The President of Saint Lucia’s Senate, Alvina Reynolds, on Monday underscored the profound ancestral connections between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, referencing a 1815 British census that indicated a majority of the island’s enslaved population originated from Nigeria.
Addressing a joint session of the Lucian bicameral parliament, where she welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Reynolds revealed that out of 16,282 enslaved people in Saint Lucia that year, 3,488 were African-born, with 34% from Nigeria, 11% from Nigeria-Cameroon, and 22% from the Congo.
She further noted that most of the 12,794 individuals born in Saint Lucia had forebears from Senegambia and Nigeria.
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Reynolds described Mr Tinubu’s presence as a ‘historic’ moment for the Parliament and the people of Saint Lucia, recognising the transatlantic slave trade’s enduring legacy in forging an ‘unbreakable historical and cultural link’ between Africa and the Caribbean over more than 350 years.
She hailed Mr Tinubu’s arrival as the ‘rekindling of a mission to reunite us with our homeland and for our people to work together.’
The Senate President also paid homage to Sir Darnley Alexander, a distinguished Saint Lucian who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, becoming the only non-Nigerian to hold that post in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
She highlighted the continued service of Nigerian Catholic priests in Saint Lucia, including Father Festus, as part of this ongoing mission.
Reynolds remarked on the auspicious timing of President Tinubu’s address, coinciding with World Parliament Day, an occasion for reflection on the essential role of parliamentary representation.
She lauded Mr Tinubu’s historical defence of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, considering it an honour to have him and OECS Heads of Government observe the day.
In his response, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre characterised the state visit as a moment of ‘freedom and celebration, symbolising the enduring spiritual and cultural bond between the Caribbean and Africa.
He acknowledged the deep ancestral and emotional ties linking Saint Lucians to West Africa, humorously describing Saint Lucia as ‘a small fragment of Africa’ where the ‘genetic Nigerian connection cannot be erased.’
“Our people have been separated, but nothing has ever been able to separate us spiritually and culturally from West Africa, where some of our ancestors came from and for whom our hearts continually yearn,” Pierre stated.
He noted that Saint Lucians have built their homes ‘in the service of all humanity, especially Africa, in whose direction we continually watch, wait, hope and pray for our future redemption.’
Drawing a size comparison, the Prime Minister quipped that Saint Lucia’s population is smaller than Lagos State’s Eti-Osa Local Government but affirmed the island’s pride as a sovereign nation ‘with a heart and spirit deeply connected to the world, Nigeria, and West Africa.’
He commended the invaluable contributions of the Nigerian community to Saint Lucian society, particularly in healthcare, religion, cuisine, tourism, and social development, welcoming their input with gratitude.
Pierre highlighted literary and historical ties, referencing Nobel laureates Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott, and the legacy of Sir Darnley Alexander.
He observed that Mr Tinubu’s visit occurred exactly 27 years after Nelson Mandela’s visit, equating the period to Mandela’s time in prison, thus making the day one of ‘freedom and celebration.’
Expressing optimism for enhanced Africa-Caribbean cooperation following the inaugural Africa-CARICOM Summit in 2021, the Prime Minister conveyed Saint Lucia’s readiness for the second summit in Addis Ababa this September.
He outlined key cooperation areas including tourism, air connectivity, creative industries, sports, banking, fintech, renewable energy, and medical collaboration.
He noted that despite Saint Lucia hosting over a million tourists annually, few are Nigerian due to a lack of direct air links, emphasising that establishing such links would boost tourism, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
Pierre highlighted the popularity of Nigerian Afrobeats, Nollywood films, and authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie among Saint Lucian youth, seeing them as new vehicles for reconnecting with Africa.
He proposed concrete partnerships in creative industries and sports, especially football and cricket, and encouraged Nigerian investors and fintech companies to explore opportunities in Saint Lucia’s banking sector.
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He also welcomed Nigerian medical professionals to bolster Saint Lucia’s healthcare system, anticipating an agreement for technical manpower assistance.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that this would not be Mr Tinubu’s last visit and looked forward to a reciprocal visit to Nigeria, envisioning continued collaboration towards joint development within the Africa-CARICOM summit framework.
The joint session was attended by high-level dignitaries and OECS leaders, including Prime Ministers from Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, and Saint Martin.
