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Jean Jacques Dessalines, Alexandre Pétion in Quito, Ecuador

Jean Jacques Dessalines, Alexandre Pétion in Quito, Ecuador

A new "Haiti Plaza" proudly located in the square of the capital capitol city in Quito to honor two of Haitian leaders and the flame of 1804. In May 2015, Ecuador unveiled the statues of Haitian forefathers, Jean Jacques Dessalines who was the first president of Haiti after its independence and Alexandre Pétion considered as the Father of Pan-Americanism, and the statue of a flame with the inscription of "Haiti 1804".

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, on a new plaza, located on the square of the capital city Quito, Ecuador unveiled two statues of Haitian forefathers, Jean Jacques Dessalines, the first President of Haiti after its independence and Alexandre Pétion, the second President of Haiti and Father of the Pan-Americanism. There was another statue of a flame with the inscription of "Haiti 1804". As their affiliation with ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America), Haiti and Ecuador both enjoy pretty good relation. Ecuador is a core member of ALBA, and Haiti is an observer state. Their bilateral relation centers on the immigration policy, as Haitian immigration to Ecuador has increased dramatically. Ecuador is a good contributor of several development and stabilization projects in Haiti. Since Martelly's last visit to Ecuador in July 2012, the two nations have deepened bilateral relations and cooperation in areas such as health, migration, education, air transport, technology and infrastructure.

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Jean-Jacques Dessalines as Emperor Jacques I of Haiti

Jean-Jacques Dessalines as Emperor Jacques I of Haiti

Here is a picture of Jean-Jacques Dessalines after he became Emperor Jacques I of Haiti.

Ruling as governor-general, prior to becoming emperor, Dessalines, who despised the white and mulatto elite population, killed thousands of them in the 1804 Haiti Massacre. The genocide accomplished, he defined Haiti as a 100% black nation, and banned whites from acquiring land or property in Haiti. Dessalines instituted a form of slavery, ordering blacks to work as soldiers to defend against foreign invaders, or labor on plantations to ensure Haiti's economic survival.

Although Dessalines hated the mulatto elite, he appointed some of them as officials and managers in his administration because they were highly-educated. Dessalines ruled for two years before disgruntled members of his administration, Alexandre Petion and Henri Christophe among them, planned a coup d'etat. They assassinated Dessalines on October 17, 1806.

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The Flag of Haiti changed by Jean- Jacques Dessalines, Alexandre Petion and Francois Duvalier

The Flag of Haiti changed by Jean- Jacques Dessalines, Alexandre Petion and Francois Duvalier

The Flag of was taken directly from the French Flag. On May 18, 1803, after Haiti independence from France, Jean- Jacques Dessalines, chief of the black rebels removed the white band from the French flag and created the first Haitian flag. This is to symbolize the union between the African and Mulatos who fought side by side to make Haiti an independent nation. Few Months after the biggest fight that took place in Vertieres, close to the city of Cap-Haitian, Jean- Jacques Dessalines decided to change the flag On January 1, 1804 and the bands were then horizontal.
The Haitian Flag was changed after Dessalines proclaimed himself Emperor; at that time, he introduced a new flag of two vertical bands On May 20, 1805; one black, for Death, and one red, for Freedom.

Alexandre Petion changed all that by reverting the Haitian flag to the blue and red flag of 1804 and added the inscription "L'union fait la force" which means "strength in unity".

This flag remained until François Duvalier, Papa Doc, came into power in 1957. At that time, he introduced a new flag on May 25, 1964, black and red. After the removal of Jean-Claude Duvalier from office in February 1986, the Haitian flag was reverted to the blue and red flag.

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