By Helen Okechukwu, JKNewsMedia Reporter
CENTURIES-OLD ties between Saint Lucia and Nigeria took centre stage in Parliament as lawmakers welcomed President Bola Tinubu during a landmark state visit.
Lucia’s Senate President Alvina Reynolds, citing an 1815 British census, revealed that of the 3,488 African-born enslaved people in Saint Lucia at the time, a combined 45% originated from Nigeria and Nigeria-Cameroon.
She described the transatlantic slave trade’s enduring legacy as the foundation of an “unbreakable historical and cultural link” between Africa and the Caribbean.
Reynolds hailed President Tinubu’s visit as a rekindling of the shared journey towards unity, adding that his presence marked a pivotal moment for Saint Lucia’s Parliament and its people.
Honouring figures who embodied the Saint Lucia-Nigeria relationship, Reynolds paid tribute to Sir Darnley Alexander, the Saint Lucian-born jurist who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice between 1975 and 1979, the only non-Nigerian to hold the position after independence.
She also spotlighted the ongoing presence of Nigerian Catholic priests, including Father Festus, who continue the legacy of service and connection.
As the address coincided with World Parliament Day, Reynolds highlighted the significance of the joint session being observed by regional leaders and President Tinubu, whom she recognised for his decades-long commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, responding to Tinubu’s address, described the visit as a moment of “freedom and celebration,” invoking the memory of Nelson Mandela’s 1998 visit to the island.
He drew parallels between Saint Lucia and West Africa, calling the Caribbean nation “a small fragment of Africa” with cultural and spiritual bonds that remain intact despite centuries of displacement.
He welcomed Nigeria’s ongoing role in shaping Saint Lucia’s modern society, particularly through contributions to healthcare, religion, cuisine, tourism, and social development.
The Prime Minister praised Nigerian cultural exports—from Afrobeats to Nollywood—as vital bridges reconnecting Saint Lucia’s youth to their heritage.
He pointed to shared literary legacies, referencing Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott, while encouraging collaboration across creative industries, sport, and education.
A key proposal was the establishment of direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Saint Lucia to boost tourism, trade, and investment, noting that although over one million tourists visit the island annually, few arrive from West Africa due to current logistical gaps.
Pierre reaffirmed his government’s commitment to stronger ties under the Africa-CARICOM framework, looking ahead to the second summit scheduled for September in Addis Ababa.
He underscored opportunities in renewable energy, fintech, banking, and medical partnerships, revealing that a manpower assistance agreement with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health was in progress to bring in more Nigerian healthcare professionals.
Closing his remarks, the Prime Minister invited Nigerian investors and expressed hope that Tinubu’s visit would mark the beginning of a deeper bilateral relationship.
Among dignitaries present were OECS leaders and government representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Martin.
Also, the session was reported to have marked a defining moment in Saint Lucia’s efforts to reconnect with its African ancestry and reaffirm its place in a shared Pan-African future.
