Sports Minister Presents Flag to the Queens of the Caribbean
The Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, led the ceremony of the delivery of the National Flag to the outstanding Queens of the Caribbean, who are preparing to represent the country in the Nations League. During the meeting, the minister received an emotional recognition from Cristóbal Marte, president of the National Women’s Volleyball Teams Project.
Mars expressed his gratitude to Cruz for his initiative to double the salary of all active athletes in the national Olympic sports teams. This incentive has significantly benefited the Queens of the Caribbean.
Thanks to you and your dynamic of putting things where they belong and recognizing what sport and athletes are. I want you to know that the players whose salaries you doubled, the project pays them the same amount.
Cristóbal Marte
Marte explained that, thanks to this measure, the star players now receive up to 70 thousand pesos through the Ministry of Sports (Miderec), which raises their total income to 140 thousand pesos.
Minister Cruz organized a luncheon in honor of the team, which will depart on the 31st of this month for Canada to participate in the first stop of the 2025 Nations League. Cruz praised the Queens of the Caribbean, defining them as a sports project that seeks perfection and that proudly represents 10 million Dominicans.
Cruz highlighted the women’s team as the “face of success” of national sport, emphasizing their discipline, training, and education, qualities that are reflected in their behavior and presentation.
Captain Niverka Marte Frica, on behalf of the athletes, thanked the minister for the farewell and the presentation of the National Flag.
About the Queens of the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic women’s national volleyball team is the national representation in international tournaments. Directed by the Dominican Republic Volleyball Confederation, it currently holds the 11th position in the FIVB ranking.
In the 2003 Santo Domingo Pan American Games, they were recognized as the Queens of the Caribbean, and their libero, Brenda Castillo, is considered one of the best in the world.
