=?x-unknown?q?15848=3A__=5BISO-8859-1=5D_=28Arthur=29_IDB_honor?==?x-unknown?q?s_Haitian_hero_Alexan=5BISO-8859-1=5D_dre_P=E9tio?==?x-unknown?q?n_=28fwd=29?=

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

May 22, 2003 - IDB press release
IDB honors Haitian hero Alexandre Pétion

A portrait of Alexandre Pétion, a leader of Haiti’s fight for independence
and an early advocate of unity of the Americas, will be displayed at the
meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, along
with the paintings of other Latin American heroes.

The portrait was unveiled on Wednesday by Haitian Finance Minister Faubert
Gustave, IDB President Enrique V. Iglesias and the chairman of the Haitian
financial group Unibank, Carl Braun, whose institution donated the painting by
Haitian artist Pascal Smarth.

The ceremony marked the beginning of celebrations of the bicentennial of
Haiti’s independence, which will be commemorated on January 1, 2004. Haiti was the
second American nation to become independent from European rule and the
world’s first black republic.

Two centuries ago, Pétion, a mulatto, and former slave Jean Jacques
Dessalines joined forces to fight against Napoleon’s troops. In less than a year they
would win Haiti’s independence. Pétion and Dessalines created the Haitian flag
by eliminating the white band of the French tricouleur and using the blue and
the red to represent the union of mulattoes and blacks.

In his speech, Iglesias said Pétion’s portrait holds great symbolic
significance. As Haiti’s president, Pétion twice gave asylum to Simón Bolívar. The
Haitian leader provided the South American revolutionary with weapons, ammunition,
food and funds to carry out his campaigns for independence. Pétion, Iglesias
added, should be recognized as a founding father of the Panamerican cause.

Gustave pointed out that Pétion’s only request to Bolívar was the abolition
of slavery in the South American nations he would eventually liberate. In
expressing his country’s appreciation, the Haitian minister added: “Starting
today, thanks to this initiative…Pétion’s portrait will be next to Simón Bolívar’s
in the meeting room of the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors”.

The other paintings in the boardroom depict Latin American independence
heroes José de San Martín, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, José Cecilio del Valle, José
Gervasio Artigas and Bernardo O’Higgins.
______________________________________________


This email is forwarded as a service of the Haiti Support Group.

See the Haiti Support Group web site:
www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org

The Haiti Support Group - solidarity with the Haitian people's struggle for
justice, participatory democracy and equitable development, since 1992.
____________________________________________