In recent discussions on heritage and museums in the Caribbean, increasing
attention has been given to cultural artifacts that were involuntarily surrendered or
stolen during the colonial period. In response, the ministers of the Four-Country
Ministerial Consultation decided to establish a working group on collections from a
colonial context. As a result, museums and heritage institutions in the Caribbean
region will gain more influence over how these collections are handled, grounded in
the principle of equal partnership.
The working group held its first in-person meeting on Saba, hosted at the Saba
Heritage Center and the Eugenius Johnson Center. The sessions focused on
shaping the outlines and priorities for the advice that will be presented to the Four-
Country Ministerial Consultation in November 2026. Central themes included
collection management and preservation, digitisation, professionalisation, climate-
conscious infrastructure, community engagement, knowledge sharing and
cooperation within the Kingdom and the wider region.
As the smallest island within the Kingdom, Saba provided a meaningful and
welcoming setting for this first gathering. The program also included an educational
walk through important historical sites in The Bottom, guided by Saban
anthropologist, oral historian and researcher Dimetri Whitfield. In addition, the
working group visited the island’s two museums: the Major Osmar Simmons Museum
and the Harry L. Johnson Museum.
With a view to the upcoming Four-Country Ministerial Consultation, the working
group is preparing recommendations on the return of cultural items and the
management of museum collections. A new structure was deliberately chosen for this
trajectory, bringing together both civil servants from the governments and heritage
and museum experts from the Caribbean and the European part of the Netherlands.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has also commissioned consultancy
firm Scriptis, led by Ludmila Duncan, to guide and support the development of the
recommendations in collaboration with the working group.
The participants include civil servants and experts from the six Caribbean islands and
the Netherlands: Aruba, represented by Raymundo Dijkhoff; Bonaire, by Daudi
Cijntje and Ziran Chin-On; Curaçao, by Irelnety Copra and Dyonna Bennett; Sint
Maarten, by Koert Kerkhoff; Saba, by Shaigan Marten and Sharifa Balfour; Sint
Eustatius, by Sjahaira Fleming; and the Netherlands, by Robert Verhoogt and Remco
Vermeulen. Based on their expertise and experience, Arminda Franken-Ruiz and
Raimie Richardson complement the group as external advisors.
Note for the Editor: for more information you can contact Communication SSO-CN, Anne-
Marie Kloet (+599 795 2255).
For the editor: full list of working group members, including their roles
Raymundo Dijkhoff – Head of the Collections and Research Department, National
Archaeological Museum Aruba (Ministry of Culture Aruba)
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Daudi Cijntje – Program Manager, Culture and Heritage at Public Entity Bonaire
Ziran Chin-On – Freelance Project Consultant (Cultural Sector), External Expert at Public
Entity Bonaire
Irelnety Copra – Senior Policy Officer, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport,
Government of Curaçao
Dyoñna Benett – Independent Heritage Professional | Museology, Public Engagement &
Inclusivity
Koert A. Kerkhoff – Policy Officer, Department of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture,
Youth, and Sport, Government of St. Maarten
Shaigan Marten – Policy Advisor Culture & Education, Community Development and
Culture Department at Public Entity Saba
Sharifa Balfour – Director of the Saba Archeological Center Foundation, Saba
Sjahaira Fleming – Manager of Culture at Public Entity of St. Eustatius
Remco Vermeulen – Senior Advisor, International Cooperation Collection Management,
Cultural Heritage Agency, Netherlands
Robert Verhoogt – Senior Policy Advisor, Museums and Collections, Department for Arts
and Heritage, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Netherlands
Gilia Croes – Policy Officer, Education and Culture at OCW Caribbean Region
Gyonne Goedhoop – Senior Policy Officer, Culture at OCW Caribbean Region
Ludmila Duncan – Process Facilitator Scriptis