Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance Calls for First Salute Commemoration to Be Moved to The Hague

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – The St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance is calling on the Dutch government to relocate the 250th anniversary commemoration of the First Salute, scheduled for November 16, from St. Eustatius to The Hague.

The Alliance argues that the commemoration overlooks the island’s history of slavery and the suffering of enslaved Africans during the period. The First Salute in 1776 is widely regarded as the first recognition of the United States by a foreign power.

According to the Alliance, Governor Johannes de Graaff, who played a central role in the historic event, was also the island’s largest slaveholder.

“Our ancestors lived in chains in 1776,” said Alliance President Kenneth Cuvalay, criticizing what he considers a one-sided presentation of the island’s colonial history.

The organization also objects to the invitation extended to the U.S. President and questions the expenditure of public funds on international dignitaries while many island residents continue to face economic hardship.

Referring to the Dutch government’s apologies for slavery in 2022 and King Willem-Alexander’s apology in 2023, the Alliance argues that the planned celebrations are inconsistent with efforts to acknowledge the colonial past.

Besides relocating the commemoration, the organization is calling for greater investment in historical research reflecting the experiences of Afrikan descendants and for Statia Day celebrations to be returned to the local community.

The Alliance has launched an online petition supporting its demands through ⁠Change.org.