Saint Lucia’s Senate President Alvina Reynolds on Monday highlighted deep ancestral links with Nigeria, citing an 1815 British census showing a majority of enslaved Africans on the island traced their roots to Nigeria and surrounding regions.
Reynolds made the remarks while welcoming President Bola Tinubu to a joint session of Saint Lucia’s bicameral parliament, describing his visit as a “historic moment” that revives the island’s spiritual and cultural connection to Africa.
“Of the 3,488 Africans enslaved in Saint Lucia then, 34% were Nigerian,” she noted, adding that Tinubu’s visit reignites “a mission to reunite us with our homeland.”
She also honoured Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975–1979 — the only non-Nigerian to hold that post after independence — and welcomed the Nigerian priests serving on the island.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre echoed similar sentiments, calling the visit “a moment of freedom and celebration,” and describing Saint Lucia as “a small fragment of Africa.”
He praised Nigeria’s cultural influence, from Afrobeats and Nollywood to writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Pierre urged stronger Africa-Caribbean ties through air links, creative collaboration, fintech, sports exchange, and medical manpower.
He revealed an imminent agreement with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and expressed hope for more exchanges.
“Mr. President, I hope this is not your last visit,” he said, pledging Saint Lucia’s commitment to deeper relations ahead of the upcoming Africa-CARICOM summit in Ethiopia.
The joint session was attended by top leaders from the OECS, including the Prime Ministers of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and other regional representatives.
