Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada has called for a systematic deepening of economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between Africa and the Caribbean, describing shared history as a foundation that the two regions had not yet adequately converted into practical commercial and political partnership.
Mitchell made the remarks at an African Liberation Day celebration in Grenada, where he praised Nigerian residents for their contributions to the country’s national life and described the Atlantic Ocean as having shifted from an instrument of forced separation into a deliberately constructed bridge for reconnection.
He said Africa and the Caribbean shared a common history, identity, and destiny, and that the relationship between both regions needed to move beyond symbolic commemoration into active trade, investment, innovation, and diplomacy. He said this would require patience and sustained effort, one trade partnership at a time, one investment at a time, one diplomatic initiative at a time.
Reflecting on the significance of African Liberation Day, Mitchell said political independence had been secured across much of Africa but that the continent and its diaspora still faced serious challenges including political instability, economic injustice, and persistent underdevelopment. He said Black history predated slavery and was rooted in civilisations that had shaped the world, and that reclaiming that history was both a cultural and a political act.
He added that despite Grenada’s small size, the country was committed to playing an active role in building a modern nation grounded in its African identity and in strengthening ties across the global African community. Esther Tonlagha, Founder of the Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation, said Africa represented strength and opportunity and that Caribbean nations must remain connected to the continent’s future. She said stronger collaboration between African and Caribbean countries in trade, education, and investment would create development opportunities for citizens on both sides of the Atlantic
