Let us celebrate Haiti’s Independence Day
Published:Thursday | January 2, 2025 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
As the people of Haiti celebrate their Independence Day on January 1, the observance is often overshadowed by celebrations to welcome the New Year. We have experienced being energised by our love, dedication, and belief in our country during our own independence celebrations, and must acknowledge the importance of this act by doing the same for our Haitian neighbours.
Let us celebrate their Independence Day and let the people of Haiti know that we see them. We recognise how their contributions have lifted many nations.
On January 1, 1804, after years of slave revolts, Haiti became the second country in the Western Hemisphere to free itself from its colonial ruler. Fearing that the Haitian Revolution would inspire revolts in the American South, the United States isolated Haiti and did not recognise its independence until 1862.
BEACON OF HOPE
By celebrating their Independence, we emphasise that the significance of their struggles will no longer be invisible. We must teach this history to our students, highlighting the importance of this pivotal moment to one of our most important neighbouring countries, which remains in turmoil.
Haiti has been a beacon of hope for freedom, inspiring every Caribbean and Latin American country to achieve independence to this day. Early in the 19th century, Haiti assisted modern-day northwest Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, northern Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Bolivia in obtaining their independence.
Our history tells us that we have a commitment to each other as a people and as a region in the Caribbean. Without exception, our neighbouring brothers and sisters in Haiti are experiencing violence and turmoil unlike any other period in their history, full of challenges that stretch through many generations.
As we welcome the New Year and recognise the importance of our own Independence Day, let us also celebrate and support the independence and resilience of the people of Haiti.
PATRICK BROWN
Pembroke Pines, Florida