For the first time in the South Department of Haiti, a hougan is sworn in front of the judicial authorities. Ildérice Nerat was sworn in on Monday, January 14, as a Vodou priest.
He became the first hougan to be able to celebrate baptisms, weddings, funerals and other similar ceremonies in the Vodou sector in this department. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the presence of the judicial authorities, representatives of KNVA (Konfederasyon Nasyonal Vodou Ayisyen) and members of the Vodou sector.
According to the dean of the court of Les Cayes, Pierre Ezekiel Vaval, it is indeed for the first time that the Courthouse of the jurisdiction of the third city of the country has received a ceremony of this kind where a hougan takes the oath to become a religious minister.
Moreover, the dean of the TPI of Les Cayes calls on the new voodoo priest to respect the legal procedures in these celebrations and to act according to the law. The Departmental Director of the Ministry of Cults, Paul Sonac, too, echoed by asking the new Vodou priest to make the law his compass.
The hougan, now recognized by the Haitian state, promised to fulfill his mission in compliance with established standards.
