On the first day of this month, well-heeled members of South Florida’s Haitian community gathered under a colorfully decorated tent in the sweltering heat in North Miami-Dade County, enjoying rum punch and conch while dancing to Konpa and Haitian roots music.
In the audience was a who’s-who of South Florida’s diverse community that mingled with local politicians, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioner Keon Hardemon and County Commissioner Marleine Bastien, whose office sponsored the opening reception celebrating her native Haiti’s culture and cuisine.
Three weeks later, Levine Cava and Bastien were back on the celebration trail, joining North Miami leaders at the 28th Annual Haitian Compas Festival, where the mayor delighted the crowd by declaring, “This is the best party in town.” Two days later, city officials hosted another celebration, this one marking May 18, Haitian Flag Day…