ST. EUSTATIUS – Representatives from UNESCO and the Knowledge Centre Intangible Heritage Netherlands (KIEN) visited St. Eustatius on Sunday, January 26th, and Monday, January 27th, to engage with the Statia Government and stakeholders in the cultural heritage sector.

During their visit, a special ceremony was held on Monday, where UNESCO presented the Executive Council with two plaques commemorating the UNESCO recognition of the African burial grounds at Godet Plantation and Golden Rock Plantation. These sites were officially recognized in September 2024 during a ceremony in Paris.

Discussions with the Executive Council focused on strengthening inter-regional collaboration and increasing the visibility of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba in UNESCO’s work. Collaboration with the cultural heritage sector was highlighted as a key factor in achieving this goal.

Priorities

Statia’s priorities include institutional strengthening, capacity building, developing collaboration protocols, and the return of collections. UNESCO and KIEN offered to assist in setting up a dedicated website for St. Eustatius to inventory its intangible heritage. This platform will empower the local community to nominate and select elements of cultural heritage for recognition and preservation. The visit emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to preserve and promote Statia’s rich cultural