Last Updated on March 25, 2026, 1:15 PM AST by Anthony Morris
The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew is currently attending Aquarian Consult’s Agri Caribbean Investment Summit, addressed the assembly on the third day of the week long summit. The event had several heads of the governments of the OECS and senior officials from Caribbean. Additionally, the event is also being attended by a number of leaders and high level government officials from Nigeria.
The event, currently in its second year, is taking place in Abuja Nigeria. It serves as a platform for strengthening the connectivity between the African Continent and the Caribbean Region.
The Prime Minister spoke to the attendants about the history which connects the two region. He spoke of the painful history of slavery and recalled the historically tragic story associated with March 14, 1737. On this day, a small Bristol registered vessel carrying African Slave men came to St Kitts. The captain of the ship was hoping to make big profits by selling these slaves to the sugar plantation owners on the island.
However, in a rare show of rebellion, were determined to escape further imprisonment and misery. They wanted to escape and did so, the only way they knew. Over a hundred enslaved people from the African continent jumped into the sea. Out of these over thirty people died.
According to media reports from this time, these people made no efforts to save themselves and were prepared to die to escape slavery.
Having concluded this story, Prime Minister highlighted that most of the people who came to St Kitts as enslaved persons originally came from South Eastern Africa. They were people from Nigeria, Gold Coast Ghana and many other places which would be familiar to Africa.
Having said this, Dr Drew asserted that they were one people as they came fromm the same roots.
“We left many hundred years ago under trying circumstances but we are returning as free men and women of the Caribbean Civilization.” Dr Drew said in his address.
He also informed the people in attendance at the that today, in a few hours the President of Ghana is tabling a resolution to categorise the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade as the worst crime ever committed by humanity. St Kitts and Nevis is the co sponsor of that resolution.
Dr Drew said that he is waiting for the resolution to pass in the halls of the UN. He also added that in the event that the resolution is not passed, they will table it again till it passes.
He was also proud of the fact that St that the delegation from St Kitts and Nevis, which accompanied him to Nigeria were able to travel here on a direct flight. This direct flight departed from the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport in St Kitts and Nevis and landed directly in Abuja, Nigeria on Sunday.
Prime Minister Drew further added in his address that Africa has Risen. He said that by 2100, the continent and the people who were the most exploited in the world, one in every three people will be african or african origin. This is a matter of pride for a region which is credited as the origin of humanity. The people of Africa will be 2 Billion in populatio by 2100.
Dr Drew was also proud to say that the people of Africa will have access to all the resources on the planet from land, to opportunities, and positions of leadership in the world.
He said that his motive to bring a contingent of people from St Kitts and Nevis to Abuja, Nigeria was to reunite the West and the East. Dr Drew said that many people do not understand this motivation and he knows that the move is bold but it is unapologetic. He reiterated his commitment to reuniting the two lands.
Later in his address, Dr Terrance Drew said that this connection between the two nations must reflect in trade. He said that while they have spoken about unity and prosperity of the two regions, it is incomplete.
He informed the people attending the AfriCaribbean Investment Summit that the trade between Africa and the Caribbean is less than 1 percent. He said this number is low, but that means that the only way to go after this, is up, calling for increased trade opportunities.
Dr Drew also advocated for more opportunity for te youngsters from both the regions. He said that the two regions can not speak about prosperity if the youngsters are still struggling for opportunity.
As such, the delegation from St Kitts and Nevis features several youngsters who have opportunity to form connections and new opportunities. Dr Terrance Drew also talked about free movement between the two regions to be more easier.
Dr Terrance Drew said that the Africanness of the Caribbean population is also alive in them as they excel in creativity sports and several other sectors. Dr Drew said that the connection between the two regions must produce results. He called for stronger trade, better financial systems, deeper cultural exchange and much more.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
