The King's Baton Relay in the Caribbean
The Caribbean leg of the King’s Baton Relay began on 11 March in Trinidad and Tobago, where the Baton was welcomed in Port of Spain with a celebration of legacy, culture, and youth. The following day, under the early morning sun at Invader’s Bay, volunteers and schoolchildren joined a clean-up that set the tone for the weeks ahead. From that moment, the Baton’s journey through the Caribbean became about more than distance. It was about connection: to the ocean, to community, to the past, and to the future.
“We are thrilled to commence the Caribbean Baton Relay celebrations. This allows us to showcase our youth legacies following the Commonwealth Youth Games Trinbago2023 and creatively highlight our Trinidad and Tobago heritage.” - Diane Henderson, President, Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association.
This was not a Baton passed for spectacle. It was carried by athletes, lifted onto jet skis, danced through the streets, and hiked up volcanoes. Over 13 weeks, the Baton journeyed through 14 Caribbean nations and territories, marking a regional legacy that extended well beyond sport.
The Caribbean relay wove together voices and generations. In Barbados, President Sandra Mason passed the Baton to veteran athlete Anton Norris, aged 85, and rising triathlete Zajara Layne, aged 13. National cycling pioneers from the 1978 Commonwealth Games, Vincent Benjamin and Cedric Maynard, were honoured in St Kitts and Nevis for their lasting legacy. In Montserrat, the Baton took on layers of local meaning, wrapped in cultural symbolism through the design of artist Kelvin “Tabu” Duberry, whose creation reflected the island’s birdlife, flora, and volcanic landscape.
“The King’s Baton Relay is a powerful reminder of our shared history and the strength we find in coming together as a nation. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our sporting heroes and inspire our youth to dream big.” - Dennis Knight, President, St. Kitts and Nevis Commonwealth Games Association.
Anguilla offered a striking visual narrative. Its Baton featured three hand-painted sides representing heritage, the ocean, and Commonwealth sport. The design included national icons like the turtle dove and the natural arch in West End, alongside historical figures and symbols of unity. The artists behind it, Rudy Webster, Daryl Thompson, and Carmel Gumbs, aimed to create something deeper than decoration.
“This Baton is more than a ceremonial object. It is a handcrafted story, a symbol of identity, and a tribute to our culture. As it journeys across the Commonwealth, it carries with it the spirit of Anguilla, proud, resilient, and ever forward-looking.” - Carmel Gumbs, co-designer of the Anguilla Baton.
St Vincent and the Grenadines gave the Baton a dramatic setting, sending it through island communities and up the slopes of La Soufrière volcano. At the summit, Batonbearers recorded a message of unity. Artist Jadiel Foster’s design paid tribute to Garifuna heritage and local identity. Across the region, visual storytelling became a defining feature of the relay.
“The Baton, reflecting the heritage and culture of St Vincent and the Grenadines, was taken on a tour of the Grenadine Islands and graced with the presence of national sporting organisations.” Searchlight Newspaper, St Vincent and the Grenadines
There were moments of pure joy. In Antigua and Barbuda, the Baton lit up the streets in a mile-long night-time procession filled with filled with Iron Band rhythms, cultural characters and the whole community celebrating together. In Turks and Caicos, it took to the sea. Youth sailing clubs and jet ski operators formed a unique waterborne relay across North Caicos and Providenciales.
“As the Baton passed through our islands, we carried with it the values we hold dear: service, compassion, resilience, and hope.” Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross
In the British Virgin Islands, the King’s Baton Relay was a vibrant celebration of national pride, sport, and environmental stewardship. The Baton, designed by local artist Desiree Smith, featured the territory’s national flower, the white cedar, the turtle dove, the territorial colours, and the motto Vigilate (Be watchful), alongside symbols of daily life and sporting excellence.
The Cayman Islands welcomed the King’s Baton Relay with enthusiasm, blending sport, education, and environmental awareness. Artist Gordon Solomon’s hand-painted Baton celebrated seafaring heritage, and Premier André Ebanks formally handed it to Governor Jane Owen to open the events. The Baton was then carried via motorcycle and jet ski to Public Beach, blending tradition with island life.
“It was a great honour to be a part of the King’s Baton Relay and to represent swimming for the Cayman Islands.” Connor Macdonald, Cayman Islands athlete.
In Jamaica, the Baton’s visit from 22 to 27 May began with 40 young gymnasts in Kingston decorating their Baton to reflect national pride. A clean-up at Cable Hut and Jamnesia beaches drew 34 volunteers who cleared 109 pounds of debris, including 437 plastics and 279 other items, before winding down with sport demos and storytelling.
If culture told the story of the Caribbean Batons, the ocean gave it purpose.
The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, delivered in partnership between the Royal Commonwealth Society and Commonwealth Sport, ran alongside the Baton’s journey. It became a defining feature. Every island made it their own.
In Grenada, 250 students marched in a relay parade at La Sagesse and collected more than 800 plastic bottles in just four days. In Saint Lucia, 210 kilograms of waste were cleared from Fond d’Or Beach and delivered for recycling. In Anguilla, over 8,000 pieces of plastic were removed from beaches and seabeds in just three days.
“Carrying the Baton was an honour I’ll never forget. It made me feel connected to my island and to the whole Commonwealth. I hope it inspires more young people to get involved in sport and protecting our environment.” Samantha Charles, Youth Ambassador, Caribbean Youth Environment Network (Saint Lucia)
In Dominica, members of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network led clean-ups at Fond Cole Beach. In St Vincent, 700 pounds of waste were cleared from the riverbanks and coastline of Biabou. To date, more than 169,202 pieces of plastic have been collected in the Caribbean region as part of the King’s Baton Relay activities.
“One piece of plastic at a time. And this is what change looks like. This is our Commonwealth, our ocean. Together, we are turning the tide.” Commonwealth Sport, World Oceans Day message
In every territory, the Baton became a bridge. It linked generations, communities, and cultures through the shared values of the Commonwealth.
As the King’s Baton Relay leaves the Caribbean behind, it carries more than goodwill. It holds the fingerprints of every child who joined a beach clean-up, the songs of every band that marched beside it, and the pride of each community that shaped its journey. Each Baton told a different story. Some were hand-painted by local artists. Others were carved or etched with symbols of identity and resilience.
Across the Caribbean, fourteen voices spoke through culture, action and legacy. One promise united them: to protect their ocean, honour their heritage and carry forward the spirit of the Commonwealth.
