200 Years Since Charles X’s Ordinance: Speech by CPT President Fritz Alphonse Jean

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the ordinance of April 17, 1825, through which Haiti was coerced under military threat to pay a colossal indemnity to France in exchange for recognition of its independence, the president of the Transitional Presidential Council, economist Fritz Alphonse Jean, reflects on the report of Baron de Mackau. He denounces the economic and symbolic violence inflicted on Haiti and underscores the imperative to rebuild the nation around an acknowledged historical truth, a responsible dialogue with France, and a new collective imagination rooted in the legacy of 1804. Below is his speech delivered during the ceremony commemorating the bicentennial of King Charles X's ordinance.

Jean Junior Celestin
Par Jean Junior Celestin
17 Apr 2025 | Lecture : 6 min.

(My remarks are drawn primarily from my introduction to the book on the report of Baron de Mackau.)

In 1825, Baron de Mackau was sent to Haiti by Charles X to set the amount and terms of the indemnity aimed at compensating former slave owners for the loss of their “property” following the 1791 uprising and the proclamation of Independence in 1804. This report allows us to better understand the context that led the French monarchy to impose, in 1825, a heavy tribute of 150 million gold francs on Haiti.

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