Johnson Charles Welcomed Home In Style

“Johnson Charles is a very quiet and unassuming guy…but his record is almost unblemished.” Those were the words of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre as the nation welcomed Charles back home on Friday. Charles’ return follows his significant contribution to the Saint Lucia Kings’ inaugural Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title. The now two-time CPL champion was among the top three run-scorers in the competition, amassing 452 runs at an average of 41.09. At the official welcoming ceremony, Charles noted that this championship holds more meaning than the one he won as a member of the Barbados Royals (then known as the Barbados Tridents) in 2019. “This is not my first CPL title, but this is surely the sweetest one,” Charles said. “Because being able to do something like that for your country, as the song goes, there’s no place like home. That’s the best thing you could ever do,” he added. Charles’ presence as an on-field mentor was highlighted as key to the success of the young players. His hunger for improvement and adaptability was evident throughout the tournament, reflected in his stroke play around the ground. Head Coach Daren Sammy had previously praised him as a “great...