Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J. Pierre, has fiercely defended the recent visit of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to the island nation, describing opposition backlash as “shameful and disgraceful.”
Pierre, who spoke in Castries during the 2025 Emancipation Day celebrations on August 1, accused critics of perpetuating a colonial mindset and showing disrespect for African leadership.
“Had the visit been by a Head of State from another part of the world, the reception from that group would have been, at the very least, respectful,” the Prime Minister said in a pointed rebuke to political opponents.
He said the negative reaction to President Tinubu’s presence revealed deep-rooted issues of self-hate and internalized inferiority, which continue to hinder the island’s post-colonial transformation.
Pierre reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s commitment to forging stronger diplomatic and economic ties with Nigeria and the wider African continent, noting that several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during Tinubu’s visit.
The Prime Minister’s remarks were delivered against the solemn backdrop of Emancipation Day, marking 191 years since the abolition of slavery in Saint Lucia.
He used the occasion to urge Saint Lucians to confront the lingering psychological and social effects of colonialism and embrace a renewed vision of African unity and pride.
“As we honour the sacred memory of our ancestors, we are not only looking back, we are reaching forward,” he declared.
Pierre acknowledged the progress made since 1834 but warned that structural inequalities and mental barriers inherited from slavery and colonial rule still hold back individuals and communities.
“There remain, sadly, a few among us who have yet to understand and appreciate the need to lift our people from self-doubt and the harmful effects of colonial values,” he added.
Tinubu, who was the Guest of Honour at the Emancipation Day celebration, described the visit as “deeply emotional and historically significant,” stressing the shared heritage between the Caribbean and Africa.
“This is not just a visit, it is a reconnection. A reaffirmation of the unbreakable cultural and historical bond between our peoples,” Tinubu said during a reception hosted in his honour.
He expressed gratitude to the government and people of Saint Lucia for the warm reception, stating that the visit marked “a new chapter in Africa-Caribbean solidarity.”
Reacting from Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, praised Prime Minister Pierre’s bold stance, saying:
“Saint Lucia’s leadership understands that we are not merely building diplomatic bridges, we are repairing centuries-old fractures caused by slavery and colonialism. Nigeria appreciates the principled voice of Prime Minister Pierre.”
Presidency officials described the criticism of the visit as “misguided and unfortunate.”
Many said President Tinubu’s mission is to foster South-South cooperation that promotes cultural reconnection, trade, and youth exchange.
“Those who criticize such a symbolic visit fail to grasp the historical significance of Africans and Afro-Caribbeans standing together in unity,” they said.
Meanwhile, members of the Saint Lucian diaspora, particularly in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, have voiced strong support for Pierre’s stance and the symbolism of Tinubu’s visit.
“We see this as a powerful statement of reconnection and pride in our African ancestry,” said Dr. Althea Mondesir, a cultural historian and Saint Lucian community leader in Toronto.
“President Tinubu’s presence reminded us that we are not isolated, we are part of a vast and resilient global African family.”
In New York, the Saint Lucia Progressive Alliance also issued a statement backing the Prime Minister.
“At a time when our people are still confronting the legacies of racial trauma, rejecting this kind of Pan-African solidarity would be a betrayal of our ancestors’ struggles,” the group said.
