ABUJA, Nigeria – St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew Tuesday called for a new era of solidarity, investment, and innovation between Africa and the Caribbean.
Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew addressing the opening of the three-day Aquarian Consult Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS 2025) in Nigeria on Tuesday.Addressing the opening of the three-day Aquarian Consult Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS 2025), being held under the theme “Bridging Continents: Africa and the Caribbean – A Partnership for Prosperity,” the St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister said “this summit is more than an assembly of minds.
“It is a declaration of intent. Africa is not a distant relative to the Caribbean; it is our mother. And today, we are not just visiting; we are returning, with purpose, with vision, and with an unwavering belief in what we can achieve together.”
He told the delegates that his twin island Federation had its “own developmental priorities” as he outlined a number of transformational initiatives taking place in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, including investments in geothermal energy, sustainable agriculture, financial reform, and a reimagined Citizenship by Investment program.
“We are moving steadily toward a future where our electricity grid is powered primarily by clean, renewable energy from beneath our very feet,” he said, making reference to the country’s ambitious geothermal project.
“This project is not just a solution for St. Kitts and Nevis, it is a model for small island developing states and African nations with similar geophysical capacity,” he said, highlighting the strategic importance of shared economic instruments and cultural linkages.
“Let us not only seek capital, let us design it, control it, and direct it to where it can have the most transformative impact,” he said, adding that prosperity is also cultural, and called for greater collaboration between the Caribbean’s creative sectors and Africa’s booming cultural industries.
“I am confident that this summit will mark the beginning of even greater cooperation between our nations and regions, grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a collective commitment to a prosperous future.”
The Prime Minister’s address was followed by a presentation from the representative of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Sanya Alleyne, as she participated in a panel discussion exploring Afri-Caribbean Investment Opportunities and Enablers.
Alleyne said there was the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships in trade, tourism, and entrepreneurship, particularly in emerging sectors and through diaspora engagement, while the Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley, updated the conference on the St. Kitts- Nevis Island Climate Enhancement Project (SKNICE),
The conference also heard presentations from the former Mauritius president Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, and other high-level African and Caribbean officials.
