Commemoration of the Battle of Vertières in Quito, Ecuador

Friday, November 16, as part of the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vertières (November 18) the Ecuadorian authorities, the diplomatic corps accredited in Quito, the Ecuadorian army and the Haitian community of Quito responded to the invitation of the Haitian diplomatic corps accredited in Ecuador.

The rendezvous was at "Plaza Haiti" where Ambassador Lesly David and Chargé d'Affaires Christian Toussaint paid a vibrant tribute to the heroes of our independence.

In the presence of diplomats, members of the Ecuadorian Chancery of Haitian officers and in training at the military school of this country as well as the Ecuadorian military, several offerings have taken place.

In the evening, Ambassador David and his wife hosted a reception at the Neuchatel lounge of the Swisshotel Quito.

Ambassador David during his speeches, both at the floral offering and during the reception, thanked the Ecuadorian authorities and did not fail to value the great work of the founders of the Haitian Homeland.

Remember that Ecuador has a large Haitian diaspora and the Embassy of Haiti in Quito has reopened since 2013.

Message from the former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago Lesly Louis Condé

"Dear compatriots,

Frè m ak sè m yo, onè respè,

This year, we commemorate the 215th anniversary of the "Battle of Vertières", the one that brought honor to the entire black race. This commemoration is a great national moment because it gives us immense pride that nothing in the world can delight us. This event is a part of our historic heritage of which we can and must be proud without reservation.

The importance of history lies in the fact that current realities can not change it. The commemoration of the worthy deeds of our ancestors is a very important legitimate exercise for our collective psychological well-being. All the heroic actions, all the horrors and all the sacrifices of Vertieres culminated in the great celebration of the first of January, 1804. That day was born the first Black Nation of the New World. The rest of this story is what we are experiencing. Our children will live it too.

Even if we can not take pride in what our generations have made of our Haiti today, there are surely valuable lessons to be learned from the struggle that our ancestors led in such difficult conditions that we find it hard to imagine today. There is in this battle of Vertières a lesson of courage and pragmatism. Did Dessalines and his men know that in their march towards freedom they had to face one of the most formidable armies of the time ?

Like our ancestors, we must unite and keep our eyes fixed on our goal of guiding future generations towards a new Haiti. We must not be discouraged by the magnitude of this challenge. This is the message of the battle of Vertières.

Finally, I urge you to participate in any positive effort in the name of the future of our country.

Lesly Louis Condé"

HL/ HaitiLibre