While the country is getting further bogged down in crisis due to popular movements demanding the resignation of the de facto Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, hundreds of carnival-goers and carnival-goers were seen parading in the Champs-de-France. March on Sunday February 11, 2024. Faithful to this tradition, they entertain themselves in the heart of the Haitian capital. Conversely, students from the Faculty of Law and Economic Sciences (FDSE) erected flaming barricades at the Carrefour located between their faculty and that of Ethonology to protest against insecurity.
THE HAITI FACTOR, February 11, 2023._The streets of Champ-de-Mars, in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, have been since around 10 a.m. this Sunday, the scene of artistic parades on the occasion of the last “Shrove Sunday”.
Disguised in the cause of Haitian culture, dancers, under a blazing sun, parade in single file, to the rhythm of the meringues from DJ Constant’s float. At the Champ-de-Mars, the scene is well set to welcome the participants in these festivities.
Without there being any official announcement from the Haitian Government or at least the municipal authorities, Port-au-Prince is ready to dance its carnival despite the situation in the country.
Construction of stands, notably the one representing the Town Hall, the line-up of ambulances and health professionals to rescue possible victims and firefighters in the event of a fire, Champ-de-Mars seems to be regaining its former smile.
Dancing the carnival in a context of fragile crisis!
For approximately three weeks, from January 29 to February 11, 2024, Haiti has been reeling from consecutive strikes launched by trade union associations which are pressing the Haitian Government to resolve the insecurity plaguing the country. The situation has worsened with the popular movements through which the Haitian people are asking the de facto Prime Minister, Ariel Henry to leave office.
Despite calls for resignation, the head of Government did not give in to popular protests. So, he remains clinging to his post until he tackles the problems of insecurity and organizes the next elections, he said, during his address to the Nation on February 7. And it is in this context of fragile crisis that children, young people and adults go to the Champ-de-Mars to let off steam.
Port-au-Princiens dance carnival under the barricades against insecurity
In Port-au-Prince, especially in Champ-de-Mars, not everyone speaks the same language. While a group of people are dancing carnival in the heart of the Capital, others are protesting against the insecurity plaguing the country. The latter are none other than students from the Faculty of Law and Economic Sciences (FDSE).
Tired of the acts of banditry which left no less than 806 dead, injured or kidnapped (according to the United Nations), these students erected barricades and burning tires at the Carrefour located around the said faculty. They say they are part of this approach to force the Government authorities to address the problem of insecurity of which all social strata of the country are victims.
« No carnival for the martyrs, the survivors of the widespread insecurity that prevails in the country. Those who make the decision to organize carnival parades anywhere in the country as well as the participants in these festivities , they are complicit in the current situation in the country and in connivance with the gangs who kidnap, rape and murder our compatriots,” the instigators of the movement told the online newspaper LE FACTEUR HAITI.
A concert of cartridges rings around, panic reigns!
While the police presence is strongly constant in different fixed points and various strategic areas in Champ-de-Mars, detonations of heavy weapons are heard in the evening, in neighboring districts, notably in Bél’Air.
So, fear sets in and we fear the worst!
THE HAITI FACTOR (LFH)
