June 12, 2026
Professional and amateur athletes from CARICOM Member States and Associate Members will compete in the Nineteenth CARICOM Road Run/Walk on Sunday, 5 July 2026, in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, from 6:30 a.m. EST.
The Run/Walk will commence and conclude in the vicinity of the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, located in the Rodney Bay area at the northern end of the island.
The events are an Elite 10K (for professional athletes sponsored by Member States), Open 10K, Open 5K Run and Open 5K Walk. People with disabilities are invited to participate in the 5K Run and Walk events.
The Road Run/Walk is one of the parallel events of the upcoming 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, convened under the chairmanship of Honourable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia.
In 2007, CARICOM Heads of Government adopted the landmark Port-of-Spain Declaration, affirming their commitment to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the Region.
Recognising the urgent need for action, they endorsed integrated strategies for prevention and control and championed a whole-of-society approach. This framework called for collaboration among governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners, reflecting a shared determination to halt the NCD epidemic in one of the most affected Regions of the Americas.
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett highlighted the critical role of the Run/Walk to the regional initiative in tackling NCDs.
“The CARICOM Run/Walk demonstrates our collective commitment to healthier lifestyles. By choosing nutritious foods and staying active, we can confront the shared challenge of non-communicable diseases and create a healthier, more resilient Caribbean for all,” the Secretary-General said.
The Elite 10K will feature cash prizes of USD 1,000 each for the first-place male and female finishers. Second- and third-place winners in both categories will also receive cash awards.
In the 5K events, trophies will be presented to the top three finishers in the male, female, and people with disabilities categories. Special recognition will also be given to the oldest and youngest male and female participants who complete the Run.
In 2025, the 18th CARICOM Road Race 10K event was held in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica.
-ENDS –
Editor’s Notes:
- The athlete registration form and route maps are available here and on the (Road Run 2026 – CARICOM)
- The first CARICOM 10K was held in 2005 to commemorate the United Nations International Year of Sport and Physical Education.
- The CARICOM Road Run/Walk promotes camaraderie among professional and amateur athletes in the Region and helps 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 CARICOM Secretariat and the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Saint Lucia, are coordinating the events.
Reducing Non-communicable Diseases or NCDs
In May 2023, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), a CARICOM Institution, 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.