Last Saturday, as part of the 211th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Vertières, Lesly Condé, Consul General of the Republic of Haiti in Chicago, delivered a message of reflection and unity to the Haitian community, in the premises of Kizin Creole, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12515-haiti-diaspora-211th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-vertieres.html

"Distinguished friends of Haiti,

Dear compatriots,

The commemoration of the two hundred and eleventh anniversary of the Battle of Vertières brings us together today. This commemoration is of huge importance for us because it brings us a sense of pride that nothing in the world can take away from us. As always, I am enormously pleased to be among you and to bring you the warm brotherly greetings of the Consulate General of Haiti in Chicago and its staff.

Once again, I congratulate the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti as well as all the community organizations that got together and made this patriotic event possible. This kind of collaboration is reminiscent of the indispensable cohesiveness that led to victory at Vertières.

History is very important because it cannot be altered by our current reality. When we commemorate the impressive feats of bravery of our ancestors, we give a much needed boost to our collective psyche. The horrors, heroics and sacrifices of Vertieres culminated in the huge celebration of January 1,1804. On that day, the New World’s first black nation was born. The rest of the story is now in our hands. Tomorrow, it will be up to our children.

To this day, we may not be proud of what our Haiti has become generation after generation, but the struggles of our ancestors under unimaginable conditions should inspire us. The Battle of Vertières is a priceless lesson in courage. Did Dessalines and his mes know that their struggle for freedom was pitting them against one of the most feared armies of the time?

Just like our ancestors, we must unite ourselves and keep our eyes on the goal which is to lead the next generations into a new Haiti. We must not be deterred by the magnitude of this challenge. This is the message of the Battle of Vertières."

Lesly Condé,

Consul General of the Republic of Haiti in Chicago

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12515-haiti-diaspora-211th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-vertieres.html

HL/ HaitiLibre