CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC, The St. Lucian government is planning to roll-out the red carpet for its star cricketers on the West Indies team which created history by winning the T20 World Cup for a second time.
Captain Darren Sammy and opener Johnson Charles are the St. Lucians on the rampaging Windies team which pulled off a stunning four wicket win over England in Sunday’s final to regain the title they first won in 2012.
A massive home coming has been planned for Sammy and Charles who are due to return to St. Lucia this afternoon.
“The humble Darren Sammy has made us proud and this region proud,” Prime Minister Kenny Anthony declared to ruling party supporters during an election campaign rally Sunday night.
“This country needs to say thanks”.
The home coming, being heavily promoted in the St. Lucian media, includes meet and greet on the tarmac, meet and greet outside the airport, mid-afternoon motorcade from the Hewanorra Airport through the communities where Sammy and Charles reside before climaxing at Sir Derek Walcott Square for the main event.
Prime Minister Anthony says as St Lucia celebrates Darren, the country must also celebrate Johnson Charles who has also made his country proud.
“This celebration must be special for us,” the Prime Minister said.
“While the entire Caribbean will celebrate, for us the celebration must resonate in our hearts and our souls, because we know the trials and tribulations of Darren Sammy.”
Charles’ run tally includes two half centuries during the T20 World Cup while Sammy, now a dual World T20-winning captain, has only scored eight runs and bowled three overs for 31 runs in the tournament.
However, Sammy has often been credited for motivating the team and commentators consistently praised his captaincy during the just ended T20 World Cup.
