November 18, 1803 - November 18, 2009; 206 years later

Yes, believe it or not it has been 206 years since the Battle of Vertières took place. However, it is also clear that Haiti has not accomplished anything of that magnitude ever since.

"The Battle of Vertières was the last large battle of the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian War of Independence was fought between Haitian rebels and French expeditionary forces... Haitians, led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines and François Capois, attacked a strong French-held fort of Vertières, near Cap Français (in the north of Haiti). They won a decisive victory over the French colonial army under General Comte de Rochambeau and forced him to capitulate the same night." Kyle Evans.

Ask any Haitian (living in Haiti or abroad) who cares about the country about the significance of this historical event to them, you will get a variety of responses. One aspect is clear, our ancestors did not fight to have the kind of Haiti that exists today. I do not have to make a list of things that make Haiti what it is 206 years later.

I am sure our ancestors were to come back to life, they would not be happy to know that Haiti still lacks proper living and working conditions for all its inhabitants. They would be upset to know that the country has been handicapped by its "so called leaders" who never put the interests of nation first. They would be upset to know that we are one of the least developed nations of the world, with so much corruption. This is not the Haiti for which they fought.

Frankly, I have very little reasons to celebrate November 18^th. After 206 years we have not made our ancestors proud of us. It is now time for us Haitians to start doing something (small or big) for Haiti, regardless where we reside today. Haiti can be better if we think and act differently.

Garry Moyiz, a concerned Haitian

Creole and French version of this text will be available soon.