Venezuela and Haiti honor Alexandre Pétion at the National Pantheon in Caracas
MPPRE Press
Published at: 06/04/2026 02:10 PM
The director general for the Caribbean of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, Gustavo Díaz Aular, accompanied the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Republic of Haiti in Venezuela, Jean Mary Vaval, at the wreath-giving ceremony to the Liberator Simon Bolivar, in the National Pantheon, on the occasion of the 256th anniversary of the birth of the Haitian revolutionary leader Alexandre Pétion.
The representatives of both countries, accompanied by members of the diplomatic corps, reaffirmed the ties of friendship and solidarity cooperation between Caracas and Port-au-Prince, which date back to July 10, 1864, with Venezuela being the first South American nation to recognize Haitian independence.
Alexandre Pétion, who was the first president of Haiti and is recognized as one of the most impressive leaders in its history, is considered to be one of the founding fathers of the Haitian homeland and a key figure in the independence of Latin America.
His mettle and heroic deeds served as an impetus for the Liberator Simon Bolivar, who after the fall of the Second Republic went into exile in Jamaica, receiving in 1816 not only refuge, but also weapons, ships, money and men to continue the independence struggle with the sole condition of abolishing slavery.
Thanks to the support of the Haitian leader, Bolívar reorganized his campaign and led the independence of countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
MPPRE