The official KBR welcoming ceremony was held at Government House in Basseterre, under the patronage of Her Excellency, Governor-General Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP. During the event, Vincent Benjamin and Cedric Maynard were honoured for their contributions to sport, especially in cycling, and for representing St Kitts and Nevis at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, which marked the nation's first appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Glenn Quinlan, Chairman of the National Sports Council, and attended by representatives from across the sporting community, including the Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom, Ms. Patricia Walters; CGA Executive Members; Ms. Valencia Syder, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports; Mrs. Benjamin, accepting the award on behalf of her husband Vincent; and Mr. Dennis Richards, the local artist behind the Baton' s design.
Richards, who holds the national honour of Companion of the Star of Merit (CSM) for his contributions to the arts, created a bespoke Baton design inspired by the King's Message word 'Oceans'. It featured a flowing ocean scene, with one panel showcasing a view of St Kitts and another incorporating the national flag colours and stylised athlete figures.
In a symbolic passing of the Baton, Her Excellency handed it to Mr. Dennis Knight, President of the Commonwealth Games Association, who then passed it to Mr. St Clair Hodge, Athlete Representative. The ceremony concluded with traditional masqueraders leading Commonwealth Games officials through the gates of Government House.
Community engagement continued throughout the week. On Wednesday, 19 March, Nevis hosted a traditional games evening featuring young athletes, celebrating local culture and participation in sport.
On Friday, 21 March, a beach clean- up occurred at Conaree Beach in collaboration with the Caribbean Youth Environment Project. With the assistance of 43 volunteers, 405lbs of plastic was collected, reinforcing a commitment to sustainability and intergenerational involvement.
St Kitts and Nevis passed the Baton to Saint Lucia on Saturday, 22 March, as the Relay continued its journey through the Caribbean and on towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
