Port-au-Prince – The wife of the assassinated Haitian President, Jovenel Moise, says the “moral support” of the population has provided her with the support needed to “go through this great ordeal” as the nation gets ready for his official funeral on Friday.
Moise was shot and killed on July 7 during a home invasion by armed men. His wife Martine was also injured and was flown to the United States for medical treatment.
“The First Lady of the Republic wishes to express her deep gratitude to the Haitian people for their messages of compassion and solidarity towards their family, following the assassination of the President of the Republic HE Mr. Jovenel Moïse, in his private residence,” she said in a statement, adding that she “very touched by all the expressions of sympathy” shown towards her.
“Your moral support gives the presidential family the courage to go through this great ordeal and helps them transcend these moments of indescribable pain,” she said.
Moise adding that she was taking the “opportunity to inform the public that the presidential family wishes to pay alone the expenses related to the funeral of the President of the Republic”.
“To do so, it does not intend to benefit from the financial support of the Public Treasury. However, this decision does not detract from the official and national character of these funerals, to which President Jovenel Moïse is entitled with the respect, solemnity and dignity attached to his rank of head of state,” she added.
The First Lady said that she also wanted to thank the national and international authorities who have paid a “vibrant tribute” to her husband, and that she urges them to “remain in prayer . . . on the day of the funeral [so as] to accompany President Moïse to his final resting place.
“In this dark period of our history, the First Lady renews her wishes of courage to the entire people and joins your prayers for peace and justice to reign in Haiti,” the statement said.
The authorities have since said that Thursday and Friday have been declared public holidays as part of the preparation for the funeral. (CMC)
