Dominican students studying at the Cave Hill Campus of The University of the West Indies in Barbados have been given a break from paying tuition fees.

It was part of an announcement to host a celebrity T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval this weekend in order to raise at least One Million USD for the embattled Caricom member, after its recent devastation by Tropical Storm Erika in late August.

Professor Barriteau said, “We at Cave Hill took an early decision to defer all payments owed by our Dominican students until such time as their sponsors, whether they be guardians, relatives or the government of Dominica itself, find the situation at home sufficiently improved to deal with such matters.”

Barriteau stated, they felt that this was the very least they could do as a campus, in spite of their own well known financial challenges.

With the aim to have a sold out crowd and help raise USD $1 million, the cost of admission is USD $10 for adults and USD $5 for children.

Some of the players who will be participating are Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke, Yohan Blake, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ian Bradshaw, Jason Holder, Sir Hillary Beckles, West Indies female captain Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Courtney Walsh, Kraigg Brathwaite, Calvin Hodge and more.

“Dominica is like a second home to me,” said Sammy. “I have some great friends and fans there, and every time I go there, the people make me feel like I am one of theirs.

“There is so much love and affection and the folks there just love their cricket. I’m just happy to be able to give something back – to offer my time to play in this match as we try to restore the beauty of the Nature Isle and help them get back on their feet.”

The T20 World Cup winning captain added: “What has happened to that country, a country I love – the worst disaster in recent history in the Caribbean, so many people losing their lives, still more missing, and hundreds of Dominicans having to evacuate their homes – it’s heartbreaking, and it is a call to all of us in this region to work more closely with one other.”

“I have always dedicated my career to the people of the Caribbean, and it would be my privilege to be able to give back with my participation in this upcoming game. God willing, the game will be a great success.”

Each side is expected to field half-dozen current players from the West Indies team currently preparing for next month’s tour of Sri Lanka and a number of celebrity players. (THIS STORY BASED IN PART FROM EXCERPTS VIA – B’dos Advocate, St Lucia Online and CBN 4)