Artibonite Department - Haiti Observer Blog

Gros-Morne is not just a town in Haiti's Gros-Morne Arrondissement. It is the entire arrondisement's capital and it is part of the country's Artibonite Department. It spans 397 square kilometers and is located 175 kilometers from the north of the national capital of Port-au-Prince. There are some 350 residents in every square kilometer, bringing the total population to 142,000. Several communes comprise the municipality and among these are Hanged, Acul, Richard Boucan, Ravine Gros-Morne, Mill, White River and Savannah Square.

Gros-Morne offers a beautiful view and atmosphere, thanks to its green mountains and geographical zone. People can clearly see the mountains covered in fog, which makes the view more exciting and fun.

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Dessalines, which is located in the Arrondissement of Dessalines in Haiti's Artibonite department, is known as the world's First Black Capital. It spans 259 square kilometers and is 16 miles from the Caribbean Sea and 51 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince. Around 13,000 people live in Dessalines, with some 280 people residing in every one square kilometer.

Dessalines is also called as Marchan Dessalines. It is named after a revolutionary leader named Jean Jacques Dessalines, who was the first person to lead Haiti after gaining its independence. Jean Dessalines loved the town so much as it became the capital of the First Black Free Country, which was established in 1804. He was a key figure in giving freedom to the black race by opposing slavery and colonialism.

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It may be a small town but Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite has a great significance to Haiti. Why? Because this is where the battle for Haiti's independence was fought. Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite is one of the four communes in Artibonite Arrondissement, the other three being the Dessalines, Grande Saline and Desdunes.

Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite is located near the east of Saint Marc. In 1802, Jean Jacques Dessalines led the forces of black people in a revolution against the French and defended the port of Crete-a-Pierrot in this town. The French colonial army under the leadership of General Charles Leclerc tried to take over the fort but Dessalines' forces held on and defended it. When the Haitian revolutionaries ran out of food and ammunitions, they were forced to leave the fort and pass through the French defense en route to Cahos Mountains. The French side then managed to gain control over the fort but with heavy consequences as it lost a lot of its people. The fighting then led to a deciding battle, wherein the Haitian revolutionaries drove away the French forces who decided to retreat.

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One of the towns comprising Haiti's Gross-Morne Arrondissement is Anse Rouge. Some 32,100 people live in Anse Rouge, making it a little bit overcrowded. Though a lot of people live here, the town is still described as a paradise. It is a beautiful place where people can revel in the beauty of the blue and cloudy sky, as well as the sea in the distance. However, the climate changed over the years. The town used to get a high amount of rainfall but now, it rarely rains in the area. As a matter if fact, the ground has become too hard and dry because of the lack of rain. It now looks like a desert, leading to lower agriculture production.

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Though it is a small rural town in Haiti's Artbonite Arrondissement, Estere has a lot of good things going on. Previously known as Pont de l'Estere, the town is situated 96 kilometers from the country's capital of Port-au-Prince.

Estere is described as a relatively flat town where cactus and small lizards are very common. However, it is also known for its breathtaking views. With the help of its tropical climate and warm weather, people can enjoy a panoramic view of the blue sky and white, fluffy clouds. Nearby hills also add a stunning beauty to the town.

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Grande Saline is among the four communes that comprise Haiti's Artibonite Arrondissement. The other three are Dessalines, Petite Riviere de I'Artibonite and Desdunes. With a population of 2,000 people, Grande Saline is situated in the northwestern part of the country, 24 kilometers away from the national capital of Port-au-Prince and 18 kilometers from Saint Marc. It is located near the Caribbean Sea, which connects the water from Artibonite River to the Gulf of Gonave.

Grande Saline has been hit by several health crises before. Two years ago, a Cholera outbreak claimed many lives and due to the lack of facilities, the bodies had to be buried in mass graves. It had to be done in order to prevent the disease from spreading and killing more people. Health crisis was not the only challenge that the town faced. Back in 2007, Grande Saline was also devastated by floods when the Artibonite River overflowed due to a tropical storm named Noel. Dozens of homes were destroyed, affecting people's lives and source of income. Oxfam, fortunately, lent a helping hand to the town by launching an emergency response program. The project helped residents and the entire town to deal with the disaster's aftermath.

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Around 28,000 aborigines live in a municipality called Terre-Nueve in the Artibonite Department of Haiti. This town is part of the country's Gros-Morne Arrondissement and is the third order administrative division. Every square kilometer of the town is home to about 160 people. Doland, Lagoon and Bois Neuf are the three communes that form Terre-Neuve, which is one of the hilly and mountainous regions in the country. It also has dense forests while being close to the Caribbean Sea.

With the rich forests found in the town, Terre-Nueve residents are more into farming and agriculture. The main produce in the area are cotton, vegetables and tobacco. Aside from agriculture, the town is also involved in the mining industry, where workers mine copper, zinc and lead. However, the town makes sure that mining would not destroy the environment. As a matter of fact, "green" initiatives are being taken to protect and conserve the environment.

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Joseph Davilmar Theodore was born in 1847 in Ennery, which is in the district of Gonaives and the Artibonite department. He served in military of Haiti. He was against the leadership of Oreste Zamor. Therefore he organized with cacao farmers to rebel against President Oreste Zamor.

He succeeded in overthrowing president Zamor and he took over as the president on November 7, 1914. He took the oath on November 10, 1914. He convinced the U.S government to offer money to his government in exchange for custom control, railway and banks.

When he became president, he failed to pay the cocoa farmers as he had promised them. The cocoa farmers rebelled against him forcing him to resign on 22 February 1915. He was succeeded by Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam. He went to banish in Curacao but he later returned to Haiti under American protectorate.

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