Haiti's Culture Ministry Steps Up Protection of Historic Sites for Rainy Season

Haiti's Ministry of Culture and Communication (MCC) has called on the heads of institutions under its supervision to strengthen protection measures for the country's heritage during the cyclone season, Le Nouvelliste reported. The move follows damage caused by heavy rains at the Sans-Souci Palace. In a circular dated September 3, 2026, Minister Emmanuel Ménard asked officials to secure buildings, archives, works of art, historical objects and public collections, while giving particular attention to historic monuments and parks. According to the report, the ministry also plans weekly monitoring of the condition of the sites and the creation of an ad hoc committee tasked with facilitating emergency interventions. The initiative comes amid broader weather concerns in Haiti, with five departments placed on yellow alert due to the risk of heavy rains, Le Nouvelliste noted. The Sans-Souci Palace, located near Milot in northern Haiti, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage-listed complex associated with the country's early independence-era history. The ministry did not detail the extent of the damage sustained at the site in the report.