From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Senate President of Saint Lucia, Alvina Reynolds has revealed that most of the formerly enslaved people in the country traced their origins to Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, she made the disclosure when she warming welcomed President Bola Tinubu to Saint Lucia’s bicameral parliament on Monday, spotlighting the profound ancestral connections between the two nations, rekindling centuries-old bonds between Africa and the Caribbean.
Drawing from historical records, Reynolds cited a British census conducted on the island in 1815, stating: “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.”
Reynolds highlighted the significance of President Tinubu’s visit, describing it as historic for both the Parliament and the people of Saint Lucia. She reflected on the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, which spanned more than 350 years, and how it forged “an unbreakable historical and cultural link between Africa and the Caribbean.” She further described the Nigerian president’s arrival as the rekindling of “a mission to reunite us with our homeland and for our people to work together.”
Paying tribute to Saint Lucia’s distinguished contribution to Nigeria’s judiciary, Reynolds highlighted the legacy of Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who journeyed to Nigeria in 1957 and rose to become the Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979 — the only non-Nigerian to hold that office in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
She also acknowledged the ongoing cultural and spiritual ties, noting the presence of Nigerian Catholic priests serving in Saint Lucia, including Father Festus, a special guest at the session.
“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,” Reynolds said.
Recognising President Tinubu’s longstanding commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria, she added:
“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.”
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, responding to the Nigerian president’s speech, described the state visit as a moment of “freedom and celebration” and a powerful symbol of the enduring spiritual and cultural bond between the Caribbean and Africa.
He poignantly noted the deep ancestral and emotional ties between Saint Lucia and West Africa, stating: “Saint Lucia is 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.”
Pierre underscored the resilience and contributions of Saint Lucians who have built permanent homes on the hills and valleys of the plantations where their ancestors were enslaved. “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,” he said.
With characteristic warmth and humor, the Prime Minister compared the population sizes of the two nations, noting that Saint Lucia’s population is smaller than that of Eti-Osa Local Government in Lagos State. Yet, he affirmed the island’s pride as a sovereign nation “with a heart and spirit deeply connected to the world, Nigeria, and West Africa.”
Highlighting the invaluable contributions of the Nigerian community to Saint Lucia’s society, Pierre praised their impact 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.
The Prime Minister also reflected on the rich literary and historical ties between the two countries, mentioning Nobel laureates Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott, and recalling 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,” Pierre remarked.
Looking forward, Pierre expressed optimism about accelerating Africa-Caribbean cooperation following the inaugural Africa-CARICOM Summit in 2021, and ahead of the second summit scheduled for September in Addis Ababa. He outlined key areas for collaboration, including tourism, air connectivity, creative industries, sports exchange, banking, fintech, renewable energy, and medical collaboration.
He noted a current gap in direct air links between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, despite the island hosting over one million tourists annually. “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 said.
Pierre also highlighted the role of culture and youth in rekindling ties, citing the popularity of Nigerian Afrobeats, Nollywood films, and authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie among Saint Lucians. “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 concrete partnerships in creative industries and sports development, especially football and cricket, and encouraged Nigerian investors and fintech companies to explore opportunities in Saint Lucia’s banking sector. Additionally, he welcomed Nigerian medical professionals to support Saint Lucia’s aging population and healthcare system, noting an upcoming Agreement of Technical Manpower Assistance with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health.
“Mr. President, I hope this will not be your last visit. I look forward to visiting Nigeria in the near future… 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-level dignitaries and leaders from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including Prime Ministers and representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Martin, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, underscoring the regional importance of the visit.
This historic visit, the first by a Nigerian president to Saint Lucia, marks a renewed commitment to strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between Nigeria and the Caribbean, anchored in a shared history and a hopeful future.