The Henry Charles Commonwealth Cup (HCCC) launches simultaneously this morning in Saint Lucia and the United Kingdom (UK), to kick off an annual tournament to honour the proud legacy of the late Saint Lucian Director of Youth Affairs for the Commonwealth.
The event, which gets underway at the indoor sporting facility at the Daren Sammy Ground, Beausejour starting from 9 am, will coincide with a similar launch in Bromley, UK.
According to the organizing team (including members in Saint Lucia, the UK and other Commonwealth member-nations), the event aims to unite and inspire young footballers of any gender and background, worldwide.
This morning’s ceremony will include international, regional and local messages and good wishes from governments and related sporting entities in Saint Lucia and the UK, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and The Commonwealth Secretariat.
Sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the event has also drawn participation from the Saint Lucia National Olympic Committee, the Department of Youth & Sports, National Football associations and several individuals offering voluntary support.
The private sector has also chipped in with several sponsors also teaming with the organizers of this first local event with an international footprint following Saint Lucia’s recent series of victories by Julien Alfred at The Paris 2024 Olympics and the Diamond League, the Caribbean T20 Cup and other wins at home and abroad in swimming, boxing and chess.
This morning’s event is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Youth and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir, Education Minister Shawn Edwards and other Cabinet Ministers.
It will feature a formal introduction of how the HCCC came to be and why the tournament is named after Saint Lucia’s late Dr Henry Charles, for many directing the Commonwealth’s youth programs in the Caribbean and across the 56 member-states.
The event, being held to honour Dr Charles’ proud legacy, will also hear messages from the Commonwealth, Saint Lucia’s High Commissioner in London Hon. Anthony Severin (SLC), as well as from Trinidad & Tobago.
The highlight today will be the first match to launch the HCCC locally – and simultaneously in Bromley – with plans for the annual tournament to be played in several Commonwealth member-states for the ultimate international Henry Charles Cup.
The event will be live-streamed across the Commonwealth from the Beausejour facility and will also include the distribution of engraved ‘HCCC’ medals to players, with several other related side attractions.
The HCCC was born from an idea hatched in the UK led by professionals Penny Adaarewa (Elevate PR) and Robin Lockheart (Catalyst in Communities) and shared across the Commonwealth, supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Caribbean governments.
The planning committee is chaired by Mrs Marjerie Jameson-Charles, Principal at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.
With a Doctorate in Education (Educational Psychology), earned in New Zealand,Dr Jameson-Charles also has a 40-year career as a regional educator, her last major regional post heading The University of the West Indies’ (The UWI) program for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) out of the St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago Campus.
Mrs Jameson-Charles is also Dr Charles’ widow.
Dr Henry Charles, who died last year, earned a Doctorate in Social Policy from The UWI and the HCCC has been organized to promote and maintain his long legacy of advocacy and development for Youth through Education and Sports.
He was also an international expert on and promoter of Peaceful resolution of Conflicts among youth of Saint Lucia, the Caribbean, The Commonwealth and the wider world.
Today’ simultaneous launches at Beausejour and Bromley will last two hours.