Excitement filled the air as Republic Bank (EC) Limited (RBEC) officially launched the fifth edition of its ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket Programme at its Castries Branch on March 13, 2025. This dynamic grassroots initiative is designed to introduce young cricketers to the fundamentals of the sport in a fun and engaging way.
Successfully piloted in Saint Lucia in 2021, ‘Five for Fun’, is a dynamic Under 12 short-format cricket competition designed to promote boys’ and girls’ participation at the primary school level. Through a collaboration between Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies (CWI), ’Five for Fun’ provides aspiring CWI players with a structured pathway and regional coaching framework, ensuring that children have access to cricket in a fun, safe and player-centred environment.
John Estephane, 1st Vice President of the National Cricket Association expressed his heartfelt gratitude to CWI and Republic Bank for continuing to support this initiative and spoke to the programme’s value in youth development.
The launch event was well-attended by participating students, coaches, representatives from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, the Ministry of Education, the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA) and representatives from RBEC. Several young cricket stars who represent Saint Lucia regionally and internationally were also present.
One of those stars, Selena Ross, a thriving young team player of the St. Lucia National Women’s, Windwards Under 19 and Women’s Senior teams and West Indies Women’s Under-19 team, spoke passionately about the sport and encouraged others to get involved with the programme.
The ‘Five for Fun’ programme aims to foster love and passion for cricket among young players while instilling key values such as teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.
Gezella Claxton, Country Manager for Republic Bank Saint Lucia reinforced the Bank’s commitment to both cricket and community development.
The ‘Five for Fun’ initiative will culminate in a festival final, where the top five zonal teams will compete. Each team will comprise five players, with a match format of two innings (5-overs per inning). Each team will include at least two boys and two girls, and everyone will have an opportunity to bat, bowl and field. Republic Bank, through its sponsorship, aims to create an opportunity to nurture talent from a young age by providing access to quality coaching facilities, training for coaches, education in the spirit of the game and its values, and the promotion of good sportsmanship among players and fans.
Kenson Casimir, Minister of Youth Development and Sports, spoke about the crucial role cricket plays in developing young athletes and the potential to create the next Saint Lucian cricket star.
He also conveyed his appreciation for partnerships with corporate communities like this one to help grow the next generation.
Students attending the opening ceremony spoke fondly about looking forward to representing their schools and learning how to play cricket. Eldrige Charles, Zone 2 cricket coach for the programme, spoke of the joy the programme brings to the kids and urged parents to allow their children to take part.
The ‘Five for Fun’ programme is about more than cricket, it is about building character, fostering community spirit and inspiring the leaders. With this launch, RBEC continues to champion youth engagement and community empowerment, ensuring that the spirit of cricket remains alive for generations to come.