 The National Sports Awards was last held in 2019 and due to COVID-related health and safety considerations could not be hosted as a result of the curtailment of contact spots. In its first to return the national sports program to normalcy, the ministry hosted inter schools in 2022 and the island sporting bodies returned to the field. Our young men and women, they've worked very, very tirelessly during the pandemic, some having to train in their backyard, some having to train in the living rooms and some having to bear with the deal with all the challenges that the pandemic presented and so the review period would definitely capture the exploits of these individuals during that time. The names of the nominees were submitted by sporting associations and federations from around St Lucia, while an independent panel of judges made the final decision on the title winners. Director of Sports Gym Xavier announced the shortlist of nominees for the coveted titles of Sportswoman, Sportsman, Junior Sportswoman and Junior Sportsman of the Year. For Junior Sportswoman, Mikaeli Shalmaine, Zeda James, Shattle Charles and Naomi London, Junior Sportsman Akim Ogis, Tristan Dorville, De'Andre Collgen and Jeremiah Felix, Sportsman, we have Johnson Charles, Jida Onlam-Smith, Dylan Edwin, Romanus Inglis, Vino Bartlett and for Sportswoman, Julian Alfred, Mikaeli Shalmaine, Kirin Neptune and Malaika Edward. Sports Minister Hon. Kenzen Kazeme says he is excited about the return of the National Sports Awards and looks forward to the announcements when the event is broadcast live. I'm very excited for those who may not have known, this is a very objective award ceremony simply because we have as a ministry as in times past identified a committee of individuals to actually decide who are the individuals receiving the awards and so we want to make it abundantly clear that the nominations came from the individual associations and not the ministry of youth development and sport. The National Sports Awards will be hosted at the Royal Turn Hotel and Spa on Saturday 18 February 2022. From the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, I am Marvin St. Louis reporting.