BES archive agendas outline plans for laws and digital systems

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science said archive agendas for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba were signed at the ministry. The agendas set out plans to strengthen archival infrastructure in the Caribbean Netherlands.

According to the ministry, work in the coming years will focus on island-specific laws and regulations, staff knowledge, digital infrastructure and archival storage facilities. The ministry said it also intends to seek more cooperation among the islands and within the region.

In September, the joint Selection List BES for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba was finalised, the ministry said. The three islands worked on the list for four years, and it was endorsed by the National Archivist.

The ministry said creating an archive agenda for each public entity is a commitment under the Bonaire Cultural Agenda. It linked the work to the Archives Act BES, the policy response on colonial archives and action plans concerning the slavery past.