The visit commenced with a meeting involving Commissioner of Culture Eviton Heyliger, Acting Island Secretary Michelle van Duin, and representatives from the Community Development and Culture Department, including Head of Department Rosalyn Johnson, Policy Advisor Shaigan Marten, and Culture Coach Sharmina Jones. Discussions centered around the ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Saba’s cultural heritage, challenges related to gaps in capacity, and various funding possibilities.
An update on Saba’s Cultural Policy, which has been funded by the FARO project, was given, with expectations for its finalization in the coming months following further engagement with community stakeholders. Saba’s Culture Agenda was also mentioned, which includes eighteen key topics ranging from cultural participation, cultural education (with progress being made for the Saba Canon) and cultural heritage. In addition, the group discussed preservation strategies for monuments and historical sites, which have included collaboration with the RCE (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) and other departments and archaeological research at certain locations where large-scale projects take place (such as the Enrichment Center in St. John's).
The delegation then proceeded to the Queen Wilhelmina Library, where Director Tiffany Zagers led a tour and highlighted several of the library’s community-oriented programs. These include homework support for students and adult IT courses, offered in collaboration with the Saba Reach Foundation. Zagers also shared information on the multi-year vision plan for the library, as well as its action plan which is being worked on with support of Rijnbrink. For 2025 thus far, all activities from the library were funded by OCW, for which Zagers expressed her sincere gratitude.
The Spot Youth Center also welcomed the delegation, where youth were in the process of baking traditional coconut drops (tarts). This visit allowed the group to learn more about the youth projects being carried out and to interact directly with the participants.
Tours of the Major Osmar R. Simmons Museum and the Harry L. Johnson Museum were also given by Ms. Miranda Simmons and Ms. Lorna Simmons, and Ms. Jennifer Johnson, respectively. These tours provided further insight into Saba’s cultural artifacts and history.
The delegation also visited the Saba Heritage Center, where Director Ms. Sharifa Balfour presented an overview of their projects, including Black History Month events and upcoming Slavery Exhibitions and Mobile Museums, and shared key challenges currently facing the organization. Potential solutions were explored, in order to enhance the impact and reach of their work. Commissioner Heyliger and Balfour were also presented with printed, translated versions of several Dutch stories related to slavery which were recently exhibited in the National Archives.
Additional stops included the Saba Conservation Foundation, discussing underwater archaeology and future trainings later this year organized by the RCE, and the Sea and Learn Foundation, where the delegation learned more about the “Adopt a Box” project. Both organizations focus on environmental initiatives closely tied to the island’s cultural and ecological preservation.
The visit gave an opportunity for several topics to be discussed, ensuring that the preservation of Saban heritage continues, while promoting accessibility and strengthening collaboration.
