Haiti - Social : Opening of the First Christmas Market
The Ministries of Social Affairs and of Tourism, in collaboration with the City of Petion Ville and other organizations of the society, organize the first edition of the Christmas Market under the patronage of the President and the Prime Minister's Office, as part of the year end festivities, supported by the Haitian government.
The Market which will be held from December 19 to 23, 2011 on the place St-Pierre of Petion-Ville, will allow more than one hundred young artists, artisans, sculptors, living in anonymity, to present their works and allow visitors to discover or rediscover the richness of our cultural heritage, precious legacy of our ancestors, which reveals the richness of our Haitian identity.
A first preparatory meeting was held in mid-December to the Ministry of Tourism. Ms. Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin has presented the vision and the merits of this event with Mrs. Claire Lydie Parent, Mayor of Petion-Ville, Madame Ravix, representative of ONART (National Handicrafts Office), Mrs. Magdalena C. Douby, Commissioner of the fair. The activities will begin this Monday, December 19 with a ceremony at the site of exposure.
Richel Francois Lafaille, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour at a press conference last Friday declared "...the Ministry of Social Affairs and of Tourism will organize a fair that will be called Christmas market, a place where artisans will exhibit and sell their products [...] the government wants this year, give to the Christmas festivities another dimension. Usually, it is the Social Affairs that dealt with Christmas and New year, this year we have many other ministries that are also involved [...] https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4489-haiti-social-$10-million-for-the-year-end-festivities.html [...] they are involved at one level or to another [...] the place began to be repainted [Saturday] and security has been put in place to ensure that artisans are comfortable and that the public comes to see and buy products of artisans [...] traditionally all ministries give baskets, gifts [...] to the Social Affairs, if we have a basket or a gift to give to a person, it is a work of craftsmanship that we will give..."
