The streets in Castries were completely transformed yesterday as the Independence Baton Relay passed there on its final lap, as the country prepares to celebrate its 46th Anniversary of Independence on Saturday.
School children, business institutions, and onlookers showed up in large numbers for the activity which began last month.
Participants were dressed in the colours of the flag and were beaming with pride as they went around the constituency.
“We never envisaged the baton relay to have grown into what it is today. It has grown so largely… that I’ve received calls from persons around the world asking me about the various constituencies [and] the days that they will be showcasing their talent,” Castries Central MP Richard Frederick said recently.
“We have to remain proud as Saint Lucian people because no matter what they say, our smallness has created indentations on the global village that cannot be erased,” he added.
Now in its third year, the relay is an integral part of the celebrations of Saint Lucia’s Independence.
This year, the activity started in Union, Babonneau, at the Dame Pearlette Louisy Primary School. It moved on to Gros Islet and other constituencies on the island before ending in Castries yesterday.
Held under the theme ‘Douvan Ansanm: Health and Well-being for a Prosperous Nation’, this symbolic relay unites communities, institutions, and citizens in a collective commitment to national development, as observed by the Ministry.
The event aligns with the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to promote active lifestyles and raise awareness of the importance of physical fitness in preventing non-communicable diseases.