Carnival celebrations in Haiti play on, and give residents a respite from recent violence over a political impasse that has left the country without a new president.
Haiti is in political turmoil, but you’d never know it. This week, they’re too busy celebrating Carnival to worry about politics. A Carnival Participant, Mackency Jean,said : “Carnival is our culture, carnival is everything we have.” Carnival had been postponed by a day after violence broke out in the wake of outgoing Michel Martelly’s departure from office. A caretaker government is now in charge, and on the streets of Port au Prince, that’s enough for now”.
Emmanuel Cedreu was quoted saying: “It’s true that the country is facing a great political problem, but it’s an obligation for us to come here and have fun because it’s our culture. Haiti is our country. Above all else, we need to have fun. ” But the fun will have to end some time… and when it does, Haitians will have to face the reality of choosing a new president in an eventual second-round election vote. (nats) It’s a choice they know is coming… but it’s a choice… for later.
Image Source: Reuters, AP, AFP
