Friday, 20 June 2025 (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown): Professional and amateur athletes from the Caribbean will compete in the Eighteenth CARICOM Road Races on Saturday, 5 July, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The Open ten-kilometre (10K), five-kilometre (5K) run, and five-kilometre (5K) walk will start at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Rose Hall, St. James, at 6:30 am EST. This activity is one of the parallel events of the upcoming 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, convened under the chairmanship of Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett emphasised the importance of the Races to the Region’s approach to addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“On Saturday, 5 July, the Region’s well-known athletic prowess will be on display…this annual event is part of regional efforts to highlight the importance of physical exercise to good health and quality of life” stated Dr Barnett.
“The CARICOM Races reflect Member States’ commitment to leverage the integration movement to foster a culture of health and wellness across the Region. By prioritising nutritious food and regular exercise, we can come together to combat the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and build a stronger, healthier Caribbean,” shared Davion Leslie, Programme Manager for Human Resource Development at the CARICOM Secretariat.
The first-place winner of the Open 10K Race will receive USD 1000, while the second and third-place winners will receive USD 500 and USD 250, respectively. Athletes participating in the 10K Race will also compete for the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy – Male and the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy – Female.
Hurricane Beryl’s passage through Grenada in 2024 resulted in the cancellation of the 17th CARICOM Road Races.
In 2023, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago claimed top prizes at the 16th CARICOM Road Races-10k. Guyanese Attoya Harvey claimed first prize in the Overall Female category and the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy, while Samantha Shikla (Trinidad and Tobago) and Laura Lynn Limery (Saint Lucia) won second and third prizes, respectively.
Trinidad and Tobago dominated the top three positions in the Overall Male category, with popular athlete Nicholas Romany winning the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy and Donnel Francis and Tafari Waldron capturing the second and third prizes, respectively.
Editor’s Notes:
- The CARICOM Road Races promote camaraderie among professional and amateur athletes in the Region and help to underscore the positive influence of sport and physical education on one’s quality of life. The overall intention is to encourage a culture of healthy habits and consumption of nutritious food.
- All events are open to male and female professional and amateur athletes who are nationals of CARICOM Member States and Associate Members.
- The athlete registration form and route maps are available here and on the CARICOM website (https://caricom.org/road-races-2025/)
- The first CARICOM 10K was held in 2005 to commemorate the United Nations International Year of Sport and Physical Education.
- The CARICOM Secretariat and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica, are coordinating the events.
Reducing Non-communicable Diseases or NCDs
In May 2023, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) warned that hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) is the number one risk factor for illness and premature death from cardiovascular disease and one of the most common NCDs in the Region.
CARPHA highlighted that the non-Latin Caribbean has the greatest mortality rate from cardiovascular disease, estimated at 418 per 100,000 inhabitants. The agency referred to a study that examined 10-year mortality trends in 20 English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries, which found that cardiovascular disease accounted for most deaths, estimated at between 13–25 percent, with Montserrat, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago having the highest percentages.
The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has advised that regular exercise and nutritious food are crucial to reducing the surge in NCDs. This message will be a critical component of the Road Races as CARICOM continues its advocacy for better health outcomes for all Caribbean Nationals.
