News

Haiti Marks 210 Years of Independence

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - January 1, 2014 - 10:55 am

Above: the Neg Mawon statue in Port-au-Prince (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti celebrated its 210th anniversary of independence on Wednesday.

The country was the first in the Caribbean to achieve independence on Jan. 1, 1804.

Haiti President Michel Martelly and Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe began the day with a celebration in Gonaives, Haiti’s “independence city,” where the act of independence was first read on Jan. 1.

The ceremony started with a special mass at the Cathedral of Gonaives.

“210 years after we took our independence, let’s continue the fight to put our country on the road to development,” Martelly said in a statement. “In union only will we meet the challenge.”

In a statement, United States Secretary of State John Kerry, a native of Massachusetts, said he held a “special appreciation for Haiti’s journey.”

“I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation in the Senate to help Haiti rebuild and develop in a way that creates an opportunity to emerge better off and better prepared,” Kerry said. “And that’s why I worked closely with dozens of families in Massachusetts to expedite adoptions of Haitian orphans that had already been underway before the earthquake. As Secretary of State, I will continue to make Haiti a priority.”

“The United States joins you today in commemorating the courage and spirit of independence of all Haitians as well as the ties of friendship and family that bind our peoples together,” he said.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts sofitel legend cartagena

Avianca Just Relaunched Two Nonstop Flights to Cartagena, Colombia’s Caribbean Hotspot 

The old city. The beaches. The art. The magic. Cartagena has been surging in popularity in recent years, with travelers drawn to its rare blend of colonial charm and modern cool. And if you’re heading to the hotspot on the […]


The Caribbean’s Best Sandwich Is Made on This Island — Here’s Where to Find It 

bokit sandwich

I remember the first time I visited Sainte Anne. The little beach town on the southern coast of Guadeloupe’s island of Grande Terre has some beautiful sand, but it’s really most famous for one thing: it’s food trucks. Head to […]


The Aruba Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Where to Eat and What to Do

aruba travel

The adventure, the beach, the food, the happy. Aruba is always one of our favorite destinations, and that extends to travel agents, who are also loving the Dutch Caribbean island right now. Here’s our Aruba travel guide, with everything you […]