Royal Commonwealth Society Caribbean Leaders Participate in Sports Twinning Signing Ceremony
H.E. Dame Sandra Williams, Governor-General’s Goodwill Ambassador, President of the Halo Foundation and President of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Antigua and Barbuda Branch, today joined Dame Sandra Mason, former Governor-General of Barbados, first President of Barbados, and Patron of RCS Barbados, at a special signing ceremony held in Antigua.
The ceremony marked the formal linking of the Divine Academy of Excellence (DAE) Football Field with the historic Flanders Fields football field in an event designed to build bonds between young people through shared remembrance and the spirit of sport.
The initiative was spearheaded by Ernie Brennan, Chairman of the Children’s Football Alliance, who was also a signatory to the documents as was Mrs. Lourdes Andrews of DAE. The event was organized by Peter Mann, previously associated with RCS Hong Kong and a Trustee of the Commonwealth Bond, together with CEO of Vasports Media Inc., Vernon Springer.
The programme included remarks from Mrs. Lourdes Andrews, Principal of the Divine Academy of Excellence (DAE), Minister James Richards, and Jerry DaC Blenman.
Following the signing, participating school teams engaged in a ceremonial football match, bringing the message of unity into action on the field.
The “Flanders Fields” is remembered as a place of peace, and its connection draws attention to a landmark story from the First World War. The Peace Field in Mesen (Messines), Belgium is recognized for its association with the Christmas Truce of 1914, when soldiers on opposing sides paused hostilities and, in a moment that defies the logic of war, shared goodwill, exchanged tokens, and played an impromptu game of football in areas often described as No Man’s Land.
In that context, the twinning of football fields is more than a ceremonial gesture—it is a promise to carry forward values of reconciliation, respect, and human dignity through education and youth engagement. At present, 86 fields are twinned in this network connected to Flanders.
During the ceremony, Mr. Peter Mann announced that his organization will be working closely with H.E. Dame Sandra Williams and the RCS Antigua to take a group of children from the Divine School of Excellence (DAE) to Diripe in 2027, where they will have the opportunity to see and learn about the key sites connected to this peace-focused initiative, including the Flanders (Peace) field in Belgium.
Organizers said the exchange aims to strengthen friendship and broaden young people’s understanding of history—while encouraging teamwork and community values through football.
