Dutch Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Media, Arie Slob (right) signing the guest book at St. Eustatius Historical Foundation Museum with guide Jennifer Daniels looking on. Slob visited St. Eustatius last week.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Part of Dutch Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Media, Arie Slob’s visit to St. Eustatius last week was an explanation of the history of slavery on the island.
Local historian and Monuments Director Walter Hellebrand used the minister’s tour of Fort Oranje to give him a good view of the most important historical site relating to that part of the island’s history: Godet.
It is there that the slave house stood, the building where the captured Africans were housed after their transatlantic crossing and before being auctioned off.
“The ancestors of many Statians spent their first nights on the island right there,” Hellebrand pointed out. “However, this area is also the most critically endangered historical site on the island. The erosion caused by both the sea and runoff surface water means that the monumental remains in this area – including the foundations of the slave house – are in serious danger of disappearing altogether. The erosion has created a mini cliff and human remains are sticking out of it. That is how serious it is.
Minister Slob asked Hellebrand what is being done about this by the Public Entity St. Eustatius. Hellebrand replied that he has brought up the issue to every relevant ministry in The Hague.
“However, since there is a lack of transparency from the government’s side, it is not possible for us to know what will be done – if anything. Archaeologists are busy at the site but they flatly denied giving us any information about what they are doing there, despite the fact that it is our heritage they are dealing with. That is not very helpful,” the monuments director said.
