Two of Dominica’s brightest young athletic talents, Addison James and Kerelle Etienne, have received full sponsorship from two of the island’s leading financial institutions to participate in the 2025 CARIFTA Games, set to take place in Trinidad and Tobago. The announcement was made on Monday during the official launch of the national team held at the Dominica Olympic Committee.

Addison James, who will compete in the javelin throw and discus events, is being sponsored by the Central Cooperative Credit Union Ltd (CCCUL). Marketing Manager Lorraine Henderson-Reid expressed her company’s pride in supporting the young athlete.

“We are proud and we are pleased to offer our full support and sponsorship to national athlete, Mr. Addison James,” Henderson-Reid stated.

In addition to the sponsorship, James was officially named CCCUL’s newest brand ambassador, further strengthening the bond between the athlete and the institution.

“It is official,” Henderson-Reid added. “We wish to welcome you to the Central Cooperative Credit Union family and brand ambassador — a family of winners.”

James, who hails from Marigot, is a member of the Westmar Rangers Athletics Club and currently attends Edwin Allen High School in Jamaica, an institution known for producing elite track and field athletes.  In 2024, at the 51st CARIFTA Games in Grenada, he captured bronze in the Under-20 Boys’ Javelin throw.

Meanwhile, Kerelle Etienne has also secured full sponsorship to compete in the Games, thanks to the Grand Bay Credit Union. She qualified for the Girls U-20 100 meters with a blazing time of 11.56 seconds, setting a new national U-20 record.

Speaking on the sponsorship, Neithel Matthew, Executive Assistant at the Grand Bay Credit Union, shared the institution’s ongoing support for Ettienne’s athletic journey.

“Kerelle Etienne is doing exceptionally well in Jamaica, where she is currently studying, and we at the Grand Bay Credit Union are truly elated to come on board as her sponsor once again,” Matthew said. “This is not our first time supporting Kerelle — we have sponsored her in the past, and we are simply continuing our commitment to her journey.”

Both athletes are expected to play pivotal roles in Dominica’s performance at the regional championships, and their sponsorships highlight the strong collaboration between the corporate sector and national sports development.

The nation is encouraged to rally behind these young champions as they carry Dominica’s flag with pride and determination on the regional stage.