Tuesday morning at the Champ de Mars, on the instructions of President Jovenel Moïse, and Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe, Minister of Culture Pradel Henriquez, proceeded to the symbolic pose of a wreath at the feet of the statue of Toussaint Louverture precursor of the independence of Haiti as part of the commemoration of the 217 years of his death on April 7, 1803 at Fort de Joux (France) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12415-haiti-politic-moving-tribute-of-president-martelly-to-toussaint-louverture.html

During this ceremony which lasted less than 5 minutes Minister Henriquez declared :

"Today it has been 217 years since Toussaint Louverture died, I will not say too much, because we all know the life of Toussaint, I will only say that Toussaint was a great man, the precursor of independence of Haiti and if Toussaint had not been, there would not have been Dessalines, and without Toussaint or Dessalines we would not have Haiti today.

[...] Unfortunately we commemorate Toussaint today in a global context which is chaotic and Haiti which also suffers is united [...] with the whole world which is sick [...]"

For his part, President Jovenel Moïse declared "Honor and merit to the Precursor of Independence of the first Black Republic in the world, the valiant Toussaint Louverture. 217 years after his death at Fort de Joux, my Administration is proud to pay tribute to this great visionary and ardent defender of freedom."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30466-haiti-217th-of-the-death-of-toussaint-louverture-message-by-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12415-haiti-politic-moving-tribute-of-president-martelly-to-toussaint-louverture.html

HL/ HaitiLibre