January 1, 2004, Bicentennial opening speech for the year 2004 pronounced by the President of the Republic of Haiti, His Excellency Jean-Bertrand Aristide, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the First Black Republic of the world.
January 1, 2004, National Palace, Haiti
OPENING BICENTENNIAL SPEECH BY PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE:
Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! (Cheers of the crowd) Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! How many times does that give you? (The crowd answers: 5 times!)
Thank you!
Excellency Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa and Mrs. The First Lady of South Africa,
Excellency Mr. Perry Christie, Prime Minister of Bahamas,
Excellency Mr. Prime Minister, Yvon Neptune of the Republic of Haiti and Mrs.,
Excellency Mr. Ajodhia, Vice-President of Suriname,
Distinguished members of the Ministerial Cabinet,
Mr. President of the Court of Cassation,
Honorable President of the Senate and Honorable Senators of the Republic,
Honorable President of the Chamber of Deputies and Honorable Deputies of the Republic,
Honorable American Congress Deputy Maxine Waters,
Mr. President of the Wang of exams of the Republic of China, Taiwan,
Mr. OAS Assistant General Secretary,
Distinguished Heads and members of foreign delegations,
Honorable Deputies from the French Parliament,
Distinguished members of the senior branches of the Civil Service,
Excellency Mr. Apostolic Nuncio Mgr. Bolonech,
Special Envoy from the Vatican, Excellency Mr. Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr. Luigi Bonazzi,
Distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished members of the Consular Corps,
Mr. Director General of the FAO,
Mr. Mayors of Port-au-Prince,
Civil, religious and police authorities,
Dear Danny Glover,
Dear compatriots from the Tenth Department,
Dear fellow citizens,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
How happy the First Lady and I are to welcome you in the name of the Founding Fathers of the Homeland. At the beginning of this January 1st, 2004, we vibrate at the rhythm of Liberty. May the echo of these vibrations be heard in patriotic applauds.
(Applauds)
Salute and hurray for our ancestors.
To Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the Great, to Toussaint Louverture, the Genius of the Race, to Petion, Christophe, to the Brave Soldiers and to all the Heroes of the Independence, let's pay a vibrant tribute.
(Applauds)
And to you, sisters and brothers from the Caribbean, from America, from Africa, from Europe and from Asia, to all of you, lovers of Liberty, Happy New Year 2004!
(Applauds)
Shalom for Haiti 2004 times more beautiful!
(Applauds)
Happy New Year!
(President Aristide together with the crowd: Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year!)
How many times does that give you? (5 times!)
How many fingers do you have on your hand? (5 fingers!)
How many fingers are there on the left hand? (5 fingers!)
How many times did I tell you Happy New Year? (5 times!)
For how many years? (5 years)
5 years!
What an honor to welcome all of our special guests! Let's give them another warm welcome. Let's tell them: Happy New Year! (Happy New Year!)
In Chinese: "Shinn nyenn kwaloeu!" (Happy New Year!)
(The crowd laughs!)
In Chinese: "Wann inn wann inn!" (Welcome!) (Applauds)
Feliz ano nuevo! Que alegria estar con ustedes hermanos y hermanas! (How nice to be with you, brothers and sisters) (Applauds)
A long time before 1804, boats coming from Africa carried slaves. Today, South African boats carry the Power of Freedom to shine in 200 years of freedom…(Cheers)
So to you, my brother, President Mbeki and Mrs., to Minister Zhuma, to all members of the delegation from South Africa, to all our sisters and brothers from Africa: Sani Bonani! (Hello! In Zulu). Sani Bonani! Sani Bonani! Si ya kwa Moukela! (Welcome in Zulu). Sini si sela ou nyaka ou moucha! (We wish you a Happy New Year!). (Applauds) Si ya ye Tanda l Afrika! (We love Africa). Ou' Kolo kwi Afrika! (Peace to Africa). (Applauds)
Dear fellow citizens,
Distinguished guests,
On the eve of this new year, we are happy to celebrate a Bicentennial of Freedom for a Millennium of Peace. Yes, let's proclaim it together! A Bicentennial of Freedom for a Millennium of Peace! Beyond 1804, Haitian roots have always gone deep into a source of a love story, love of freedom. From there, the glorious pages of our history that can only be written on gold letters. Indeed, 25,000 years ago, the land of Haiti welcomed the first migration flows of North America. From the year 6000 to the year 4000, first came the Siboneys, then the Arawaks, Tainos, Caribbean, Indians, Spanish, English, French. And of course, starting in 1503, our African sisters and brothers, reduced to slavery but always walking towards liberty. Universal value, this liberty transcends color, race and frontiers. In antiquity, the first slaves were almost always white. Egyptians, and then Carthaginians were the first ones to own black slaves. At the height of the Roman Empire, as in the second century before Jesus Christ, we counted in Rome 400,000 white slaves to feed 20,000 citizens, which means 20 slaves for each colonist. This barbarity extended throughout Africa, whose blood would feed America and Europe. It was a monstrous blood transfusion. Of course, slavery is a crime against humanity. (Applauds)
Dear fellow citizens,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,
In three centuries, approximately 15 million Africans were carried like animals in the hold through the Atlantic Ocean. At the beginning of the 18th century, there were only 80 million inhabitants in Africa. What a genocide! Slave trade or genocidal trade. But, but, but,…(Cheers in the crowd) Hold on tight! (Cheers in the crowd)
Here, here, I repeat it, here in 1804, from the night of slavery came out a sun of liberty! (Applauds)
A sun in the middle of the night! (Applauds)
Who would have said? Who would have thought? A sun in the middle of the night, the sun of liberty!
So things have changed! (Cheers in the crowd) Things have changed!
They will not go into hiding again! They will not go into hiding again! (Cheers of joy in the crowd)
Since our ancestors would not go into hiding again, people who do not want to go into hiding again, put both hands up for the whole world to see. (People in the crowd put both hands up and say Hurray!)
Thank you!
Put your hands down, please.
Since we are getting ready with the Opposition, the Civil Society, to go to elections in 2004, let's have an election here, putting both hands up if you don't want to go into hiding again. People who don't want to go into hiding, let's vote, put both hands up. (Everyone in the crowd put both hands up)
Look at thousands of people, hundreds of thousands of people!
How beautiful it is!
How great it is!
Applaud the Haitian People! (Applauds)
Applaud Haitians from the Tenth Department.
Applaud Haitians from the Diaspora who are here with us. (Applauds)
Applaud all our farmers, all our sisters who are in the mountains, all the poor, all the rich, intellectuals, illiterates, politicians, opposition, civil society, private sector, all the Haitian people without distinction. (Applauds)
Hurry for them!
Hats off for them! Fraternal embrace!
(Applauds)
How beautiful it is!
How great it is to be united!
How beautiful it is !
How great it is to love each other!
How beautiful it is!
How great it is to cultivate liberty, tolerance, peace, love!
Hurray for Gonaives! Hurray for Gonaives! (Applauds)
Hurray for the Artibonite people! Hurray for Gonaives! (Applauds)
Do you want to go to Gonaives?
Yes!
Would you like to go to Gonaives?
Yes!
Repeat Gonaives five times for me!
(President Aristide together with the crowd: Gonaives! Gonaives! Gonaives! Gonaives! Gonaives! Applauds)
Thank you! Like we said earlier, things changed and Fatra Baton, Toussaint Louverture was right to say: "When I was overthrown in Santo Domingo, the Tree of Libertywas cut down, but it will grow back, because its roots are deep and numerous. (Applauds)
Since the umbilical cord of Independence was cut in Gonaives on January 1st, 1804, Haiti has been the Mother of Liberty! (Applauds)
In other words : "the First Black Republicof the world is and remains the geographical linchpin of Black Liberty" (Applauds)
Yes, Haiti is the Mother of Liberty, all mothers are mothers, poor mothers like rich mothers. All mothers are mothers. All of us, sons and daughters, let's be as one to applaud Haiti, our mother, Haiti, the Mother of Liberty!
(Applauds)
On January 1st. 1804, Mother Haitigave birth to Libertyso that we could live freely, as equal, as brothers and sisters. Today, January 1st, 2004, we crown our mother with a wreath of gratefulness, because Haiti's Negroes and Negresses are the sons and daughters of dignity.
Honor and Respect for Haiti, Mother of Liberty!
Salute and Hurray for our ancestors! (Hurray!)
Dear compatriots,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,
Through this Bicentennial, we also celebrate, "The only victorious slave revolution in history!" The one and only! The one and only! The one and only! (Applauds)
Throughout the whole world, that had never been done -- except here in Haiti. (Cheers from the crowd)
Haiti is small, but in the liberty laboratory, Haiti is the smaller, the better! (Cheers from the crowd)
We are not surprised to see how our independence pumped an epidemic of liberty in America. In a short time, the anti-slavery revolutionary contagion spread throughout the continent. In 1806, we remember how Father Dessalines gave Miranda, from Venezuela, 15 boats, 500 brave men, heavy war weapons with bullets and equipment, to go free slaves in Venezuela, in Colombia, in Equator. Just the same, Les Cayes welcomed Simon Bolivar and Petion gave him weapons, clothes, food, respect and moral support to go free slaves in other countries. That is how the flag of Venezuela was made here, in Jacmel, when Bolivar added a peace of yellow cloth on our blue and red. Article 3 in the 1801 Constitution says: "The minute a slave puts one foot on the land of Haiti, he or she is free!" (Applauds)
In the United States, the same epidemic of liberty went through Savannah, when our ancestors went to show solidarity to Americans and shed their blood for the United States' independence.
Honor and respect for them!
Without the victory of our revolution, the United States wouldn't have Louisiana, and without Louisiana, the United wouldn't be the United States today. The reason is that back then, Louisiana represented almost half of the United States' territory. So, for history, for truth and for honor, the two oldest republics in the continent, Haiti and the United States, have a beautiful, beautiful chapter of solidarity to write together. A knife does not cut its handle. Two good things make a very good thing. (Applauds)
Two good things make a very good thing. How many good things to make a very thing? (Two good things!) . How many good things to make a very thing? (Two good things!). Two good things make a very good thing. The United States and Haiti, when one is good with the other, we both will make a very good democratic thing! (Applauds)
A few months ago, we were so pleased to hear Secretary Colin Powell remind the world of these historical ties, and of the impact that the heavy losses suffered by Napoleon's army in Haiti had on Napoleon's decision to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the end of the nineteenth century, Frederick Douglass honored Haiti in a poem entitled, ‘Until She Spoke.” "Until she Spoke" wrote Douglas, no nation has abolished Negro slavery, nor given to the world an organized effort to abolish slavery. In 1804, Haiti spoke, and today, Africa's youngest republic, South Africa, and its oldest, Haiti, join with CARICOM and African Americans to embrace the principles of Liberty, Justice and Equality that guided our ancestors to victory two hundred years ago. This victory reflects the communication of the end of apartheid which we will celebrate with South Africa this year. May the sentiment of these historical achievements echo in the hearts of all the sons and daughters of Africa; may it shine a path for this new millennium. May the determination of these former slaves to forge a nation in a world hostile to their very existence, inspire us to always continue to struggle for human dignity that is the sacred right of all people.
(TEXT IN SPANISH)
After 1804, it was wasps, wasps, wasps. After 2004, it must be bees, bees, bees. Or it must be honey for everyone without distinction. And since we are strong, we must get bees before reaching the sky. After 1804, it was wasps, wasps, wasps. A wasp egg gives 300 small wasps. After 2004, it must be bees, bees, bees. A queen of bees gives us 1,500 eggs every day. And a termite bee gives 30,000 eggs every day. And so, a Lavalas bee for everyone without distinction. (Applauds)
Dear friends,
In a word, if before 200 years, it was wasps, after 200 years, it must be bees. (Applauds)
In this context, we are happy to celebrate a Bicentennial of Liberty for a Millennium of Peace. From there, our intention to work hic et nuncfor the actualization of the millennium goals. For the country, for the ancestors, let us walk united and proclaim the Bicentennial Declaration, which is: Build a new Haiti. It is possible because, Together, we stand! Together, we stand! (The crowd together with the President, Together, we stand!).
To replace the 21 cannon shots, the cannon declaration, the Bicentennial Declaration has 21 points. Yes, a declaration in 21 points, before the 21 billions of the restitution. (Applauds)
The death rate for children under 5 years old in the last few years went down from 125 per 1,000 to 110 for 1,000. In 2015, this rate must be under 40 per 1000. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
In 2000, the percentage of low weight newborns was 28%. This rate is estimated at 19% today and must go down to 5% by 2015. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
From the year 1993 to 2003, the scourge of malnutrition rate went from 63% to 51%. By 2015, it must go from 51% to 25%. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
In 2003, the maternal death rate was 520 per 100,000 living births. By 2015, this rate must go from 520 to 150 per 100,000. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
During the last three years, we were able to stabilize the HIV/AIDS infection in Haiti. The rate went from 6.1% to 5%. Before 2015, we must go from 5% to 1%. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
The gross rate of schooling during the last three years increased from 67.8% to 72%. Before 2015, this rate must go from 72% to 95%. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
The literacy campaign must lead us, way before 2015, to the eradication of illiteracy. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
In 1992, we had 1,005 fundamental public schools with first and second cycles in the whole country. Today, we have 1,200, thanks to Lavalas. (Applauds). In 2015, we will not only have 1,200, we'll have 1,700 schools. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Do you believe that TOGETHER, WE STAND? (The crowd answers strongly: Yes!)
Do you agree that TOGETHER, WE STAND? (The crowd: Yes!) Two hands up, with all our hearts, let's repeat loudly, TOGETHER, WE STAND! TOGETHER, WE STAND!
In 190 years, we only had 34 colleges. Today, for our 200th year, instead of 34, we have 138, thanks to Lavalas. (Applauds) In the year 2015, instead of 138, we'll have 276 colleges. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Today, as for electricity, we managed to get to 155 megawatts, despite the economic embargo. Before 2015, we can go from 155 to 355 megawatts. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Telephone, before 2015, we will have not 112.000 lines in service, but at least 250,000. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Today, only 43% of our fellow citizens have access to drinking water in rural areas, and 48% in metropolitan areas. Before 2015, this rate will go from 48% to 75%. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
During those 200 years, the roads between the towns, rural and national roads only cover 4,500 kilometers. The projection for 2015 is of approximately 6,500 kilometers. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
The country's present forest coverage is of 1%, which means 30,000 hectares. This coverage will be doubled in 2015 with 45 million trees planted or naturally regenerated. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Before 2015, the land reform must be stimulated for a fair management and distribution of the State's 200,000 hectares of land. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
During the last few years, half of the population was victim of food insecurity. In 1993, this rate was 63%. In 2015, we must go down from 63 to 32%. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Thanks to the advantages of the new law on free zones and the investment code, before 2015, in a climate of political stability, security for all and good governing, direct foreign investments can go up to 400 million US dollars. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
The assets of 70% of our poor, evaluated to 5.2 billion US dollars in 1995, can be superior to 10 billion in 2015. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Over one thousand social houses were built and distributed during the years 2002 and 2003. By 2015, we'll distribute more than 10,000. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
More than 54 public parks were built or developed during the last three years. In 2015, we will not only have 54 public parks, but at least 216 public parks, thanks to Lavalas. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
Between 1990 and 2000, the proportion of the population living below the poverty line in Haiti went from 60% to 56%. In 2015, this rate must go down from 56% to 28%. It is possible because, TOGETHER, WE STAND.
While I was giving the 21 points of the Bicentennial Declaration, I heard many of you saying : Gonaives, Gonaives, Gonaives. (The crowd, very excited, shouts: Gonaives!)
I feel Gonaives in your hearts, I feel Gonaives in your blood. Is that true? Yes!
Do you love Gonaives? Yes!
Are you proud because that's where the umbilical cord of independence was cut? Yes!
Do you show solidarity to all Gonaives' sons and daughters? Yes!
Everyone who is outside, hundreds of thousands who show solidarity to Gonaives, two hands up, two hands up so that everyone can see!
Thank you!
Together with Gonaives, together with all Haitians abroad, together with all Haitians here, that Bicentennial Declaration will allow all people who are at the bottom to go up. Secondly, people who are at the bottom and people who are at the top will go up faster. Thirdly, together, together, if we don't go up the economic elevator, we will go up the economic stairs anyway. (Applauds)
That is exactly why we built that monument for the 200 years of liberty. That monument has 200 stairs: 200 stairs of Haiti's history, 200 stairs of Liberty, 200 stairs of Equality, 200 years of Fraternity, 200 stairs towards the Restitution.
Dear fellow citizens,
Beyond their deaths, the Heroes of Independence send out liberating waves. May these liberating waves propagate like light waves, meaning at 300,000 kilometers per second.
And so, to them, HONOR AND GLORY!
And to us, their worthy sons and daughters, RESPECT, RESTITUTION AND REPARATION for a civilization of Peace. Sia Bonga!
Thank you! (Applauds)
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
National Palace
01/01/2004
