Tuesday October 17, 2023, at the Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH) as part of the commemoration of the 217th anniversary of the assassination at Pont-Rouge, of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry, accompanied in particular of the President of the Court of Cassation, Me Jean-Joseph Lebrun and members of the Government including the ministers Ms. Emmelie Prophète Milcé (Culture) and Enol Joseph (Defense), saluted the memory of the General in Chief of the Indigenous Army, Father founder of the Nation, during a minimalist ceremony lasting less than 15 minutes...

On this day of remembrance, the Government recalled the bravery of Dessalines and his commitment to the independence of the first Black Republic in the world. As a sign of recognition, Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced the decision of his Government to proceed with the demarcation of the Bois-Caïman site, a national and universal heritage, consecration of the centuries-old struggle of all Maroon slaves.

At the end of this ceremony, the Head of Government laid a wreath of flowers at the MUPANAH at the foot of the bust of Dessalines, recognized as a military genius and victor of Bonaparte's troops. Henry sang a verse from La Dessalinienne but did not deliver the traditional speech...

Commenting on this ceremony, Ariel Henry wrote on his "X" account (ex Twitter) "This strong gesture, imbued with humility and greatness of soul, reflects the eternal gratitude of an entire people to the emancipator Jean-Jacques Dessalines to whom they owe their pride and dignity of being the first free Negroes who challenged the inhuman slave fortress [...] Glory and honor to the visionary, the immortal Jean-Jacques Dessalines."

HL/ HaitiLibre