ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius- The Statia Cultural Heritage Implementation Committee (SCHIC) submitted a letter today, October 12, 2026, to the Executive Council of St. Eustatius, copying the Island Council, announcing that the reburial of the Golden Rock Ancestors will continue on November 13, 2026.
The Committee also emphasized that the samples collected in 2021 must return to the island before the reburial takes place.
In addition, the Committee provided local authorities with an overview of its activities since its establishment in 2022.
The Committee is now addressing the Descendant Community through a separate letter, thanking community members for sharing their concerns both privately and publicly. In the letter, the Committee explains why it recommended pausing the reburial process for 30 to 60 days.
While acknowledging that multiple actions can occur simultaneously, the Committee notes that the reburial can proceed. At the same time, efforts continue to ensure that the community fully understands its rights and role in decisions related to research involving the ancestors.
