World T20 Cup in India, in which the West Indies team captured the championship.
Bay Gardens Resorts has been home of West Indies Cricket, hosting the team for 21 years during cricket fixtures and continues to show support and appreciation for the team and players alike. The resorts have also been home to a number of international and regional teams.
“We are proud to be associated with West Indies Cricket and were thrilled with the team’s performance. Sport, and especially athletics, is one of the most important brand builders for Saint Lucia and as such it is in the spirt and fulfilment of our promise, that we have rewarded both Darren Sammy and Johnson Charles for their achievements in the recent World T20 tournament”, said Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts, SanovnikDestang.
Bay Gardens Resorts’ promise is an example of the organization’s keen interest in supporting and working with young Saint Lucian icons who inspire others to achieve the same, the chain said.
Sammy who has showcased his leadership on many occasions, was the first Saint Lucian to be named captain of the West Indies in October 2010. He went on to lead the West Indies team to their first world title since 1979 World Cup with a stirring victory over hosts Sri Lanka in the 2012 World T20 final and repeated the feat in 2016 defeating England in the final.
Charles, a right hand opening batsman, first made his mark in the 2012 World T20 squad, where his 84 against England, incredibly, was his highest score in any form of the game. He then achieved his first ODI hundred a few months later in Australia. His performance, scoring 52 in the Semi-Final of the 2016 World T20 semi-final was a big contributor to the team’s victory and advancement to the Final.