Shocking ancestry revealed: Most enslaved Saint Lucians were Nigerians
She described President Tinubu’s visit as historic, noting that it rekindled “a mission to reunite us with our homeland and for our people to work together.”
Reynolds traced the roots of ’s African-Caribbean identity to the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, which she described as having forged an unbreakable link between Africa and the Caribbean. Her address paid tribute to the enduring spirit of the African diaspora and celebrated the contributions of Nigerians to the cultural, religious, and social fabric of Saint Lucia.
She also honoured one of Saint Lucia’s most accomplished sons, Sir Darnley Alexander, who moved to Nigeria in 1957 and later became Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, the only non-Nigerian to hold that position in the country’s post-independence history.
She further noted the continuing presence of Nigerian clergy in Saint Lucia. “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.”
Reynolds described the day as particularly auspicious, coinciding with World Parliament Day.
“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 commended President Tinubu’s record as a defender of democracy and good governance.
“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 remarks, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre described Tinubu’s state visit as a moment of “freedom and celebration,” evoking the memory of Nelson Mandela, whose visit to the island 27 years earlier marked a similarly historic occasion.
“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 said.
Pierre stressed that Saint Lucia’s emotional and cultural bonds with West Africa remain unbroken.
“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 described Saint Lucia as “a small fragment of Africa” and said the island’s people had made a home for themselves “on the hills and valleys of the plantations on which we were enslaved,” but always in service of humanity and with their gaze still fixed on Africa.
Reflecting on the demographic difference between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, Pierre remarked with humour that “Saint Lucia’s population is smaller than that of Eti-Osa Local Government in Lagos State,” but emphasised that the country remained a proud, sovereign nation with strong connections to West Africa.
He acknowledged the valuable contributions of Nigerians in Saint Lucia, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, tourism, religion, and cuisine.
“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.
Pierre also paid tribute to the shared literary heritage of both nations, recalling the contributions of Nobel laureates Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott, and celebrated Nigeria’s global cultural influence through Afrobeats, Nollywood, and 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 said.
He proposed several areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, including tourism, creative industries, sports, air connectivity, banking, fintech, renewable energy, and medical partnerships.
Highlighting the urgent need for direct air travel between the regions, Pierre said, “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 disclosed plans to finalise a Technical Manpower Assistance Agreement with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, which would facilitate the deployment of Nigerian medical personnel to support Saint Lucia’s ageing population.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Pierre invited President Tinubu to return in the future and pledged Saint Lucia’s commitment to closer Africa-Caribbean ties.
“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.”
The joint session was attended by high-ranking officials from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, including Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, Premier Reuben Meade of Montserrat, Chet Greene of Antigua and Barbuda, David Davis of Saint Martin, and Prime Minister Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Their presence reflected the region’s growing unity and its shared resolve to strengthen ties with Africa.
