P-au-P., February 12, 2024 [AlterPresse] — Despite recent anti-government mobilizations punctuated by unrest in Haiti, particularly in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as violence from armed gangs in the south and north of the capital, the interim executive council playing the role of municipal council of Port-au-Prince, supported by the de facto government, kicked off carnival festivities at Champ-de-Mars, in Port-au-Prince, on Sunday February 11, 2024, observes the online agency AlterPresse.
For several years, carnival festivities have been losing their influence, due to the worsening security situation and the difficult socio-economic living conditions of the Haitian population.
Despite everything, marching band parades and dance parades were there on Sunday February 11, 2024, at the Champ-de-Mars where many carnival-goers made the trip and danced to the rhythm of music. of Disc Jockeys (Dj), despite a context characterized by gang terror.
Some see it as a form of denial of participants, who would be manipulated by the de facto power in place.
While encouraging carnival-goers to help each other and join forces in order to build a new Haiti, the interim executive agent of Port-au-Prince, Luckson Janvier, renewed his commitment and goodwill to work to the well-being of the city, reports a note from the Ministry of Culture and Communication (Mcc).
The Mcc declares to congratulate “all the actors involved, for the multiple roles they play in the success of the carnival festivities across the country, particularly that of Port-au-Prince”.
However, “there is no carnival. They know they can’t organize the carnival, but that doesn’t stop them from stealing the carnival’s money. This money should instead be used to help displaced families,” insists a protester at the Champs-de-Mars.
Many poor families displaced since August 2023, with the violence of armed gangs in Carrefour-Feuilles (south-east of the capital), are still housed in poor conditions in the premises of the former Rex Théâtre, located in Champ-de-Feuilles. March. Until now, they have not yet been rehoused, she denounces.
On the occasion of the carnival festivities, public administration, commerce, industry and schools will be idle during the day of Monday February 12, 2024, from noon.
The day of Tuesday February 13, 2024 and that of Wednesday February 14, 2024 will be completely non-working throughout the national territory, according to a note from the office of the de facto Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, published in reference to the decree of May 23, 1989 determining , outside of national holidays, more precisely, legal holidays.
A strong police presence was noted in various strategic axes at Champ-de-Mars to secure the progress of the festivities, scheduled for February 11 to 13, 2024, in Port-au-Prince, while state authorities are reluctant to mobilize this same force to combat armed gangs in the country.
In its note, the Ministry of Communication boasts of the presence of health professionals and ambulances, which were mobilized to rescue possible victims.
Firefighters are also on site in the event of a fire, he adds.
Why have such support systems not been mobilized to help the residents of Rivière Froide, 11th municipal section of Carrefour and those of Plaine du Cul-de-Sac and Cité Soleil, who are forced to currently abandoning their homes because of violent attacks by armed gangs in the area?
This fire did not affect Rhum Barbancourt SA production, reassures the Rhum Barbancourt SA company, in a note dated Sunday February 11, 2024.
It claims to have announced, as a precaution, the suspension of its public activities for the benefit of neighboring communities, including, among others, the distribution of free treated water, free medical care center, use of playgrounds, football fields and of basketball. [emb rc apr 12/02/2024 11:30]
Photo.:communication.gouv.ht
