Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerian president, will address a joint sitting of St Lucia’s House of Assembly and Senate at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 30, Ernest Hilaire deputy prime minister and minister for tourism, Saint Lucia, announced on Tuesday.
According to St. Lucia Times, the session will take place at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom at Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.
From June 28 to July 4, President Tinubu is expected to travel to Saint Lucia for a formal state visit.
During a cabinet press meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre first announced the visit, stating that the topics of conversation are anticipated to be infrastructure, education, economic development, and diplomatic ties. All heads of state of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have also been invited.
Hilaire stated in his parliamentary statements that Tinubu will be attending more formal events. He stated that further information would be made public later. “Of course, he will also have a couple of other official activities, and further details will be shared with the public at a later date,” he said.
Hilaire apologised in advance to the public for any delays caused by the visit’s increased security and traffic control measures.
“I wish, on behalf of the government, to first of all apologise to the public for any inconvenience that they will suffer because of the traffic arrangements and traffic management plans that will be put in place,” the minister said.
“I think the public can appreciate that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a person of considerable stature and standing. And to be our gracious guest during that period is an honour for us in Saint Lucia. As hosts, we have an equal responsibility to ensure that all the arrangements are put in place for his successful stay in Saint Lucia.”
The minister confirmed that police officers will be tasked with implementing traffic control measures, which, he noted, may cause “traffic backup and other necessary inconveniences.”
Hilaire appealed to the public’s sense of hospitality and the island’s cultural connections to Africa, encouraging Saint Lucians to extend a warm welcome to President Tinubu.
“We have a tremendous reputation, especially in the tourism industry, for hosting guests in Saint Lucia,” he said.
“For many years, Saint Lucians have called for stronger ties with Africa, given our heritage. And here we have an opportunity to host one of our more outstanding leaders of an African country, in this case, Nigeria. We want to appeal to the public and to everyone to show that graciousness that we’ve gotten accustomed to,” he added.
Hilaire made a final appeal to the public as he concluded his speech to the House, asking members to approve the resolution for a joint sitting:
“In moving this resolution for a joint sitting, we all look forward to the message that the president will convey to the people of Saint Lucia. Please accept in advance all our apologies for any inconvenience, and I ask that the public cooperate with all lawful directions given by the police.”
