On the occasion of the commemorative day of the abolition of slavery, celebrated in France on May 10, since 2006, François Guillaume II, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) stated "[...] In his remarks, the French President, François Hollande, refers to Haiti, and the glorious path of the brave black man Toussaint Louverture, in his conquest for the abolition of slavery in Santo Domingo while commending his leadership in this movement.

On this glorious day which is of immeasurable importance for me, I salute the patriotic courage of all Haitians louverturiens, louverturiennes, wherever they are on this planet. I ask them to be proud of their origins and behave as true ambassadors of this proud and exemplary Nation we represent."

Also Saturday, the city of Nantes (western France) paid tribute to Haiti by commemorating 210 years of independence, within the framework of the 9th National Day of memory of theslave slavery and its abolition, in the presence of the new mayor, Johanna Rolland, author and Haitian artists including Erol Josué, voodoo priest, author, composer, singer and dancer. An open-air exhibition on the history of the first black republic in the world can be seen until September 15 on the forecourt of the Memorial to the abolition of slavery. The Mayor of Nantes Johanna Rolland and Haitian writer Yanick Lahens have symbolically threw flowers in the Loire.

HL/ HaitiLibre