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Haiti Travel Fact Sheet

Revision as of 04:02, 17 June 2014 by Sstubbert (Talk | contribs)

Basic Info

Country Name

Republic of Haiti

What the People are Called

Haitians

Ethnic Groups

Due to the racial caste system instituted in colonial Haiti, Haitian mulattoes became the nation's social elite and racially privileged. Numerous leaders throughout Haiti's history have been mulattoes. Comprising 5% of the nation's population, mulattoes have retained their preeminence, evident in the political, economic, social and cultural hierarchy in Haiti. Alexandre Pétion, born to a Haitian mother and a wealthy French father, was the first President of the Republic of Haiti.

U.S. Embassy

U.S. Embassy in Haiti Consular Section (Adoptions Unit) Boulevard du 15 Octobre Tabarre 41 Tabarre, Haiti Tel: 509-2229-8000 (from Haiti); 1-866-829-2842 (from the United States) Email: papadoptions@state.gov

Canadian Embassy

Street address: Delmas between Delmas 75 and 71 Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Currency

The Haitian gourde (HTG) is the national currency. Creole speakers will call U.S. dollars, Dola Ameriken or Dola US (pronounced oos), and gourdes, goud (rhymes fairly closely with the English “mood”). The vast majority of businesses and individuals in Haiti will accept U.S. dollars, though gourdes may be preferred in places such as outdoor markets.

The Haitian dollar equals 5 gourdes, and exists as a concept only. This exchange rate is fixed, with certain informal prices specified in Haitian dollars.

Time Zone

UTC-5.

Phone/Internet Information

  • Calling code +509
  • ISO 3166 code HT
  • Internet TLD .ht

Major Languages Spoken

One of Haiti's two official languages is French, which is the principal written and administratively authorized language. It is spoken by all educated Haitians, is the medium of instruction in most schools, and is used in the business sector. It is also used in ceremonial events such as weddings, graduations and church masses. The second is the recently standardized Haitian Creole, which is spoken by virtually the entire population of Haiti. Haitian Creole is one of the French-based creole languages. Its vocabulary is primarily derived from French, but its grammar and pronunciation display influences from some West African, Taino, Spanish, and Portuguese languages. Haitian Creole is related to the other French creoles, but most closely to Louisiana Creole, Mauritian Creole.

For more information on Haitian French, go here. For more information on Haitian Creole, go here.

Major holidays

January 1 New Year's Day and Independence Day January 2 Ancestry Day January 6 Epiphany May 1 Labor and Agriculture Day May 18 Flag and Universities Day August 15 Assumption of Mary October 17 Dessalines Day November 1 All Saints Day November 2 All Souls' Day November 18 Vertières Day/Armed Forces Day December 5 Discovery Day December 25 Christmas


Source: Public Holidays Haiti Source: Haitian Embassy Source: [