March 16, 2026
Amid rising gang violence activities in and around Port-au-Prince, the Ministry of Culture and Communication announced on February 11, 2025 that it will hold the country’s national carnival in Fort Liberte (north east department of Haiti). Due to rising gang violence in the capital, the government has not been able to hold most public activities and thereby holding them in other cities.
Minister Patrick Delatour announced that a total of 300 million Gourdes (approximately 2.3 million US dollars) has been allocated for the organization of the national carnival, of which 170 million Gourdes (1.3 million US dollars) for Fort Liberte, according to the Ministry’s website. The Chamber of Commerce and others in the private sector have denounced this as unnecessary considering the overwhelming control of gangs in the capital city, and the ongoing displacement of people due to gang activities.
In a press release, the Haitian-Canadian Chamber of commerce said “In such a context, organising a national carnival financed by public funds seems inappropriate and unwelcome.”
The Carnival will be held March 2-4 in Fort Liberte.
