St. Lucia boxing trio heads to Guyana for CAC Games prep

Three of St Lucia’s top amateur boxers will fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Guyana, as the two Caribbean nations strengthen their sporting ties ahead of the regional multi-sport event in the Dominican Republic.

The CAC Games are scheduled to run from July 24 to August 8, with St. Lucian Boxing Association President David ‘Shakes’ Christopher confirming that national boxers John Didier, Kegan Mortley and Danaii Cooman will arrive in Guyana on Thursday (July 16) for an intensive training camp.

The trio will be accompanied by coach Conrad Fredericks, who will work closely with coaches from the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) during the camp, providing the athletes with high-level sparring and technical preparation before they depart for the Dominican Republic.

Christopher described the training camp as a significant milestone in the growing relationship between the two boxing associations and credited Guyana’s leadership for helping to bring the initiative to life.

According to Christopher, the idea was born during President Irfaan Ali’s recent visit to St. Lucia for the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where the Guyanese Head of State met with members of the Guyanese diaspora living on the island.

Christopher, who is Guyanese by birth, said he used the opportunity to discuss the importance of regional collaboration through sport, particularly boxing, and proposed a partnership between the St. Lucian Boxing Association and the Guyana Boxing Association.

That proposal quickly gained momentum, with GBA President Steve Ninvalle playing a pivotal role in ensuring the camp became a reality.

“I want to thank President Ali, and my good friend, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, for making this camp happen. We are grateful for the support,” Christopher said.

He added that initiatives such as these demonstrate the value of Caribbean unity and the benefits of neighbouring countries working together to raise the standard of sport across the region.

“It is important for Caribbean countries to work together. By sharing resources, knowledge and opportunities, we can all become stronger and better prepared for international competition,” Christopher noted.

While in Guyana, the St. Lucian boxers will train alongside the country’s own CAC Games team comprising Terron Wintz, Desmond Amsterdam and Colin Lewis, under the guidance of experienced coaches Francisco Roldan and Jeff Roberts.

Meanwhile, GBA President, Steve Ninvalle said the partnership between Guyana, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago has continued to flourish during his tenure at the helm of amateur boxing locally, with the three nations maintaining a close working relationship aimed at strengthening boxing across the Caribbean.

Ninvalle noted that Guyana’s boxers preparing for both the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the Commonwealth Games recently concluded a productive training camp in Trinidad and Tobago.

He added that the GBA was equally pleased to return the support by hosting St Lucia’s national team as it finalises preparations for the CAC Games.

“We have what I consider family ties between our associations,” Ninvalle said.

“Whenever one of us is preparing for a regional, continental or international competition, we lean on each other. Whether it’s sharing coaching expertise, organising training camps or providing quality sparring opportunities, we are always willing to support one another because our common goal is to elevate boxing in the Caribbean.”

He added that the continued collaboration benefits not only the boxers, but also the coaches and administrators, creating stronger programmes and better-prepared teams capable of competing successfully on the regional and international stage.