Following the fire of the royal chapel of Milot, classified world heritage by UNESCO in 1982, on the night of Sunday to Monday April 13, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30523-haiti-flash-the-royal-chapel-of-milot-world-heritage-destroyed-by-fire.html , Haitian citizens and representatives of institutions of the private, socio-professional and academic sector, published an open letter to express their indignation at this heritage disaster, which we invite you to share

Open letter :

"Ladies / Gentlemen,

The signatories of this open letter, Haitian citizens and representatives of the country's private, socio-professional and academic institutions, express their indignation at this disaster which reduced to ashes on the night of April 12 to 13, 2020 the rotunda of the Catholic church of Milot, built between 1810 and 1813 by Henry Christophe.

A catastrophe, to say the least, in this year which recalls the 200th anniversary of the death of King Henry I, because our historic monuments, testimonies of our history of people, even those classified world heritage by UNESCO, are still not on the list of priorities of our leaders. With few resources, the organization in charge of maintaining them, ISPAN, cannot ensure the safeguarding of these heritages.

What explains why the Sans Souci Palace cannot have police officers 24/24 to ensure the security of the premises ? This question also arises for the Citadelle, vandalized the day before, on the night of April 11 to 12, 2020. Vertières, in the Haut-du-Cap, served as exhibition space for a dealer of used cars in time and has now become a welding shop. In Breda, the space reserved for Toussaint ? A place occupied by weeds and rubbish.

Too many leaders do not dare to take serious decisions, which they consider unpopular, in the management of public affairs. Because the ultimate goal is always the next electoral contests.

Of course, the resources of this weak State are limited and too often misused. Precisely because of its shortcomings, we need to be creative and initiative. The State and civil society must organize themselves together to find possible solutions in consultation with citizens or organized groups in the diaspora.

Stop this denial of our history as a people ! Only these monuments remain, testimonies of our history of struggles, suffering and hope.

Follow signatures :

Emile Eyma Jr.: President of the Capoise Historical Society

Pierre Buteau: President of the Haitian Society of History and Geography and Geology

Marc Georges: President of the Northern Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIN)

Ary Pierre: President of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Professionals (CCIPNE)

Audalbert Bien-Aimé State University of Haiti, Lemonade Campus

Fritz Alphonse Jean: President of the Haitian Institute for Public Policy Observation (INHOPP)."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30523-haiti-flash-the-royal-chapel-of-milot-world-heritage-destroyed-by-fire.html

HL/ HaitiLibre