The national Flag of Haiti consists of two different colored horizontal bands, and a white panel bearing the national coat of arms at the centre. The top band is bright blue in colour, while the bottom band is red. flagsworld, The coat of arms of Haiti is made up of two yellowish-gold colored cannons faced in opposite directions on top of a green hill. A drum with two axes is located between the cannons and six flags are located behind the cannons (3 on each side). Running down the centre of this image is a palm tree wearing a hat, known as the Liberty Cap. A white banner sits at the bottom of the hill with the Latin phrase: L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE, meaning “Strength in Unity.” As a former French colony, the blue and red colours are modelled after the French Tricolore. The flag of Haiti was officially adopted on February 26, 1986, when the country began its transition to democracy. However, the flag's design was previously used from 1859 until 1964 under the First Haitian Republic.
Symbolism Of The Flag Of Haiti
Residents of Haiti celebrate National Flag Day on May 18th of every year, which is a day for Haitians to celebrate the original creation of the flag. The original design is believed to have been created by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who led the Haitian revolution. Oral history suggests that the revolutionary figure ripped apart the French flag, removing and discarding its white centre band. Dessalines gave the remaining blue and red pieces to his goddaughter, Catherine Flon, so that she could sew them together. Maintaining this story and two of the three colours of the French flag symbolises the history of Haiti and its ability to achieve independence. Some accounts suggest that the blue and red colours are meant to represent the ethnicities living in this country. Additionally, the coat of arms is said to represent independence and freedom, which are symbolised by the palm tree at its centre and the weapons on the hill.
Uses of the flag and perspectives
The symbolism of the Haiti Flag is important for Haitians. The Haitian revolution inspired several emancipation struggles around the world. In his book, Haiti and the World. Two Centuries of International Relations, historian Arthus Weibert cites several examples of the influence that Haiti’s experience played in liberation movements in several countries.
According to historians, when Francisco de Miranda wanted to liberate Gran Colombia – composed of the current territories of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador – he went to Haiti and received support from President Alexandre Pétion. Upon his return from Haiti in March 1806, he created the flag of the Nation of Gran Colombia with the blue and red colors of Haiti, adding the yellow of Spain.
Another notorious example is Greece. In 1822, President Jean-Pierre Boyer sent a message of support to the Greek revolutionaries fighting against the Ottoman Empire. Haiti provided 50,000 pounds of coffee and a troop of 100 soldiers to help the Greek revolution. In recognition, the Greek revolutionaries proclaimed their independence on 1 January, the same day as Haiti’s independence. They adopt the motto ‘freedom or death,’ the same motto as Haiti’s independence.Haiti’s independence, as a project and as a concept of human dignity, is nurtured and guaranteed in the framework of the university, which is celebrated likewise along with the flag.
I believe that the university is the guardian of our memories and the sign that characterises our identity. It is through the university that development, innovation, and research must take on their full meaning to address the challenges that Haiti must face, and to facilitate citizen awareness towards the socio-economic take-off that the country so deserves.
In short, at a time when the world is facing increasingly difficult global challenges, there is a huge need to consolidate the fundamental values of freedom, justice, inclusion and equality to make possible a better, happier and more desirable humanity for all.
These are the meanings and aspirations carried by the flag of Haiti, whose 1804 revolution is exemplary for all the oppressed in the world. It is in that context the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in the United Kingdom is proud, honoured and thrilled to see the blue and red stripes flying for the first time, this week, on the Swedenborg building, here at the 21 Bloomsbury Way in the heart of London.
History Of The Flag
From 1625 until 1804, prior to Haiti's independence from France, its flag was white with the image of the French crown over a blue shield that held three fleur-de-lis. After the revolution, Haiti adopted a vertical bi-color of black and red that was only used for two years. This flag was followed by the flag of the State of Haiti, from 1806 until 1811, but substituted the black color for dark blue. As a kingdom, Haiti reverted back to the black and red bicolor flag, but changed the positions of the colors. From 1811 until 1814, the flag had a golden image of two lions holding a shield with a bird rising from flames. In 1814 this center image was changed to a blue disc with a crown on top. The colors of the current flag were first adopted in 1848, although its center image included two lions holding a shield with a bird, as well as the royal palm tree used today.
Colors and the Meaning of the Haiti Flag
In Haiti, two flags are used, national and official flags, and the flag has changed many times in the history of the country.It consists of red and blue stripes that divide the flag horizontally on both flags. While the national flag is in use with this state, the coat of arms of the country appears on the official flag. The rigging placed in the middle of the flag is the difference between the two flags. In the creation of the flag, they were influenced by the vertical three-color flag of France in the war of independence against France. Here only the white color is not included in the flag, while the red and blue colors are horizontally positioned on the flag.
In the coat of arms of the country, there is a total of six draped flags, 3 in the right and 3 in the left, behind a palm tree. In front of the palm tree, there is a gun carriage. There are objects such as cannon shells, broken shackles, drums, rifles and anchors on the rigged on a green lawn. At the top of the palm tree is the Phrygian head as a symbol of freedom in red and blue colors attached to the end of a stick.
Symbols Of Haiti National Coat Of Arms Of Haiti
The coat of arms of Haiti consists of six draped flags of the country, three on each side, which are located in front of a palm tree and cannons. In front of the cannons are a drum, a bugle, long guns, and ship anchors. Above the palm tree, there is a Phrygian cap placed as a symbol of freedom. Just above the ribbon with the motto are two pieces of chain with a broken link symbolizing the broken chain of slavery. On the ribbon is the national motto of Haiti "L'Union Fait La Force" which means "Union Makes Strength".
Second Empire of Haiti
Haiti’s second empire was founded in 1849 under the emperor Faustin I of Haiti. The new flag consisted of a new Imperial Coat of Arms with the blue-red horizontal two-lane flag of the Republic of Haiti. When the emperor was overthrown in 1859, the flag of the Republic of Haiti was reconstructed.
Between 1964 and 1986, the Flag of Haiti was transformed into a black-and-red two-color flag of the first empire by the headquarters of Jean-Claude Duvalier. In 1986, the blue-red horizontal two-color flag with the coat of arms in the center was accepted as the national flag. This flag was a free flag as a civil flag.
National Anthem
- Anthem Title: La Dessalinienne (The Dessalines Song)
- Music composer: Nicolas Geffrard
- Lyricist: Justin Lhérisson
- Date of Adoption: January 1, 1904
La Dessalinienne was composed by Nicolas Geffrard, with writing the lyrics. The anthem is named in honor of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's first leaders and revolutionarist. A competition for a national anthem was helod in 1903 to commemorate Haiti Revolution's 100th anniversary. The words of Nicolas Geffrard and Justin Lhérisson were considered the best by the judges. The anthem was officially adopted on January 1, 1904.
The Currency Of Haiti Is The Haitian Gourde
The official currency is the Haitian gourde, coded as HTG on the ISO 4712 currency code and denoted as G. All paper bills and coins are printed in the form of Haitian gourde. The Banque de la République prints and distributes the gourde in subunits of 100 centimes. In addition to the Haitian gourde, the US dollar and the Haitian dollar are also notable. The US dollar is commonly accepted as a medium of exchange in many businesses on the bays. The "Haitian dollar" does not physically exist, but is a concept of the Haitian people who believe that 1 Haitian dollar equals 5 Haitian gourdes, a rate that has remained constant throughout history. This was as a result of pegging the US dollar to the gourde at a rate of 5:1.
Coins
Coins were reintroduced in 1881 in a range of denominations including 1, 2, 10, 20, and 50 centimes. The production of coins ceased in 1890, but resumed in 1949 with the issuance of the 5 and 10 centimes coins and the 20 centimes in 1958, 50 centimes in 1972, and 1 and 5 gourde in 1995. Today, only the 50 centimes, and the 1 and 5 gourde coins are in circulation.
Banknotes
The minting of banknotes began in 1875 until 2004, with the 5 and 10 centimes, and later developments of banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 gourdes, which remain in circulation. Each denomination features the image of an historic symbol with special relevance to Haitian historic happenings.
Historical Currencies Of Haiti
The first Haitian gourde was introduced in Haiti in 1813 to replace the Haitian livre, which was a French colonial currency. The earliest Haitian gourde coins were introduced in 1827 and came in denominations of 50 and 100 centimes, followed by 1 and 2 centimes in 1828, and then 6¼ centimes in 1850. In 1863, the last coins of the first gourde were minted and distributed by the Mint of Birmingham. Banknotes were also printed in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 gourdes.
The gourde was officially re-evaluated at the ratio of 10:1 in 1870. During this reevaluation, only banknotes worth 10 and 25 gourdes were issued. The second reevaluation occurred two years later in 1872, when the revaluation was done at 300:1. During this re-evaluation, only banknotes were issued, with the majority dated 1885. In order to give the gourde a value in the international market, it was pegged to the French franc. However, in 1912, it was changed and pegged to the US dollar.
Main Characteristics of Haiti
The Republic of Haiti is not a highly developed country in terms of tourism. In 2010, the country was severely shaken by an earthquake of 7. More than 200,000 people lost their lives in this earthquake. The capital is Port Au Prince. The city centre is located on the seaside, and the slopes are in the area of slums. The official languages are French and Haitian Kreyol. The official currency is Gourde.
Tropical climate prevails. The average annual temperature is between 21 and 32 degrees. There is a warm climate in the high and low parts. As in most Caribbean countries, the main food is rice. Sea products are also important because of being an island country.
He called on Haiti’s judicial officials to act on his agency’s findings.
- Jacques Lafontant, government commissioner for the capital of Port-au-Prince, told The Associated Press on Friday that he would order all those named in the report to appear before a judge.
- The 30-page report released to the public summarises lengthy investigations launched by Joseph’s agency and provides a window into rampant corruption across Haiti, where more than 60% of its more than 11 million people struggle to survive on about $2 a day.
- The agency pursued 10 unrelated investigations, finding alleged corruption in places including two schools, three mayors’ offices and three government agencies.
- It accused the general director of Haiti’s National Lottery of diverting more than 41 million Haitian gourdes ($300,000) with help from her brother — a legal professional — and of not charging companies operating rights, resulting in a shortfall of 269 million gourdes (more than $2 million) to the public treasury.
- In addition, it found irregularities with debit cards that Haiti’s National Police issued to employees, noting that benefits illegally given to those who were fired or retired resulted in a loss of more than 18.2 million gourdes ($140,000) in the span of just three months.
- It also accused the former mayor of the southern coastal town of Petit-Goave of diverting nearly 12.8 million gourdes (more than $98,000) slated for several projects.
- The former official also allegedly set up city hall in his mother’s home, “putting himself in a situation where it was necessary to choose between protecting the interests of the mayor’s office or those of his mother,” the report said. It accused him of not paying taxes on the property and said money was missing from the employee payroll.