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Haiti: 205th Anniversary of Haitian Independence

Categories: Caribbean, Haiti, Citizen Media, Development, Disaster, Economics & Business, History, Media & Journalism, Migration & Immigration, Politics

After the disasters [1] they went through [2] in 2008 [3], Haitian people celebrated the start of 2009 more or less happily – in Haiti [4], January 1st marks not only New Year, but also the date when in 1804, the island got independence from France [5], becoming the first black democracy in the world.

Some French-speaking Haitian bloggers pay homage to the anniversary while readying themselves for the difficulties their country will have to face in the future:

Darlie explains [6] the historical events which led to the island's independence [7] but also tells of the traditional celebration inherited by Haitians: eating “soup joumou [8]” on January 1st [Fr]…

On raconte que du temps de la colonie, à Saint-Domingue, la soupe était très en vogue et réservée uniquement aux maîtres d'esclaves et dans la plupart des cas à certains esclaves domestiques communément appelés esclaves talentueux comme par exemple Toussaint Louverture.
Le parfum envoutant du mariage des légumes exotiques et de la viande bovine ajoutée sur les multiples revendications que les esclaves des champs murmurèrent déjà, suscitèrent chez eux le désir de révolte.

It is said that at the time when Santo Domingo was a colony, soup was in fashion, but only for the slave masters and mainly some house slaves, called Talented slaves, like Toussaint Louverture [9].
The enticing smell of local vegetables and beef meat added to the numerous claims that slaves had already secretly provoked their desire for revolt.”

While she wishes her people “a good meal”, her Season's Greetings sound more like a plea for solidarity [Fr]:

Vivons en vrai, vivons ensemble, marchons unis sur le chemin de la fraternité, de la paix et de la réconciliation

Let's live truely, together, let's walk united on the path to brotherhood, peace and reconciliation

These words from Darlie are all the more interesting given Haitian President René Garcia Préval [10]‘s forecast that 2009 will be “a difficult year…for Haitians” (as reported by Romandie News [11] [Fr]) during his official visit to Gonaïves [12] in northern Haiti. Coincidentally, Gonaïves is the historical birthplace of Haiti's independence – and also the region that suffered most from 2008's devastating hurricanes [13].

In the blog HaitiRectoVerso [14], Decky Lakyel relates with a certain amazement the early arrival of the Haitian government officials in Gonaives, one day before the official date of the celebration. Blogging about an interview heard on Radio Kiskeya [15], he explains the double motivation of this early visit:

Le ministre confie que le séjour inhabituel de 48 heures des membres de l’Exécutif dans la Cité de l’indépendance pour marquer les 205 ans de l’épopée haïtienne, représente une « manifestation de reconnaissance de l’importance symbolique » de lieux fondateurs de l’histoire nationale.
Outre les activités officielles, le Président Préval, la Première ministre Pierre-Louis et leurs principaux collaborateurs auront l’occasion de s’entretenir avec les victimes des intempéries qui avaient durement frappé les Gonaïves.

The Minister confesses that the surprising 2 day visit of the Executive officials to Independence City (Gonaïves) to celebrate the 205th anniversary of the Haitian epic, represents the “acknowledgement of the symbolic importance” of those founding places in Haitian national history.
Besides the official program, President Preval, Prime Minister Pierre-Louis and their team will have the opportunity to talk with the victims of the disasters which struck Gonaives so brutally.

But after reading the last post of Haitian blogger Stanley Lucas in Solutionhaiti [16], it is quite obvious that not everyone is convinced by these efforts.