Friday, as part of the opening ceremony of Haitian Heritage Month in Georgia, the Consul General of Haiti in Atlanta, Pastor Faustin Lebon delivered a speech that we invite you to share :

Speech of the Consul Faustin Lebon :

"Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honor to welcome you this evening for the official launch of the Haitian Heritage Month in Georgia. This celebration, already a practice for some years in other states, finally sees the day in Georgia; thanks to the Resolution 264 presented at the capitol under the initiative of the state representative Mrs. Ericka Thomas, whom we warmly thank.

I greet the members of the diplomatic corps, the community leaders, our special caterer Gilbert Pierre, Mrs Maguy... who exhibits her paintings, the musician and artist as well as members of the press.

A special thanks to the members of HYRO [Haitian-American Youth Reaching Out] and very special one to my staff, without whom, this activity would have not been possible. Finally, to all of you here present I say thank you and Welcome to the consulate General of Haiti.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The word Heritage is defined as being : 'Something that is handed down from the past'

Since its opening in 2011, the consulate of Haiti in Atlanta took pride to organize several activities to highlight our culture, our cuisine, our talents and so on. We host Gouts et couleurs, drawing and poem contest for the kids, with HYRO we organize Youth Forum with the main idea to keep the youth attached to their roots.

The Haitian Heritage Month will allow other communities to see us in a better light. Everywhere in the world Haitians rise in various fields. Here in Atlanta some of us also make the difference. I will not make any personalities, but my point is that the time is right to compliment, acknowledge and to pay tribute to those men and women who, through their commitment, Creativity, and their dynamism, make our community a more prosperous, supportive, and inclusive place.

This year, we celebrated our 213rd anniversary of Independence. Our History, our heritage carries a symbol of liberation that no one can ignore, for this is the first time and the only time in history that a people of His own courage, his own genius has freed himself from slavery.

The first Black Republic!

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our dear Haiti was constructed throughout a striking history, made at the same time of violent episodes and prosperous periods, glorious hours, and darker pages.

Even today, the struggle is far from being over, but in a period that is difficult, certain commemorative ceremonies such as the independence on January 1st, the celebration of the Flag, the commemoration of the battle of vertières, and now the Haitian Heritage for a whole month! are valuable because they remind us that : what We gather is much more important than what divides us.

On this note, I am officially declaring the Haitian Heritage Month launched in Georgia!!!

Celebrate with us, get to know us through the numerous event programmed for the month. Let us be proud and happy to live in a State that offers us the opportunity to share our national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.

Viv Ayiti !"

IH/ iciHaiti