Saint Lucia’s Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs, Alva Baptiste, has confirmed that the government is wasting no time in moving forward on a framework for deeper cooperation with Nigeria, following the official state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In my hands right now is a proposed agreement that is going to the required chambers so that we are able to sign as far as practicable various provisions for our country… very, very soon,” Baptiste said, signalling Saint Lucia’s intent to quickly transform diplomatic dialogue into action.
“This is similar to what I said prior to the president’s address that the central focus of this moment is to introduce elements in our relations with Africa we have been pursuing for years,” he added. “A state visit signals with clarity that a country is prepared to engage in broader cooperation, greater understanding, and of course, the shared values as we cooperate on common objectives of humanity.”
Baptiste was speaking in the wake of a landmark address delivered by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a joint sitting of Saint Lucia’s Parliament on Monday, marking the first time an African head of government has addressed the body.
President Tinubu’s visit, which began Saturday evening, is part of a wider initiative to strengthen relations between Nigeria and members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the trip aims “to pave the way for the rekindling of ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, economic and cultural possibilities between Saint Lucia and Nigeria”.
During his address, Tinubu proposed educational and cultural exchange programmes, trade and investment collaboration, and scholarships for Saint Lucian students, aligning with Saint Lucia’s goal to have a university graduate in every household. He also called for visa waivers for diplomatic and official passport holders, urging Saint Lucia to reciprocate.
“As one who feels a profound kinship with our shared African heritage,” Tinubu said, “I am fully aware of the historic current that has bound us together… but out of which emerged a shared cultural identity, resilience and a legacy of aspiration.”
The Nigerian leader was formally conferred with one of Saint Lucia’s highest honours – Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL)—during a state function at the Governor General’s official residence. He will now be accorded the honorary title of Sir Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Baptiste expressed the government’s full alignment with the president’s message.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to proceed with light and rapidity to do just that.”
I would have preferred stronger bonds with Ghana or Kenya. Nigeria, with its systemic corruption should be the last place for consideration. It’s no place to emulate.
Not so fast Sir. Let’s us take our time before we rush into anything. While I welcome the president’s visit we need to take it easy before we rush into anything with a country with over 200 million people. Nigerians will need visas to travel to our little island and soon we will not have enough space to housed them. There are lots of things we need to consider before establishing full diplomatic relations with Africa’s most populous country.
Corruption and crime is rampant in Nigeria – There’s also tribalism warfare going on. The North with it’s Fulani people are running amok killing farmers and herdsmen. St Lucia needs to take stock of what is happening over there before we can establish ties with them. I saw where someone wrote about a famous St Lucian man who wrote and drafted Nigeria’s laws for them and I noticed not one person commented about his achievements in Nigeria. I have known about Sir Darnley for a long time and I applaud him for all the good work that he did in Nigeria.
Did anyone tell President Tinubu about him and that he is Saint Lucian? He was born in Castries in 1920 and moved to London and then Nigeria. There are pictures of him and Tinubu on the net. Before you go full-on perhaps the foreign minister should have alerted President Tinubu about Sir Darnley Alexander who has a street named after him in Soufriere. It was very noble of the president to offer free tuition to our prospective students but I don’t think that a lot of our students will take him up on that offer. To be honest I would much rather see African/ black people in our country than Asians and Europeans whose only aim to come and dominate us and to tell us what to do in our own land. I was born in London but I am Lucian to the bone. My parents are from Canaries and I have been to our lovely island many many times. If we are going to bring people to our shores make sure they are vetted and are of good character… A lot of people are calling for Tinubu’s removal in Nigeria right now. Let’s not rush into anything that we will regret later. That is all I am saying. Big Up Saint Lucia my lovely island and that of my parents!
One (1) EC$ is equivalent to 560 Nigerian dollars. What do u think could happen?