April 22, 2025
In a press release dated on February 2025, the Haitian Canadian Chamber of Commerce spoke out against the organization of carnival while the country is in a deep security crisis.
For the past couple years, gangs have dominated about 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince and continue to terrorize neighboring areas. According to a September 2024 report from the International Organization of Migration over 700,000 Haitians have been displaced from their homes due to insecurity and violence, a 22% increase from the last report.
In total, 300 million Gourdes (approximately 2,290,076 USD) have been allocated for the carnival, of which approximately 1.3 million USD for Fort-Liberte Carnival.
“”In such a context, organising a national carnival financed by public funds seems inappropriate and unwelcome,” states the press release. These sentiments have been echoed by several in the private sector and the population at large. It is unclear if the capital will hold carnival celebration, although the gang “400 Mawozo” have attempted to organize their own carnival in Croix des Bouquets which has been shut down by authorities on February 8, 2025.
The country’s national carnival is scheduled for three days, March 2-4, in Fort-Liberte in the northeast of the country.
