CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, CMC – The Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation (SLAF) has decided to pull out of bidding for next year’s CARIFTA Aquatics Championships due to the unavailability of its National Aquatic Center.
Construction at the venue was originally scheduled to be completed in October, 2026. However, the most recent update has revealed that work will not be completed until after April 2027, with the Championships scheduled for the Easter weekend.
In a letter dated March 12, SLAF president Paula James informed CARIFTA Congress chairperson Steven Joachim that Saint Lucia cannot host the 54th edition of the regional aquatics competition. This followed a letter from the Department of Youth Development and Sports about the status of the National Aquatic Center’s completion.
This marks the second time Saint Lucia has pulled out of hosting CARIFTA Aquatics, having done so in 2019.
Following the development, The Bahamas has lodged a tentative bid to host the Caribbean’s top junior swimmers from March 26 to 31 at the Betty-Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Center in Nassau.
“Regrettably, the update indicates that the facility will not be completed within the timeframe required to support Saint Lucia’s bid to host CARIFTA Aquatics Championships in 2027,” James wrote.
“While this news is very disappointing for us, we understand that the alternate host country will now have to start making its preparations. Once the National Aquatic Center is completed, Saint Lucia looks forward to bidding to host once again at a future date.”
Construction on the Aquatic Center got underway in April 2025. Located at Beauséjour, Gros Islet, adjacent to the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and the National Tennis Center, the facility is set to feature an Olympic-sized 50-meter pool with a movable bulkhead and a warm-up pool.
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