After the traditional Solemn Mass and Te Deum at the Cathedral of Gonaïves, in the presence of members of the Government and the diplomatic and consular corps, President Martelly proceeded with the new Prime Minister Evans Paul and the President of the Senate, Simon Dieuseul Desras, to a floral offering at the monument of Emperor Jean Jacques Dessalines, before going on the Place d'Armes of Gonaïves to honor the military geniuses of the native army and deliver a speech on the occasion of the 211th anniversary of Haiti's independence, front a large crowd.

"[...] That day, together, we chose the union over division, life over death. We have chosen to live free, independent [...] That day of January 1, a wind of freedom had blown for the first time in Haiti after more than 300 years of brutality, humiliation and exploatation. 211 years later, we have much reason to be proud of what we represent to the world and for history. Haiti is the only country where the negro does not mean a color, a situation, where it comes from, but means MOUN !

On 1 January 1804 there was no longer slave. January 1, 2015, we must make a commitment to make another revolution !

History has shown us, every time we chose the division over the union, the breaking over the the construction, the country has paid the consequences. Our children have paid it [...]

We have nothing to lose by unite us. We have to win a prosperous country, economically independent and fulfilled [...]

I chose to serve my country. In this sense, I feel bound to you by a contract that I have no right to betray [...]

I said it, I believe it there is no sacrifice too great for Haiti [...]

The year 2015 is the year when we will decided the people who will govern us at any level. In this sense we all have our responsibility [...]

We will not fall into the provocation, in the violence ! We will join us so that elections are held in good conditions [...]

People who want to make us believe that brigandage, breakage, political instability can solve the problems of the country, we must tell them NO.

Chaos can arrange the affairs of a group [...] but solves nothing. Remember the chaos was conducted October 17, 1806, which led to 15 July 1915, and given the chaos of 1994.

Enough is enough ! Now it's the time to gather, hand in hand to put the country on the road to development [...]

The Haiti that we have today is better than it was in 2011. We will continue to work to protect what we already have [...]

We will not stay on what divides us but on what brings us together. We will come together because we are all Haitians.

May God bless us !

May God bless Haiti !

Happy Independence Day, Happy New Year 2015 in the respect, love, sharing and union."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12847-haiti-social-haitilibre-wish-you-a-happy-independence-day.html

HL/ HaitiLibre