The Virgin Islands (VI) welcomed home its Carifta 2025 athletes on Tuesday, 23 April 2025. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Jah'Kyla Morton (left) won bronze in the high jump while T’Andre Frett made history, as a double silver medallist, excelling in both the Under-17 100m and 200m races. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL) told the athletes they made the Virgin Islands proud. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

(L-R) Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Jah’Kyla Morton, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), and T’Andre Frett. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Mr Ephraim E. Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee, said sports have the power to bring people together. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Pride on your sleeve

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), praised the athletes and performers as “extremely special”, referencing the unifying power of sports and cultural representation.

“You are extremely special. All of you. And I want to express my appreciation for you for putting that Virgin Islands pride on your sleeve, and on your back, and for representing these Virgin Islands; Don’t take it for granted what your accomplishments mean to this growing nation.”

According to Dr Wheatley, he adjusted his Cabinet and National Security Council schedules to attend the event, given the importance of the activity in light of the athletes' performance and stewardship on the international stage.

“When you’re from the BVI, you have heart., you have pride, and you believe in yourself… Despite the fact that you are from a Territory of just over 30,000 individuals, you show that you are the best in the world.”

Rising stars of CARIFTA 2025

The VI’s contingent to the 52nd CARIFTA Games in Trinidad included 30 athletes, 27 of whom were present at the ceremony. Their performance earned the Territory a 13th-place finish out of 28 countries.

On hand for the welcome home ceremony, Secretary for the BVI Athletic Association, Ms Stephanie Russ-Penn, detailed the team’s efforts, “We contested the 100, 200, 400, 800, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus, and we also contended multi-events, including the heptathlon and, for the first time in CARIFTA history, the decathlon.”

One of the highlights for the contingent this year was the decathlon debut of Mr Paul Hewlett, whose father is the national decathlon champion. “I want to believe Paul is gunning for that national record over time,” Russ-Penn remarked, encouragingly asking, “You’re going to take down that record, right?”

In the Under-17 category, five males and five females competed, earning five personal bests, notably from Mackenzie Crabbe, Tyreke Charles, and Theodore Frett.

In the Under-20 division, 20 athletes (10 male, 10 female) made their mark. Standouts included Saviana Joseph, Kijana Caldwell, Taryn Augustine, Shania Johnson, Asia McMaster, and Paul Hewlett with personal bests.

Two athletes earned medals for the Territory, namely Jah'Kyla Morton, who won bronze in the high jump with a mark of 1.70m, while T’Andre Frett made history, as a double silver medallist, excelling in both the Under-17 100m and 200m races. 

Influencing the Future of Sports

Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), in her remarks directed at the contingent, implored, “Whether you got a personal best, advanced to the final, or made it to the podium, we are truly proud of you. The BVI is not just showing up for showing up. We are here to compete, we are pushing, and we are ultimately rising ahead.”

Reflecting on the unseen efforts behind the athletes’ success, she praised their perseverance: “You know the early mornings, the late afternoons, the quiet moments of doubt… and the choice to keep on going in spite of all of that is why you are here today.”

Right Direction

Mr Ephraim E. Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee, also on hand for the activity, captured the unifying spirit of the occasion succinctly adumbrating, “That is the power of sport—to bring a whole nation together, bring the Premier from his office to welcome you home. That speaks to your power to influence future sport in the British Virgin Islands.”

To this end, he also used the occasion to laud the multidisciplinary success of the delegation, noting the impressive representation in track and field, chess, and the drum corps, telling those in attendance, “The British Virgin Islands are moving forward and moving in the right direction.”