Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis (May 24, 2007)
The population of St. Kitts and Nevis is expected to increase by several hundred over the course of the next few days as a number of sports-tourism related activities take place.
The Leeward Islands Masters Cricket Tournament begins on Friday. The three-day contest features teams from Antigua, Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Croix, Nevis and host St. Kitts. Matches will be played at the Cayon and Conaree Sporting Complex. Team members and their supporters begin arriving today.
Carol Clarke, Sports Tourism Officer in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, told SKNIS that the ministry is proud to be associated with this annual event which is being hosted in the Federation for the first time. Matches begin tomorrow and conclude on Sunday with the finals.Sporting activities are just part of the another major weekend activity on island. Port Authority workers from nine regional territories will spend the extended weekend engaged in recreational and friendly sporting events such as a fun day, island tour and sports day. A ceremony will be held on Friday at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino to welcome the visitors.
An official at the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority explained that this event is staged annually in order to have cultural exchanges and provide a recreational outlet for the workers in this high stress job. The official added that information-sharing and fostering better relations among port workers around the region is also an aim of the event, as the Caribbean move towards regional integration.
Carol Clarke noted that the weekend activities were in keeping with the ministry’s promotion of healthy lifestyles for persons of all ages. The sports tourism officer also highlighted the economic and social benefits of having so many visitors on island. She concluded by encouraging residents to go out and support the various events