Belladere - Haiti Observer Blog

Belladère, part of Lascahobas Arrondissement, is a cityship located within Centre Department on the island of Haiti. A population of 78,770 residents, comprised mainly of young boys, form the largest segment of the population. The town contains three sub-divisions, Mathe-Renthe, Riaribes, and Roy-Sec.

Former Haiti President Dumarsais Estime established Belladère in 1948, its name meaning to guard. Considered the crème de la crème of the Central Plateau, its bewitching beauty and proximity to the Dominican-Republic make it an advantageous place for its export market. Elias Piñas, also known as Comendador, is the border-crossing city of the Dominican-Republic, over which Haitian day-laborers travel to seek jobs. Transportation means used to cross over include jitney buses, donkey trains, and agriculture export trucks.

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If not for former Haiti President Durmasais Estime, the city of Belladere would not probably exist now. Estime was instrumental in forming the city in 1948, when it became an established city in the Lascahobas Arrondisement. Belladere is composed of three communes namely Riaribes, Mathe-Renthe and Riaribes.

What some people do not know is that the city of Belladere has Spanish roots. As a matter of fact, its name is coined from a Spanish word meaning "to guard" or "to post." The city also bridges Haiti and the Dominican Republic as it lies near the border of the Dominican city of Elias Pina. People pass this border to get to the neighboring city, where they look for jobs.

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