Michaëlle Jean, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, will conduct its next mission to Haiti from August 29 to September 2, accompanied by a leading expert from the Smithsonian Institution, to the discovery of the Haitian archaeological heritage.

"At a time when the Republic of Haiti wants to show the world the wealth of its cultural and natural heritage to make it an important attribute of human and economic development sustainable, we need to preserve and enhance its extraordinary archaeological heritage," declared Michaëlle Jean.

Founded in 1836, the Smithsonian Institution is the largest network of museums and research centers in the world on the heritage conservation. Under the motto "growth and knowledge sharing", its hundreds of researchers are working hard to meet four main objectives: unlocking the secrets of the universe; discover and protect biodiversity; showcase the cultures of the world; and understand the lives of people in the United States.

But Haiti is a hotbed of Taino civilization, whose the Island of Quisqueya was also the cradle, long before Europeans arrived in the Americas in the late fifteenth century.

It is Mr. Dan Rogers, general curator of archeology, linked also with the team of Antonio Curet, a prominent expert on Taino culture of the Smithsonian Institution, which will be able to examine with the members of the UNESCO existing major public and private collections in Haiti. The goal is to develop fields of study and knowledge in the field and build Haitian capacity for authentication, protection and recovery of numerous artifacts and archaeological sites whih are all of them of potential and of wealth to keep.

Haiti could be led in the near future, to participate in major projects, including a major international art exhibition Taino projected by the Smithsonian. The country will also have to better define national standards for the adoption of a cultural policy allowing it to effectively protect its heritage. These measures will help to fight against trafficking and dilapidation of its cultural property.

HL/ HaïtiLibre