April 23, 2025
The announcement of the national budget for the 2025 Carnival has sparked strong controversy in Haiti. Scheduled to take place in Fort-Liberté from March 2 to March 4, 2025, the event will cost over 536 million gourdes, equivalent to more than 4 million U.S. dollars. This figure is a stark contrast to the 130 million gourdes allocated in 2023. The massive increase in spending comes at a time when armed gangs continue to strengthen their grip on the country.
Political leader Me André Michel was quick to react, denouncing what he sees as a questionable use of public funds amid an alarming security crisis. “In 2025, while gangs—growing stronger—have taken control of more territories than before, the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) led by Leslie Voltaire is set to spend more than 536 million gourdes on Carnival,” he criticized on his X account. He emphasized that while such an investment is being made for festivities, national security forces remain severely under-equipped.
This criticism highlights a controversial budgetary decision by the TPC, which, according to observers, “hasn’t even bought a single knife for the HNP or the FAD’H.” The police and army, who face increasingly organized criminal groups daily, still rely on equipment acquired under previous administrations. This imbalance between security priorities and festival spending fuels public outrage.
As insecurity reaches alarming levels, the government’s decision to allocate such a large sum to Carnival has ignited a national debate. For some, it is a tradition that must be preserved despite the crisis. For others, it is an unacceptable waste in the face of the country’s urgent needs.
