The 29, 30 and 31 July 2012, the Champ de Mars of Port-au-Prince will host the Carnival of Flowers 2012. Jean Mario Dupuy, Minister of Culture, accompanied by Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister of Tourism, of Gabrielle Hyacinthe, the Mayor of Port-au-Prince and members of the Committee of Carnival of Flowers, made the official announcement at a press conference this Thursday, June 21, 2012.

The Ministers of Culture and Tourism, which occupy respectively the Presidency and the Vice Presidency of Honour of the Committee of Carnival of Flowers, invite the Haitians at home and in the Diaspora to fully enjoy this mega cultural festival, which will participate to the activities of the summer season.

In his speech, the Minister of Culture declared "[...] the President of the Republic had promised to the population that he would organize a Carnival of Flowers as part of larger efforts being made ​​in the country to boost tourism and offer foreigners and to our brothers and sisters of the diaspora, enough activities to allow us to showcase our culture and our ability to create [...] in short, as the President always says, the promises are debts. This is what makes he instructed the Government, for the latter, take all necessary steps to allow this activity takes place [...]"

For her part, Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin explained "[...] It's true that there is music, it's true that people love to dance, that's a Carnival, but Carnival is not only that, it is also all the artistic part, queens, walking bands and it is there, that us, at the level of the Culture and Tourism, we want to promote it.

The Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Culture and the Mayor of Port-au-Prince surrounded by other Committee members of the Carnival of Flowers 2012

Remember that it's the holidays, we will have at that time, many diaspora, who are coming into the country to enjoy this carnival and who were unable come for the carnival of Les Cayes [...] we want to give them a beautiful artistic event [...]

Do not forget also, that all children who will come to Carnival, can not stay up to 1am, 2am or 3am and that is why in this carnival, we will separate the parades, the artistic part of the musical part. So we will do from 3pm and 7pm the artistic part, cultural and the Carnival parades and from 7pm there will be the musical part.

All that, it is to be able to sell a good image, sell a great part of our intangible heritage, which is our culture..."

S/ HaïtiLibre