News

UNESCO Delegation Visits Statia’s Afrikan Burial Grounds

Representatives of UNESCO Netherlands Commission, President of the Alliance Kenneth Cuvalay, and Heritage Inspector Raimie Richardson. Photo: Alliance.

ORANJESTAD – On January 26, a delegation from the Netherlands Commission for UNESCO visited the historical Afrikan burial grounds at Golden Rock, Godet, and Congo, guided by Kenneth Cuvalay and Derrick Simmons of the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance.

During the visit, the UNESCO representatives presented official placards to the Alliance, marking the inclusion of the Golden Rock and Godet burial grounds in the ‘Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ on October 9, 2024. This designation recognizes sites of historical significance in the transatlantic slave trade.

The delegation, including officials from the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN), was joined by St. Eustatius Heritage Inspector Raimie Richardson. In tribute to the Ancestors, they laid flowers and performed a traditional libation ceremony.

Grassroots efforts

The Alliance, which initiated the UNESCO application, was commended during the October 2024 ceremony in Paris for its grassroots efforts. Moving forward, the organization will engage the local community in discussions about the importance of the UNESCO recognition and the preservation of Afrikan heritage on the island.