UN General Assembly
2004

special commemoration. We also celebrate the 200th anniversary of the independence of Haiti. The Haitian revolution was an achievement of immense historical importance that significantly influenced the shaping of the modern world. It established the first free nation in the Western Hemisphere, and it struck the first decisive blow that eventually brought about the overthrow of the system of slavery in the Americas. The revolution was a story of heroism and triumph, creating a legacy that has sustained the Haitian people during a long and often lonely struggle for survival over the years, in the harsh realties of a hostile world of racism and discrimination. Sadly, the bicentennial celebration has been overshadowed by circumstances of instability and 27 political crisis that continue even now. The events of February still cast a shadow and leave lingering concerns about how the democratically elected President demitted office. The sequence of events and the timing of the Security Council in reacting to the crisis were unfortunate. At the same time, Jamaica recognizes that Haiti requires the support and