Carnival in Haiti marching on, despite government ‘canceling’ main event

FORT-LIBERTE — Haiti’s government announced it was canceling the 2025 National Carnival less than 12 days before the official spectacle began and in the midst of festivities already underway nationwide. The announcement aligns with critics who said holding kanaval was a mistake in the first place, and set off a backlash over potential revenue and cultural losses.

Despite the controversial decision, Haiti has begun and will continue to celebrate kanaval through local efforts, locals say. In Fort-Liberté, which was chosen to host the national edition, March 2 to 4, the event is still on.

“We have not received an official communication of this decision,” Fort-Liberté Mayor Louis Jacques Junior Etienne told The Haitian Times via telephone on Feb.18. “But whatever happens, there will be a carnival here.”

The National Carnival is usually a much-anticipated three-day showcase of Haitian pageantry, artistry and ingenuity. This year, some met it with expressions of outrage against the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the government it directs, as a waste of funds. 

On Tuesday, the CPT said it could no longer move forward with the affair because of insecurity and economic hardships. Announcing the cancellation in a written note, he instructed Minister of Culture Patrick Delatour to redirect resources to support regional carnivals instead. 

“Town halls and other stakeholders can organize events at the local level. The Ministry of Culture will be able to support these initiatives,” the government statement reads.

Some people were against the announcement, while others supported it.

“Carnival is a showcase, it is our time to shine,” said Gimarque Pierre, a singer and member of the Mardi Gras parade group called Siray.

Political activist Bernard Dieudonné is among those supporting the cancellation. 

“People here want real development, not just a festival,” he said.

Criticisms increased as date approached

Carnival is a key economic driver in Haiti, bringing long-term benefits to host cities despite financial setbacks. While the central government funds and only controls the National Carnival, local officials fund town-level festivities held around the same time.

Together, the ensemble of local and national events boost businesses all around, from street vendors to luxury hotels, and generate critical revenue. This year’s event had a theme of Haiti Debout, French for “Haiti Stands Up,” and a budget of 300 million gourdes, about $2.3 million, to organize festivities throughout the country. 

About 170 million gourdes, or $1.3 million, was designated for Fort-Liberté as the regional host. It is not yet clear if those funds were already disbursed or will be distributed as reimbursements after the event, as has occurred in some years past.

However, as the date approached, critics decried the lack of infrastructure and persistent travel restrictions they said had reduced the number of attendees able to spend money during the event. In recent weeks, some took to the streets, social media and local radio to question the government’s priorities. They demanded that officials justify spending millions on festivities while the nation faces urgent security and economic crises. 

In Fort-Liberté, youth activists from the Association Jeune Avisé de Fort-Liberté (AJAF) staged a sit-in on Feb. 17 and temporarily blocked a major highway, while demanding investments in infrastructure, electricity, clean water and healthcare. The protesters argue that if the city were to host the National Carnival, it should also receive essential public services and lasting infrastructure improvements, not just temporary festivities. 

Backlash mix with support for cancellation

The cancellation has drawn mixed reactions. Some supported the decision arguing that state funds should be used to prioritize public safety and essential services. Given the government’s promise to support regional festivities, some residents and business owners in Fort-Liberté expressed frustration over lost investments tied to the national event.

“I agree with the decision to cancel the National Carnival because Fort-Liberte does not benefit from any significant investment like electricity and road infrastructure,” Tonton Jean Paul Lucmonorc, a singer residing in the city.

Some expressed support on social media, where a debate is raging in parallel offline.

“A commendable decision,” Rada Press, a local outlet, commented on the Office of the Presidency Press Release on Facebook. “The carnival budget should be redirected for security and aid for displaced people living in inhuman conditions and a dire situation.”

“If we’re not careful, we risk losing this beautiful tradition,”

warned Metellus Mackeson, a taxi driver in Ouanaminthe.

“These 3 million can buy us a combat helicopter so let’s use this money to buy equipment for the police and the army instead,” Delson Delice comments on the same Facebook threads. “Don’t tell me that if we do this, it will be a misappropriation of funds. Given what we have here, we can do this for the country.”

Others see the move as a significant economic setback. Entrepreneurs and shopkeepers caught off guard by the announcement are frustrated and angry with the losses they’ll incur.

“Canceling the carnival means we will lose a lot of money in hotels,” said Jacksaint Guerrier, owner of Taba Gaz Propane.

“I am against the cancellation of the carnival because I have already spent money to buy products to resell,” said Rose-Marthe Maurice, a vendor who invested in merchandise for the celebration. 

“I know many people who have borrowed money to invest in making costumes and artifacts and others who have spent money to prepare houses for hospitality,” she added.

Artists and musicians decried the decision, like Pierre, the Siray singer, argue the cancellation suppresses cultural expression.

“Without it, we are left in the shadows, many of us lose a major opportunity,” Pierre said.

Local officials push forward

Despite the national event’s cancellation, local leaders remain determined to move forward, and the CPT insists the government remains committed to local celebrations.

“Each commune can organize its carnival, within its means,” the government said. “We will support them while respecting each community’s reality.”

“We have no problem with the National Carnival not taking place, but we hope that the regional carnival can be organized in a way that highlights historic sites like Fort Saint Joseph,” says Miola Charles Pierre, a business owner and radio personality.

Still, some worry that repeated disruptions could erode the tradition.

“If we’re not careful, we risk losing this beautiful tradition,” warned Metellus Mackeson, a taxi driver in Ouanaminthe. 

“It’s a very bad decision for the business in the city, which has already seen major investments for the festivities,” Guerrier said. Several hotel reservations will have to reimburse the money, continues entrepreneur Guerrier.

The post Carnival in Haiti marching on, despite government ‘canceling’ main event appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Carnival in Haiti marching on, despite government ‘canceling’ main event was first posted on February 19, 2025 at 1:42 pm.