CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre says together St Lucia and Africa can be a powerful voice for climate justice, reparative action, and a future where the populations of both regions can thrive.

In a nationwide radio and television address on Thursday night, Pierre said after 191 years since the abolition of slavery, St Lucians have made much progress as African descendants in overcoming the inhumane treatment and psychological trauma imposed on their ancestors.

“This trauma has been carried across generations. And while its impact has been declining, its remnants continue to impede the progress of some of our people. The legacy of slavery is still able to divide us despite the common indignity suffered by our ancestors.

“And yes, 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,” Pierre said, noting that the bonds of global cooperation, once a beacon of hope, have been strained by division, distrust, and conflict.

“Yet, it is precisely now that we must recommit ourselves to unity, dialogue, and shared purpose,”  he said, noting that the “vilification and denigration” of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, by a politically-motivated group, tacitly supported by the opposition party, was another demonstration of the harmful effects of the legacy of slavery.

Pierre said that “behaviour was nothing short of shameful and disgraceful,” adding that “had the visit been by a head of state from another country, the reception from that group would have been at the very least respectful”.

Pierre said he wanted to inform the government and people of the Republic of Nigeria that St Lucia had been honoured by the visit of their president and is looking forward to establishing and deepening economic, social and cultural ties with Nigeria.

Pierre said he is pleased that during the visit, several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were established for fostering economic, social, educational and cultural relations with St Lucia and the wider Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and that his administration “will do its best to ensure that those MOUs bear fruit at the earliest opportunity”.