Haiti Creates Unit to Manage Country’s National History Park

Above: King Henri-Christophe’s Sans-Souci Palace near Cap Haitien (UN Photo/Victoria Hazou)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Nearly 30 years after it was first classified as a World Heritage Site by the United Nation Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Haiti’s National Historic Park is begin managed by an official government unit.

The announcement was made by Haiti Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin, Haiti Culture Minister Mario Dupuy and Secretary of State for the Evironment, Pierre Andre Gedeon this week in Cap Haitien.

Now, a three-member team of government officials will administer the large complex of historical monuments, which includes the Palace of Sans Souci, the buildings at Ramiers and the Citadel.

The three members are Luc Thelus, a representative of the Ministry of Culture, Jose Sylvain, a representative of Haiti’s Ministry of Environment and Kendrick Desmesvar, a representative of Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism.

All of the monuments date back to the beginning of the 19th century.

The park was created by a presidential decree in 1978.

The management unit will aim to ensure maintenance at the sites, which are some of the best known in Haiti.

Earlier this summer, Haiti’s Tourism Ministry began construction on a new tourism welcome office in the town of Milot, five miles from the park.

Part of the aim by the Ministry is to bring tourists to the park from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, along with training tourist guides and building new hotel accomodations in the nearby areas of both Milot and Choiseul.

Milot has been the scene of efforts by US-based Haiti advocate Ron Daniels, who has been looking to construct a boutique hotel in the town.

Haiti’s government will now begin a process of recruiting and training a group of environmental monitoring agents to be deployed on the perimeter of the park for protection.

Updated: 12:16 PM