On Friday, January 2nd, 2026, as part of the commemoration of Ancestors' Day, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, accompanied by Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transitional Council (CPT), and Presidential Advisors Smith Augustin, Frinel Joseph, Edgard Leblanc Fils, and Emmanuel Vertilaire, laid a wreath at the Museum of the Haitian National Pantheon (MUPANAH).

This solemn and respectful ceremony of floral offering and remembrance took place in the presence of, among others, members of the Government, Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H), members of the High Command, the Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police, Vladimir Paraison, and senior officials from the public administration.

This ceremony was an opportunity to pay tribute to the Founding Fathers of the Nation and to reaffirm the values ​​of liberty, sovereignty, and respect for the historical heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister declared, "[...] On this day of profound historical significance, the highest authorities of the State paid solemn homage to the Ancestors of the Nation, those exceptional women and men who, through their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in liberty, won independence and laid the foundations of the Haitian Republic. Their struggle remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration and a moral compass for present and future generations.

The commemoration of Ancestors' Day constitutes a political act of remembrance, reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Haitian State to the cardinal values ​​of liberty, national sovereignty, justice, and human dignity. By paying respects at the MUPANAH (National Museum of Haitian Art), the Government reiterates its commitment to continuing the work of the Founding Fathers, striving to strengthen republican institutions and consolidate national unity.

Faced with the major challenges confronting the Nation, this solemn tribute is also intended as a call to collective responsibility. It invites every Haitian to draw from the legacy of our Ancestors the moral strength, sense of duty, and spirit of sacrifice necessary for national reconstruction and the building of a future of peace, stability, and shared prosperity."

Following the solemn and respectful floral tribute and moment of remembrance, an official ceremony honoring the Founding Fathers of the Nation was held at the Villa d’Accueil.

In his address, Laurent Saint-Cyr particularly commended women for their unparalleled role in the struggle for Independence. For the first time on January 2nd, the heroines of independence received a special tribute, an initiative by Marie Élisabeth Régine Joseph Haddad, the Secretary General of the Presidency, which reflects the President's commitment to supporting women's leadership and Haiti's desire to enable women to participate in all spheres of national life.

Speech by Laurent Saint-Cyr at the tribute ceremony :

Antoine Augustin, the Minister of National Education, also spoke to introduce the Ancestors and highlight the work of the Heroines, notably Abdaraya Toya (Victoria Montou), Sanite Bélair (Suzanne Bélair), Catherine Flon, Suzanne Simone Baptiste Louverture, and Marie-Jeanne Lamartinière.

The ceremony was punctuated by cultural performances of great symbolic significance, illustrating the richness and depth of our historical heritage, as well as photographic exhibitions dedicated to the heroines and heroes of Independence, emblematic figures of the Haitian people's struggle for emancipation.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46546-haiti-national-day-official-ceremony-for-the-222nd-anniversary-of-independence-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46548-haiti-222nd-anniversary-of-independence-vibrant-speech-by-the-ambassador-of-haiti-to-the-dominican-rep.html

SL/ HaïitiLibre