Progressio, United Haitians in the UK (UHUK) and John McAslan & Partners joined forces to celebrate Haiti’s Flag Day, a major national holiday in the Caribbean half-island state, on 18th May 2013.
Celebrating a rich culture
Haiti’s flag’s origin is tightly linked to a history of struggle for freedom. Over 100 people, Haitians and friends of Haiti, came together with great fanfare at the offices of John McAslan & Partners to enjoy a day of all things Haitian; from food and drinks to music and dancing. There were auctions of Haitian art, face painting for children and workshops on Haitian history. Members of the Haitian diaspora shared recipes of typical Haitian food and “kremas” - a typical Haitian drink made of condensed milk, coconut milk and white rum.
A flag that embodies national values
At the event, Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, chairman of the APPG-Haiti expressed, “Haiti’s flag is visceral to the people of that land. It speaks of freedom, identity, national pride, independence, achievement and purpose. To dishonour their flag is to dishonour the Haitian people’s history. No wonder they sing (in their National Anthem) that they’d die for the values implicit in their flag. Theirs is an amazing story. Their flag speaks of the genetic make-up, the DNA, of a whole nation”.
The newly appointed British Charge d’Affaires to Haiti, Rick Shearn, also highlighted that, “The Haitian flag itself serves as a potent reminder of Haiti’s struggle and eventual success en route to independence. This symbol captures the pioneering and resolute spirit of Haitians, which is as alive today as it was two hundred years ago”.
A passion for Haiti
Alethea Cininas, Marketing Assistant at John McAslan & Partners and co-organiser of this event, said “I was delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with UHUK and Progressio. It was so inspiring to work with people who had such a passion for Haiti. I feel we are helping to grow the network of Haitian advocates. I am honoured to be a small part of this development and look forward to Haiti’s brighter future.”
Strengthening ties between the UK and Haiti
This is a promising time in UK-Haiti relations given that both the UK and Haiti are set to open new Embassies in Port-au-Prince and London, which will further strengthen ties between the two nations. The UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Rt. Hon. Justine Greening, recently visited Haiti as part of the new ‘Political Champions Initiative’, which aims at building resilience for tackling natural disasters – the UK has pledged £10 million to kick-start this initiative. It is also expected the UK’s Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt. Hon. Hugo Swire, will be opening the British representation in Port-au-Prince.
Progressio plans to continue, in collaboration with strategic allies and partners, supporting the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries through its work in the UK, the EU and in Haiti.
About the Haitian Flag
On 18th May 1803, during the Haitian uprising for independence in St. Domingue, slaves agreed an official flag to convey their message of revolution and freedom, with blue and red bands. On Independence Day, 1st January 1804, the flag was modified and the blue and red horizontal bands became the first flag of the Independent Republic of Haiti, as we know it today.
In 1805, shortly after Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed himself emperor, the Haitian flag colour was changed to black and red bands. After the emperor's death, in 1806, the country was divided into two republics for 14 years. Henri Christophe, in the north, kept the flag that Dessalines used. In the south and the west of the country, Alexandre Petion used the 1804 flag and added a white squared portion that included the country’s coat of arms and the famous phrase "L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE" meaning “United we are strong”.
That flag was in use until 1964 when Papa Doc Duvalier brought back the black and red flag of Dessalines and added a modified version of the coat of arms. On February 25 1986, after the fall of Baby Doc and the Duvalier regime, the people requested that the red and blue flag be brought back, which was embedded in the constitution of 1987.
Haiti’s National Anthem
La Dessalinienne
(The Song of Dessalines)
[In English]
For our country,
For our forefathers,
United let us march.
Let there be no traitors in our ranks!
Let us be masters of our soil.
United let us march
For our country,
For our forefathers.
For our forebears,
For our country
Let us toil joyfully.
May the fields be fertile
And our souls take courage.
Let us toil joyfully
For our forebears,
For our country.
For our country
And for our forefathers,
Let us train our sons.
Free, strong, and prosperous,
We shall always be as brothers.
Let us train our sons
For our country
And for our forefathers.
For our forebears,
For our country,
Oh God of the valiant!
Take our rights and our life
Under your infinite protection,
Oh God of the valiant!
For our forebears,
For our country.
For the flag,
For our country
To die is a fine thing!
Our past cries out to us:
Have a disciplined soul!
To die is a fine thing,
For the flag,
For our country.
