President of the Saint Lucian Senate, Alvina Reynolds, has underscored the profound ancestral links between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, drawing on historical data to emphasise the longstanding ties.
Speaking during a joint session of the Saint Lucian bicameral parliament on Monday, Reynolds quoted the findings of a British census conducted on the island in 1815, which revealed that most of the enslaved people at the time had roots tracing back to Nigeria.
“Of the 16,282 enslaved people in Saint Lucia that year, 3,488 were born in Africa. Of these, 34% were from Nigeria, 11% from Nigeria-Cameroon, and 22% from the Congo. The remaining 12,794 were born in Saint Lucia, with most of their forefathers coming from Senegambia and Nigeria,” she said.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Reynolds presented these figures while welcoming President Bola Tinubu to the parliamentary session. She described Tinubu’s presence as historic for both the Parliament and the people of Saint Lucia.
Reflecting on the dark legacy of the transatlantic slave trade that spanned over 350 years, she noted that it had forged an “unbreakable historical and cultural link between Africa and the Caribbean.” Reynolds went further to describe President 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 tribute to Sir Darnley Alexander, one of Saint Lucia’s most distinguished sons, who moved to Nigeria in 1957 and eventually became the Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979 — the only non-Nigerian to have held that position since Nigeria’s independence.
“This mission, Your Excellency, continues with Catholic priests from Nigeria who have answered the call and come to Saint Lucia to serve, one of whom is our special guest this morning—Father Festus. Your address to this Parliament today could not have occurred at a more auspicious time, for today is World Parliament Day—an occasion to reflect on the essential role of Parliament and the service we provide as representatives to our people,” she added.
Recognising President Tinubu’s long-standing commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria, Reynolds remarked: “Given your fights, Mr. President, in the past for democratic government in your country, it is a further honour to have you and the Heads of Government of the OECS Member States observe this day with us.”
In his own remarks, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre described Tinubu’s State Visit as both a moment of “freedom and celebration” and a powerful testament to the enduring spiritual and cultural bond between the Caribbean and Africa. Pierre highlighted the deep ancestral and emotional ties binding Saint Lucia to West Africa, stating that Saint Lucia was “a small fragment of Africa” where the “genetic Nigerian connection cannot be erased, and a shared cultural chord cannot be broken.”
“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,” he said.
“We are African people who have made permanent homes for ourselves on this side of the Atlantic, on the hills and valleys of the plantations on which we were enslaved… But we have built these homes, Mr. President, not for ourselves, but in the service of all humanity, especially Africa, in whose direction we continually watch, wait, hope and pray for our future redemption.”
In a light-hearted comparison, Pierre noted that Saint Lucia’s population was smaller than that of Eti-Osa Local Government Area in Lagos State, but he proudly affirmed the island’s sovereignty and its deep connection to Nigeria and West Africa. He praised the contributions of Nigerians living in Saint Lucia, particularly in healthcare, religion, cuisine, tourism, and social development.
“We warmly welcome every Nigerian hand of support and embrace with gratitude their contributions to Saint Lucia’s cultural, social, and economic development. We are the richer for it,” he said.
Touching on the rich literary and historical ties between both countries, Pierre cited Nobel laureates Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott, and again acknowledged the legacy of Sir Darnley Alexander.
“Mr. President, your visit here today is coming exactly 27 years after the visit of Nelson Mandela. And 27 years is exactly the length of time Mandela spent in prison. So today is a day of freedom and celebration,” he observed.
While acknowledging the relatively slow pace of Africa-Caribbean collaboration, the Prime Minister expressed optimism following the first Africa-CARICOM Summit in 2021 and looked forward to the second summit scheduled for September in Addis Ababa.
“Mr. President, I am pleased that following the first summit in 2021, we have committed ourselves to deeper relations… Saint Lucia looks forward to working with Nigeria at the Africa-CARICOM summit level as we work towards the joint development of our respective nations,” he said.
Pierre outlined priority areas for collaboration, including tourism, direct air connectivity, the creative industries, sports exchanges, banking, fintech, renewable energy, and healthcare partnerships. He lamented that despite Saint Lucia receiving over a million tourists annually, very few come from Nigeria due to the absence of direct flights.
“Establishing an air link would benefit Saint Lucia’s tourism and the wider Caribbean… This connectivity would boost tourism and enhance trade and investment, deepen the people-to-people exchanges, and the spiritual and cultural links between our populations,” he stressed.
Highlighting the influence of Nigerian culture among Saint Lucian youth, Pierre spoke of the widespread popularity of Afrobeats, Nollywood films, and the works of authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
“Today, the young people of Saint Lucia have rediscovered Afrobeats and Nigerian Nollywood films as the new vehicles through which they have reconnected to the African continent… Our appreciation of Nigerian musical taste and talent is deep, lasting and strong.”
He proposed practical partnerships in creative industries and sports, especially football and cricket, and urged Nigerian investors and fintech innovators to explore opportunities in Saint Lucia’s banking sector.
He also welcomed more Nigerian doctors, nurses, and specialists to help meet Saint Lucia’s healthcare needs.
“I am told that an Agreement of Technical Manpower Assistance will be signed with the Ministry of Health regarding our exchange of medical personnel from Nigeria. I look forward to its implementation.
“Mr. President, I hope this will not be your last visit. I look forward to visiting Nigeria shortly… and continuing to work with you as we advance the work of the Africa-CARICOM summit later this year in Ethiopia,” Pierre concluded.
The joint parliamentary session was attended by high-ranking dignitaries and leaders from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, including Honourable Chet Greene from Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, Honourable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Honourable Reuben Meade, Premier of Montserrat, David Davis representing Saint Marti, and Honourable Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
