PRESS RELEASE: When will the disrespect end, as it relates to the Golden Rock African Burial Ground site on Sint Eustatius?

 

 

 

 

 Also published in The Daily Herald of April 25, 2022  

When will the disrespect end, as it relates to the Golden Rock African Burial Ground site on Sint Eustatius?
 

ST. EUSTATIUS / 24 April 2022 / -- Ubuntu Connected Front


Buried in an article of The Daily Herald of March 25, 2022, “Parliament again asks to accelerate Statia process” concerning a resent debate of the Second Chamber of the Dutch government, where various Members of Parliament express their views on the speeding up to restore democracy on Sint Eustatius. It is quite ironic that the process to enact a law, in the second week in February 2018, when the then State Secretary of Kingdom Relation, passed the law, based on the so call Wise men Refunjol-Janssen, not forgetting the main unmentioned author the forgotten Jenny Thunnissen, report, through both Dutch Parliaments, with unanimous consent, signed into law by the King, traveled to Sint Eustatius, with military support, to take over a defenseless island, all within the time frame of three days, but it have to take divine intervention, to speed up a process that have lasted over four years.  The state secretary, van Huffelen, referred to the Dutch Slavery past as “a shame in our shared history” and it was very important to give account for it, but on the other hand the prime-minister, who apparently have a degree in Dutch history from the Leiden University, still believes that an apology would create a risk that will cause society to further become more polarizing. Based on apologies that he has muster up the courage to give in the past months, they still seem to be lacking some elements of what a proper apology should be regarding the Afrikan people. They should at least have some elements of, acknowledgment, remorse and empathy, and the most of all, restitution on grounds of reparatory justice. If one should dissect the historical behavior of colonial powers, they tend to enact laws, or skillfully make statement, that might make terms like “War Crimes” and “Crimes against Humanity” as incidents of history, that will be easily forgotten as time go by, without any proper form of restitution or accountability.  

The project if the Construction Airport Boulevard which is scheduled to commence the second quarter of 2022, seems to have the plans in full swing. Apart from having a presentation of the report from the Statia Heritage Research Commission (SHRC), in relation to the excavation that was done at the Afrikan Burial Ground site in questioned, it might seem like all the relevant boxes have been checked off, like community engagement, and all is well. Specifically, in the notice of the project, is mentioned about “the Bend at the One Link supermarket” and is noticeable from the video clip, that is circulating, of the Airport Boulevard project that some sort of construction will take place through the Afrikan Burial Ground site in question. Apparently there seems to be a major traffic congestion issue and by constructing roundabouts that “will improve the safety of road users immensely.” We would like the local government administration to publicize, the past reports of these incidents, that is disrupting the flow of traffic, that took place in the last four years. If one should use the same argumentation provided for the placements of these roundabouts, practically every intersection on the island would qualify for one.

Another very important moment in time is, since the matter of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonialism, that has been classified a crime against humanity, by the United Nations.
As a consequence of the UN decision the following developed, the European parliament, with the full endorsement of all the EU parliaments members that represents the coalition parties that supports the present fourth Rutte cabinet, with a pending apology which might happen sometime this century the fundamental question can be ask.
With the possibility of this Airport Boulevard project, with the placement of the roundabout destroying the 18 century cemetery of our enslaved Afrikan ancestors, the second biggest in the Caribbean after Barbados which in itself is disrespectful is that not become part of a crime against humanity?

Taking the most recent roundabout, that still have people wondering why it was constructed in the first place, and why you still have those mobile guardrails with the sign “Road to Jeems Road Closed” place on one of them, when practically on a daily basis you will see motorist entering the roundabout and making a left turn because it seems more practical to do so.
It seems quite easy for motions to be presented, and carried in the Dutch parliament, often giving vague and general instructions, but that have not come to the realization that the main issue, that is the common unmentioned cause of the majority of the problems, as it relates to its colonies have to do with racism. The “BCN” issue with students coming from the colonial part of the kingdom are basically being racially profiled and are categorized as foreigners with the Dutch passports. How is it possible that practically overnight, sanctions on the oil and gas trade from Venezuela can be implemented with the full support of the Dutch Government, with the full knowledge of the economic ramifications that will result thereof for the colonial part of the kingdom, including other Caribbean islands, then questioning the abilities of the islands to run their own affairs, because of the lack of sufficient financial means follows by intention to further take away any form of autonomy that they believe to have. On the other hand, it seems to be a very difficult pill and bitter to swallow, to implement similar oil and gas sanctions when the European part of the kingdom, including Europe might suffer the economic ramifications of such a move. Also resent you have the COHO elephant taking up a lot of media discussion room that comes as a subtle form of terrorism.

The Emancipation Act of July 1, 1863, although the decision was made in 1848, when the Netherlands abolish slavery, didn’t come without the usual concerns, like it even took many more years after for the enslaved Afrikans to be free because of a mandatory 10-year transition phase in Suriname. Some might say that those responsible for the Transatlantic Slave trade are no longer alive, so what use does an apology serve? The answer to that question reveals it self through a system that seems to repeat itself. Although with the introduction of the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954, that should have ended the Dutch ownership of colonies, which turns out not to be true. When it comes to matters of freedom the Dutch Government still seems to drag things out endlessly, and referring to self-made laws, but in the interest of development and fabricated safety and congestion issues, the placement of a roundabout trumps a cemetery of our enslaved Afrikan ancestors that apparently was not the final resting place, even after enduring the horrendous and barbaric Crimes Against Humanity.   



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Information for the Editor

Kenneth Cuvalay, chairman UCF Caribbean / St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance

The St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance protests the excavations of Afrikan free and enslaved Afrikans at an 18th-century Afrikan burial ground in St. Eustatius (see https://www.change.org/LeaveOurAncestorsInPeace).

Afrika is spelled with a “k” instead of a “c” based on the following insights:
-    It is a Pan-Afrikan spelling which relates both to the Afrikan continent and to the Diaspora;
-    It reflects the spelling of “Afrika” in all Afrikan languages;
-    It includes the concept of “ka”, the vital energy which both sustains and creates.

About Ubuntu Connected Front (UCF)
Ubuntu Connected Front is a political party in the Netherlands founded in 2017. It participated in the 2021 Parliamentary election and although it did not receive enough votes to win a seat in the House of Representatives, it was the most popular party in St. Eustatius, receiving 50,8% of the votes. Motto: “Equality is a human right, not a privilege”. UCF focuses on equal rights for people of Afrikan descent.

Ubuntu means "humanity" in Afrikan Bantu languages. It is often translated as "I am because we are", or "humanity towards others". It is Ubuntu Connected Front’s core belief that all people have rights, which promotes equality of treatment and eliminates marginalization and deprivation.

Black Agenda. The 'Black Agenda' of Ubuntu Connected Front (UCF) can be found in the "Manifest for NL Transformation" at the UCF website (Chapter 5).

The Black Agenda consists of three pillars:
1.    Recognition concerns the impact of our slavery past as a crime against humanity.
2.    Justice is about historical restoration of rights.
3.    Development aims to achieve equal development opportunities for everyone.

Deception on St. Eustatius

As published in the section "Opinion" of The Daily Herald, St. Maarten, Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Dear Editor,

On April, 21st 2021 a new excavation started on the terrain of the airport of Statia. In earlier excavations near the airport the archeologists of SECAR found many remains and artefacts. So it was no surprise when after a short time they found graves of enslaved African people. Others could have told them before, based on archival research, but SECAR played the farce of surprise.

Statia Government kept on promoting the dig with many press releases and extra money. The white hired so-called experts got paid above and/or replacing their normal salaries. The Statian people of African descent got very angry. A large scale signatures campaign was launched and many people give their support to it. Normally and understandable, because for the white archeologists the desecration was only usual when the graves were of non-white people. Not once have they looted graves of white people! State secretary Knops visiting the grave site of ancestors of the people he is said to hate, didn’t do any good either.

SECAR tried to lure the population in a town hall meeting (June 21st), but that became an enormous disaster. Now more and more people were speaking out against SECAR, the various named archeologists, the excavation, but also against the Dutch controlled government.

Protests were also heard on other islands against the colonial controlled excavations of the white Dutch, British, French and/or US scientists. To prevent further polarization or even the activation of something that might be as dormant as the Quill, an open rebellion, the advisers of the Statia Government, among others the wife of former government commissioner Van Rij and the Leiden University professors of archeology, advised to pause the diggings, and find a plan to deceive the population. Their goal was that SECAR c.s. could continue grabbing profits over the skeletons of African descent enslaved people.
At July, 14th, eventually the government had to stop the diggings, but it was exactly at the moment of the start of hurricane season, so not very principle.

The advisors and the ministry of Interior in Europe had ordered that a commission should be installed. Typically a Dutch civil servants solution to stretch time and to downplay the anger. By the end of July the so-called St. Eustatius Heritage Research Commission (SHRC) was installed by the government to find a plan to get opinions of the population streamlined to fit within the government’s plans. Not that the government would follow any of these population’s opinions, but merely to give it the image of cooperation and hand reaching. This commission was composed of all foreign so-called experts, and only a few well chosen, Statian-born people were allowed to be the representing lightning rods. If something went wrong the president of the commission, Mr. Haviser, would use them as scapegoats. Yes, the same one who dares to call the kettle black in regard to racism!

It was, so was written in the government press release, the intention that no excavation should be executed before a report of this commission was discussed with the population.
But several things interfered with that apparent hollow promise of Ms. Alida Francis, government commissioner of state secretary Mr. Knops: 

• A point has been reached where all leading positions in the St. Eustatius civil servants organization are full of expats, and Ms. Claudia Toet, also parachuted by Mr. Knops, and her gang of helpers are therefore in full control of all developments on the island.
• Very fast, many development plans have been started to prevent that any political power change in European Netherlands could undo what’s already started. The money flow to St. Eustatius has about doubled that of the former normal budget to arrange this!
• And apparently the different archeologists were in dire straits and needed money, so Mr. Haviser, chairman of the People’s Deceiving Commission anticipated any report or advises by giving his permission to his friends to continue digging on a nearby location. He, who did excavations himself on St. Eustatius, and then, so-called independently telling his also Leiden-University friends that they may continue. As is known broadly, all archeology profit centers on the 6 “Dutch” Caribbean islands are founded by the University of Leiden, who still is in control.
  

Already earlier, in August 2021, another, this time underwater archeology survey was done. And here, again, another government funded entity was used to give permission: STENAPA.

Now it’s almost full circle: 

• Den Haag / Statia Government plans to execute the Statia Spatial Development Plan; 
• STENAPA or the SHRC who are used to give permission or a declaration of no objection; 
• SECAR destroying graves and digging up remains; 
• Leiden and other universities as modern body snatchers, breaking down bones; 
• And various foreign companies profiting from execution of these development plans.
  

But it does not stop here. Someone, some organization or business is helping hiding the looted excavated human remains from their African descendants. Digital forensic investigation will reveal who is guilty of this.

On November 28th 2021, SECAR started another dig near the airport. Again human remains can be found. And as so many thousands of enslaved people of African descent have died on the plantations around the terrain of the airport, it wouldn’t be surprising if the grave robbers did it again. And we all know for sure that the looters will keep it secret this time!
This is unacceptable! Stop the dig!

Heritage on St. Eustatius is not owned by any foreign expert or scientific mercenary. All heritage on the island belongs to the population. Any desecration of graves of non-white people must be seen as an act of race discrimination!

Jack Theuns

Ally of the St. Eustatius African Burial Ground Alliance

 

Better no archaeology than controversial archaeology: response to new excavations by SECAR

As published in the section "Opinion" of The Daily Herald, St. Maarten, Friday December 3, 2021 and at the BES Reporter website as a "Letter to the Editor" https://bes-reporter.com/letter-to-the-editor-better-no-archaeology-than-controversial-archaeology/

To my astonishment I read that SECAR at this moment is again excavating on St Eustatius near the animal shelter according to the government website. This happens while the conduct of SECAR is under scrutiny by the St Eustatius Heritage and Research Commission in relation to the excavation of enslaved people near the airport without consulting the descendant community. How is it possible that they are resuming work at a different location while the commission is not finished yet. It can’t be the case that just because there is no alternative archaeological company on the island they continue business as usual. It is reported that the commission was consulted and does not object to the test trenches. This makes the status of the commission problematic as it seems that they do not consider that their report leads to significant changes in how archaeology is done on St Eustatius. What happens if again they find the remains of (enslaved) people? Are we going to have the same problems? I think it would be wise to defer from archaeological excavations from SECAR and any other company on St Eustatius at least until the commission has submitted its report and it has been debated in the local community. There has to be a policy in place on how to deal with these kinds of archaeological finds before new excavations start, especially as it is not unreasonable to expect more burials of enslaved people on St Eustatius.

Dr. marjolijn kok

Archaeologist (ally of the St. Eustatius African Burial Ground Alliance.)

 

 

 

 

 

Biased to the bone

Response to a letter to the editor by Mr. Haviser as published in the print edition of The Daily Herald, St. Maarten, of Tuesday November 23, 2021, p. 31

 
Dear Editor,

    Mr. Haviser responds to another writer who wrote an article, earlier, on November, 12th. It is very strange that Mr. Haviser does not want to mention the name of Mr. Cuvalay. An attitude you do not expect from an adult person.
The suggestive title and how Mr. Haviser formulates his opinions are so severely manipulative and offensive to many people, that a reaction must be made.

What I find deplorable, dishonorable and absolutely not necessary in a discussion is trying to damage the opponent by suggesting or accusing him having some relation to a known violent organization like Q-Anon, which of course does not exits! He also tries to damage the image of his opponent in public by calling him an extremist. Calling names without proof is so very childish!
His letter contains many fallacies, meaning that he uses not-real opinions as arguments. He should know better. This is so transparent and visible to anyone who knows something about debating techniques, that you get the image of a scientist with no real arguments. Instead he tries to influence readers with not-true statements. Whether this also points to his methods of conducting science, I leave to others to judge.

Why address an opponent as “politician” as if this is dirty, wicked and not good? I remember that only 4 years ago, Mr. Haviser and others, using the Orange Foundation, tried to make the Dutch Antilles a 13th province of the Netherlands.
Mr. Haviser thinks that always works: telling that you respect freedom of speech, but then calling the opinion of an opponent: “emotionally-charged”, “blatant misinformation”, and instructing the reader that only the middle-of-the-road opinions are good, and others are extremist.

Mr. Haviser writes about the term “tokenism”. But he forgets to tell that tokenism now generally is seen as bad, and manipulative. The use of tokenism started in the US, where white scientists (asked by the government) investigated means to lure minorities by giving them a sole representative in the societal game. This was called the token. Later Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and many others translated this token-game of the white governments as misleading, discriminating and preventing real equality. In social sciences, this term was widely used after WW2 and especially in the 1960-ties. A ladder was often used to show the grade of participation. Starting at the bottom with no participation at all; to a form where there was no participation of the entire group, only of one-by-the-power-elite-well-chosen-representative, the token; to some small forms of participation; culminating in full participation with decision-making powers. When we look at the history of participation of non-white people in several white-power societies, there were always attempts to lure the non-white people with special arrangements which had the intention to give apartheid or race discrimination an acceptable face. So the ones in power thought.

Concerning is that while a quick internet search reveals many discussions within and about the archeology world regarding incorporated racism, Mr. Haviser does not want to know about this and sweeps the discussion like dandruff off his shoulders. He continues with telling in one sentence that in the early day’s science was “not so good”, but now everything is inclusive, etc. This is an over-simplification of a much greater, still existing problem: If you cover your eyes, you don’t see the problem!

But what about the original article? The writer, Mr. Cuvalay of Statia, compared in his article the misplaced excitement and efforts of the (white) archeologists who plan to desecrate the remains of the murdered enslaved people on the Dutch slave ship Leusden to the way white archeologists did loot the graves of the enslaved ancestors of the Statian people. He also talked about the collaborating kind of scientists that legitimize these white appalling research methods: the non-white token. It is as if these archeologists say: “But we now have a black scientist on board, so it is okay!”

When a WW-2 ship sank with many victims, all nations declared such a wreck, a grave monument. Meaning that nobody should enter this monument, steal remains, artefacts, or whatever. But as soon as the remains are of non-white people, Western white scientists have no problem with opening up graves, cutting bones, removing body parts, or placing skulls in their offices as modern-age Indiana Jones look-a-likes. It seem as if all so-called scientists have no moral at all in plundering graves. 

Let’s turn it around, only in sayings of course. What if people would look for the graves of the ancestors of Haviser or his colleagues Gillmore, Stelten, Fricke, etc. and dig them up, cut them in pieces with the purpose to do laboratory research. “Yes, we want to tell you where they came from”. The white world would protest against such attempts.
Well, descendants of former enslaved people, often do know from which part of Afrika their ancestors were kidnapped. And, to a large extent it is also possible to tell who is buried on which plantation on Statia. The archeologists on Statia did not do any ancestry research to the people who were enslaved on the Golden Rock plantation. And they didn’t do so out of fear for the reactions. People won’t let the graves of their (great-) grandparents be wrecked by so-called scientists. And also not to disturb their profitable business. 

To put all in the right context, Mr. Haviser is director of the St. Martin organization of archeology, one of the six island archeology profit centers, organized by Leiden University. In these centers heritage is monopolized by the mainly Dutch scientists. These people write archeology reports, even about enslaved people from the perspective of the white people. Here you can read things like: slavery wasn’t that bad on Statia compared to other islands, or when talking about growing prosperity, it is always about the growing wealth of the enslavers. Read for yourself! All these reports have the same old-school colonial perspective. And just the use of the word “enslaved” instead of “slaved” does not change that! 

After the many protests against the desecration of the graves of enslaved people at Golden Rock Plantation, Statia Government paused the looting and installed a commission, the Statia Heritage Research Commission. Intended to let the people cool down and stick a new concept of fake community-based research through the people’s throat. Even the wife of the former Government Commissioner stole community money for grave robbers PR. And all with the intention to continue digging as if nothing happened.

If you have read well, you have seen that Mr. Haviser emphasizes “middle-of-the-road-opinions”. This is just planning ahead of what could be expected from these so-called experts: degrees of participation with no freedom for own decision-making or directional powers. Otherwise said: no real participation, only forms of consulting, informing, and sometimes assisting the “very expert” white scientists.
Never forget that for Leiden University these excavations are important for learning experiences, paying digging visitors and other businesses. They are indeed the Golden Rock!
Now you see why Mr. Haviser does not want to understand people who think otherwise, or even people who were born on the island. This is of no importance to western-centric thinking. The tone of his article seems the result of being stung by a wasp. Also an acronym that possibly could be applied to himself? Look it up! 

Unfortunately, archeology is used on Statia, not to discover and preserve information from the past, but as the legitimation for heritage destruction in the name of spatial development and economic progress (for foreign companies and the installed elite).
 

Jack Theuns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related letters

November 12-12, 2021 - UCF Caribbean chair Kenneth Cuvalay: ‘Murder ship’ Leusden anchored in Statia four times 

November 16, 2021 - Archaeologist Jay B. Haviser responds to the letter: Dutch politician beats emotional drum for votes 

November 23, 2021 - UCF Caribbean coordinator and anthropologist, Derrick Simmons, responds to Jay B. Haviser's letter: Response to letter from Dr. Jay B. Haviser

November 24, 2021 - UCF Caribbean chairman, Kenneth Cuvalay, responds to the letter of Haviser: Archaeologist Dr. Haviser not fit as chair Statia Heritage and Research Commission

 

Response to letter from Dr. Jay B. Haviser

As published in the section "Opinion" of The Daily Herald, St. Maarten, Tuesday November 23, 2021, p. 31

 

Dear Editor,

   Please allow me the rare opportunity to respond to the letter to Editor of November 15, 2021, that was published the next day: “Dutch politician beats emotional drum for votes” by Dr. Jay B. Haviser, Archaeologist. In his letter he is responding to a letter to the Editor of November 12, 2021, “’Murder ship’ ‘Leusden’ anchored in Statia four times” by Kenneth Cuvalay, Ubuntu Connected Front (UCF) Caribbean. What I gather from his response, and using his method to generalize and summarize information is that: our local professionals, persons of African Descent, are “Emotional” and “Racist” when they speak out on matters relating to the atrocities that were done by those countries, including the Netherlands, that made their wealth from the “Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade”; Because of daring to point out the “Bad Reputation” in the field of “Archeology”, in particular as it relates to area of our ancestry, that it is “Misinformation” because it is not in line with the definition as prescribe on paper.

Dr. Haviser, who is the chairman of the Statia Heritage Research Commission (SHRC), and who also fail to mention in his rambling about “a Dutch Politician”, his connection with the St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research (SECAR), the same organization of which they are tasked to do an investigation on. It is quite interesting to note, that sometimes when Archaeologist are presenting themselves in forums to the wider community, they sometimes deem it pertinent to mention, that the work that they do, is not as it portrayed in movies, like “Indiana Jones.” In the case of SECAR past, the word on the streets doesn’t support the on-paper’s definition well.

The bottom line is, that there is a lack of factual history, as it relates to the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade of our ancestors, and our cultural heritage. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is a crime against humanity as proscribe in international law. Yet it seems normal that a country, like the Netherlands, who does not feel it is important to muster up an apology, but on the other hand is actively engaging in activities for scientific importance relating to the same era. It also can give merit that criminals have the urge to return to the scene of the crime.

Dr. Haviser, in his emotional letter, seems to over look that the focus of the original letter is on archaeology as it relates to our ancestry. The Jews also played a part, as merchants, during the same period, but I never heard of graves of Jewish burial grounds being desecrated for scientific research to enhance the broader understandings throughout the Caribbean. A 40 years career developing community-engagement programs for heritage research, and it seems, based on his letter, that it might take another 40 years for him to realize, that he might be part of the problem and not the solution. Attacking persons of African descent, for educating other about facts that might go unnoticed, by using popular terms like “Q-Anon phenomena” is the common way of deflecting others from the truth. Even the European Parliament have passed a “nonbinding” resolution calling on the EU to recognize the slave trade as a “crime against humanity”. It was backed by 493 Members of the European Parliament, but with 104 voting against. This put one to wonder which EU countries those descending votes are from.

As Chairman of the Statia Heritage Research Commission (SHRC), and claiming to be evolve in community-engagement in Statia, it might be a good idea for him to first remove the knee off of the neck of our local professional, of African Descent, and do some self-reflection amongst his colleagues in the academia realm.

Derrick Simmons
Anthropologist and Coordinator Ubuntu Connected Front (UCF) Caribbean

 

 

Related letters to the editor 

November 12-12, 2021 - UCF Caribbean chair Kenneth Cuvalay: ‘Murder ship’ Leusden anchored in Statia four times 

November 16, 2021 - Archaeologist Jay B. Haviser responds to the letter of Cuvalay: Dutch politician beats emotional drum for votes

November 23, 2021 - Response to the letter of Haviser by Jack Theuns: Biased to the bone

November 24, 2021 - Response to the letter of Haviser by UCF Caribbean chairman, Kenneth Cuvalay: Archaeologist Dr. Haviser not fit as chair Statia Heritage and Research Commission

‘Murder ship’ Leusden anchored in Statia four times

 As published in the section "Opinion" of The Daily Herald, St. Maarten, of Friday/Saturday November 12-13, 2021, p. 33

 

Dear editor,

On Thursday, November 4, news on the search for the Dutch “slave ship” the Leusden travelled the world. Archaeologists were ecstatic at the mere idea of finding the West Indian Company vessel that sank in 1738 just off the coast of Suriname. Within sight of the harbour 664 Africans were killed by the crew.

A French-Dutch expedition has started scanning a large area near the coasts of Suriname and French Guyana with a magnetometer, a drone measuring metal traces. The city of Amsterdam, the Dutch National Heritage Agency and the French Underwater Archaeological Service DRASSM are part of the expedition. The National Heritage Agency thinks the ship is of great scientific importance since a Dutch slave ship was never investigated before. In a report by news agency NOS, Michel l'Hour of DRASSM, and one of the leaders of the mission, says: "Scientists from all over the world are interested in the shipwreck. If we find evidence that the ship is actually De Leusden, then I have found the most beautiful object of my career."

However, I am extremely critical of the approach taken by the scientists. This is exactly what happened when the excavations on the Golden Rock Burial Ground started. Archaeologists were excited at the idea of breaking open an 18th century slave burial ground and analysing bones and teeth in labs. But these bones and teeth are taken from our ancestors, and no one asked the opinion of the descendent community.

In the case of this ship, it involves the murder of 664 African people that the crew knowingly left to drown. For no reason. It is exactly that massacre that should be at the heart of the reporting. Every question that comes to the minds of Africans in de diaspora upon hearing this story must be answered. The atrocity must be officially morally rejected and criminally investigated. We should try to find out who the victims were so that we can commemorate them.”

Conditions on the ship

Historian Leo Balai discovered the story behind the shipping disaster 10 years ago in the Dutch National Archives. He conducted research into the slave voyages of the ship De Leusden and the living conditions of the imprisoned and kidnapped Africans onboard the ships. He obtained his doctorate in 2011 and published the book The slave ship Leusden. Balai is of Surinamese descent, and you notice that in how the book is written and the perspective he takes. He doesn't talk about “slaves” but “prisoners” for example and in the earlier mentioned NOS item he states "it was a huge massacre" instead of “the crew felt like they had no choice”. He also explicitly described all the different steps the Dutch took to dehumanise the prisoners.

Four voyages to St. Eustatius

What many people do not know is that the ship's first four voyages had as their final destination St. Eustatius. It anchored in St. Eustatius in 1721, 1722, 1724, and 1726 bringing respectively 562, 471, 221, 676 prisoners. Many prisoners had died during the journey because of the inhumane conditions on board. The supply of the prisoners to Sint Eustatius was in most cases not intended for St. Eustatius but for owners of plantations on the surrounding islands. The book of Balai notes, however, that a considerable amount of prisoners was sold to people like Simon de Graaf, Joan Donker, Lauren Isnaer, and John Combes, probably with the intention to resell the prisoners at a later stage at a profit.

In total the Leusden made 10 voyages. Balai’s book describes the journeys in detail, including the origin of the captured Africans and the names of people on St. Eustatius to whom they were sold. It also describes the characteristics on which the prisoners in Africa were checked before departure, thus exposing in detail the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade, the crimes against humanity.

Racism in archaeology and Dutch media

So, the archaeologists change the perspective again from black to white, in close collaboration with white Dutch media. Uncritical NINSee guarantees that everyone swallows the spoon-fed story because if a black person confirms the distorted story, they’re covered, the story can't be racist. Unfortunately, there will always be Uncle Tom figures in our community, moving with the oppressor, afraid of losing their subsidy.

Archaeology is per definition a racist academic discipline, and it’s time for that to change. We need more black African-centered historians, black African anthropologists, and black African archaeologist in science. We need to take control over our own narrative.               

Change for the future

We need more black African-centered media and journalists in the Netherlands too. Ubuntu Connected Front (UCF) has a Black Agenda that advocates structural change within the systems. We need strong leaders in our community boldly expressing the thoughts, ideas, and feelings of those who are not comfortable or not able to speak up, making sure their voices are heard. My hope is on the future generation. It was Malcolm X who said, Armed with the knowledge of our past, we can with confidence charter a course for our future.

Radio show Nation Wide Jamaica

On Saturday, November 13, Derrick Simmons and I of UCF Caribbean will be talking about the atrocity on board the Leusden on the Radio Show “Talking History” of Nation Wide Radio JM Jamaica, hosted by renowned historian, Professor Verene Shepherd (time 9-10 am with a repeat broadcast on Thursdays at 7pm and on Sundays at 6:15pm).

 

Kenneth Cuvalay

Ubuntu Connected Front (UCF) Caribbean

 

Update November 16, 2021: Archaeologist Jay B. Haviser responds to the letter: Dutch politician beats emotional drum for votes 

Update November 23, 2021: Our UCF Caribbean coordinator and anthropologist, Derrick Simmons, responds to Jay B. Haviser's letter: Response to letter from Dr. Jay B. Haviser

Update November 23, 2021: Response to the letter of Haviser by Jack Theuns: Biased to the bone

Update November 24, 2021: UCF Caribbean chairman, Kenneth Cuvalay, responds to the letter of Haviser: Archaeologist Dr. Haviser not fit as chair Statia Heritage and Research Commission