By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
DEEP ANCESTRAL connections linking Saint Lucia to Nigeria echoed through the island’s bicameral parliament during President Bola Tinubu’s joint session on his State Visit.
Addressing lawmakers and dignitaries from across the Caribbean, Saint Lucia’s Senate President, Alvina Reynolds, cited a British census from 1815, revealing that 34 per cent of the enslaved Africans on the island were Nigerian-born, with many others tracing their lineage to the wider West African region.
Reynolds described the moment as historic, praising President Tinubu’s presence as a symbolic homecoming and a reminder of the transatlantic ties forged during centuries of enslavement.
She invoked the painful history of the slave trade but also its legacy of cultural and historical unity.
Welcoming the Nigerian leader on World Parliament Day, she noted the significance of the occasion as a time to reflect on parliamentary duty and democratic leadership.
Honouring Nigeria’s contribution to Saint Lucia’s social and religious fabric, Reynolds highlighted the role of Nigerian Catholic priests and made special mention of Father Festus, one of the day’s distinguished guests.
She also paid tribute to Saint Lucian-born Sir Darnley Alexander, who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, the only non-Nigerian to hold the position since independence.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre described the occasion as one of spiritual and cultural celebration, emphasising that Saint Lucians remain, at heart, African people with enduring bonds to West Africa.
He described Saint Lucia as “a small fragment of Africa,” where the Nigerian connection continues to shape identity and destiny.
Reflecting on the small size of his nation, he humourously compared it to Lagos’s Eti-Osa Local Government, but proudly affirmed Saint Lucia’s sovereign stature and global spirit.
Pierre praised Nigerian contributions to Saint Lucian society, particularly in healthcare, tourism, religion, and cuisine—and highlighted the impact of cultural exports like Afrobeats and Nollywood films, which have captivated the island’s youth.
He urged Nigerian investors and professionals to explore opportunities in Saint Lucia, proposing concrete partnerships in banking, fintech, tourism, sports, and creative industries.
He welcomed upcoming agreements to deploy Nigerian medical personnel to support Saint Lucia’s ageing population and called for direct air links between Nigeria and the Caribbean to boost tourism, investment, and cultural exchange.
Noting the slow pace of Africa-Caribbean cooperation since the inaugural Africa-CARICOM Summit in 2021, Pierre expressed optimism about the upcoming summit in Addis Ababa.
Recalling the 1998 visit of Nelson Mandela, the Prime Minister said Tinubu’s presence, 27 years later, symbolised another moment of freedom and unity.
He extended an invitation to visit Nigeria, affirming Saint Lucia’s commitment to deepening ties through the Africa-CARICOM framework.
The joint session was attended by regional leaders from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including prime ministers, premiers, and representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Martin.
