Frankétienne, a renowned writer, painter, actor and musician known as the “father of Haitian letters” has died. He was 88.

He wrote poems, plays and novels, including “Dézafi,” which means “Challenge” and became the first modern novel written in Haitian Creole ... was to have a lesson in Haitian history ...

The Haitian government announced Wednesday it is canceling the national carnival that was going to be held in the northern border town of Fort Liberte. Officials cited security concerns.