Abuja: President of the Saint Lucian Senate, Alvina Reynolds, has emphasized the strong ancestral ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Reynolds referenced an 1815 British census conducted on the island, revealing that a significant portion of Saint Lucians can trace their roots back to Nigeria. This disclosure was made during a joint session of Saint Lucia’s bicameral parliament, where President Bola Tinubu was welcomed on Monday.
A statement from the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made available to newsmen in Abuja, outlined that of the 16,282 enslaved individuals in Saint Lucia at the time, 3,488 originated from Africa. Among these, 34 percent were from Nigeria, 11 percent from Nigeria-Cameroon, and 22 percent from the Congo. The remaining individuals were born in Saint Lucia, with a majority having forefathers from Sene-Gambia and Nigeria. Reynolds described President Tinubu’s visit as historic for both the Parliament and the people of Saint Lucia.
According to Reynolds, the transatlantic slave trade, which spanned over 350 years, created lasting cultural bonds between Africa and the Caribbean. She termed the visit as ‘a mission to reunite us with our homeland and for our people to work together.’ The Senate President also honored Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, and highlighted the ongoing contributions of Nigerian Catholic priests in Saint Lucia.
Tinubu’s address coincided with World Parliament Day, an occasion to reflect on the critical role of Parliament. In response, Prime Minister Philip Pierre described the State Visit as a moment of ‘freedom and celebration.’ He acknowledged deep ancestral and emotional ties with West Africa, referring to Saint Lucia as ‘a small fragment of Africa.’
Pierre humorously noted that Saint Lucia’s population is smaller than Eti-Osa Local Government in Lagos. Despite this, he affirmed the island’s pride as a sovereign nation deeply connected to the world, Nigeria, and West Africa. He acknowledged the Nigerian community’s contributions to various sectors, including healthcare, religion, cuisine, tourism, and social development, expressing gratitude for their impact on Saint Lucia’s development.
Reflecting on Africa-Caribbean relations, Pierre welcomed the progress made since the first Africa-CARICOM Summit in 2021 and looked forward to the next summit in Addis Ababa. He identified potential areas for cooperation, such as tourism, air travel, creative industries, fintech, sports, renewable energy, and medical services. Pierre noted that while Saint Lucia hosts over one million tourists annually, few come from Nigeria due to limited air connectivity. He proposed partnerships in sports, particularly football and cricket, and encouraged Nigerian fintech and healthcare professionals to explore opportunities in Saint Lucia’s growing sectors.
The joint session was attended by diplomats, dignitaries, and top leaders from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).