Charlestown, Nevis, May 7, 2025 - Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies (CWI) strengthened their ongoing partnership by launching the third edition of the Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun Cricket’ programme on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Nevis.
The programme aims to engage both boys and girls aged 8-12 from primary schools in formal cricket coaching and the fundamentals of the game. Twenty-nine primary schools are preparing to participate—20 from St. Kitts and 9 from Nevis. At the launch, ‘Five for Fun’ cricketers from Joycelyn Liburd Primary School, Ivor Walters Primary School, Elizabeth Pemberton Primary School, St. Thomas Primary School, and the 2024 Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ champions, Violet O. Nicholls Primary School, were present.
Students will represent their schools in several rounds of zonal cricket matches, that promote fun, speed, energy, team-work and uncomplicated rules with the winner of each zone progressing to the national finals on Tuesday, 8 July at Warner Park in St.Kitts.
As primary partners with Republic Bank and CWI, the St. Kitts Cricket Association, Nevis Cricket Association and the Ministries of Education and of Culture, Youth and Sport have been integral in the execution and ongoing improvements of this important grassroots cricket initiative. This year, over 480 branded plastic cricket kit bags comprising bats, balls, wickets, tee cones and flat cones have been distributed to schools and coaches in participating territories. Additionally, over 1000 polly-soft balls will be used in zonal, county, district and national festival matches.
Ricky Skerritt, former president of CWI, remarked, “In 2021 the Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun programme was piloted in St. Lucia during my tenure as President of Cricket West Indies with 19 schools across 5 zones forming the initial cohort of this Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ Programme. Today, the Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ Programme is hosted in five territories across the region: St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.” <?p>>
Pamela Herbert-Daniel, Republic Bank’s Country Manager added, “Republic Bank's commitment to developing sports —particularly cricket—in St. Kitts and Nevis and throughout the region remains steadfast. Year after year, we renew our dedication to creating opportunities for our youth to excel not only on the field but also in life.”
Regionally, Five for Fun cricket now involves around 250 schools and 84 certified coaches spread over 60 zones, connecting with close to 4,000 primary school students throughout the Caribbean. This programme forms one half of the regional Bank’s dual approach to promoting cricket in their communities, with the other half being its role as the Title Sponsor and Official Bank of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.