Last Updated on May 18, 2020, 5:13 AM AST by Anthony Morris
According to the history of Haiti, the Caribbean country Haiti celebrates its flag day on May 18th every year. Still, it seems like the COVID-19 crisis has shut down the Haitian flag day celebrations across Haiti and diaspora.
One of Bon Déjeuner! Radio’s top journalists called Olritch said that even one of the most successful Haitian events called ‘Haitian Compas Festival’ was cancelled until further notice. Unfortunately, the event promoters have no idea when they will re-launch the Haitian Compas Festival.
“La crise du coronavirus a tout arrêté en Haïti. Elle vise maintenant les célébrations du jour du drapeau haïtien à travers le pays. Selon le gouvernement haïtien, Haïti a annulé ses célébrations du jour du drapeau”, said Mr. Olritch while on air on Bon Déjeuner! Radio.
If we go back to the history of Haiti, the flag of Haiti is a bicolour flag which features two horizontal bands coloured blue and red, defaced by a white panel bearing the coat of arms.
The coat of arms represents a trophy of weapons atop a green hill and a royal palm symbolizing independence.
The first Haitian flag was adopted on May 18th 1803, on the last day of the Congress of Arcahaie.
After the decisions of the current Haitian Government about the cancellation of the Haitian flag day celebrations, some political leaders, students, and everyone else said the COVID-19 had caused a lot of damages.
“Nous célébrons le jour du drapeau haïtien chaque 18 mai pour célébrer notre liberté et notre victoire, mais il est regrettable qu’Haïti ait annulé ses célébrations du jour du drapeau en raison de la peur causée par la pandémie de COVID-19”, said Mr. Werley Nortreus, a political leader and founder of Vanyan Sòlda Ayiti and A New Haiti Before 2045 (ANHB 2045).
The Cap-Haitien Flag Day parade has been cancelled, for the second year in a row. In 2019, it wasn’t held due to safety issues amid a political crisis.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
