PRESS RELEASE – THE Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is looking forward to welcoming scores of England cricket fans for the upcoming series of matches on the island in the England tour of the West Indies. The fan group known globally as the Barmy Army, follows the England cricket team on tours around the world.
Minister for Tourism, Honourable Dominic Fedee is particularly excited about hosting the Barmy Army for a friendly T20 Match at the Gros Islet Playing Field on Friday, February 8, 2019. The Minister of Tourism’s XI versus the Barmy Army T20 Match will present opportunities for government ministers, local cricketers and the public to interact with the traveling England supporters in an exchange of knowledge, culture and skills.
“Three of my colleague Ministers have confirmed their spots on the Minister’s XI team, and we hope to exhibit skills other than good governance when we play our English friends,” said a brimming Minister Fedee. “This friendly match is a wonderful opportunity to highlight Saint Lucia’s warmth to our visitors, and give them more reasons to return to our destination very soon,” he added.
Expected to play for the Minister for Tourism’s XI are Hon. Fedee; Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Honourable Dr.Ubaldus Raymond; Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Honourable Edmund Estephane; and Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security, Senator the Honourable Hermangild Francis. The Barmy Army is also expected to play a T10 match against a team from TalkSports UK at the same venue on Friday afternoon, February 8, 2019.
The SLTA is partnering with the Saint Lucia Cricket Association to host matches in the England Cricket Tour of the West Indies on Saint Lucia from February 9 to March 5, 2019. England and the West Indies will play the 3rd Test match in the series from February 9-13; a One-Day International (ODI) on March 2; and a T20 on March 5 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
The SLTA will have a full presence during the series with Brand Ambassadors displaying Giant Score Cards in the Party Stand and branded collateral distribution. But, more significantly, the SLTA will use the opportunity to feature the destination on the global stage through foreign media hosting, and the presentation of videos and images of Saint Lucia throughout the matches on media stations broadcasting the series around the world.