La Gonave - Haiti Observer Blog

Candidate of Pitit Desalin, Moise jean Charles, who believes that "Haiti is not for sale, either wholesale or retail" was very disappointed to learn about the deal made by former President Michel Martelly with an undisclosed institution to transform La Gonave island into an International Financial Center. According to an Executive order issued by the Martelly government and published on January 7, 2016 the President gave the right and authority to an institution (name unknown) to created inside of a 100 km2 in the island of La Gonave a new city with an International Financial Center. This new city is to be managed privately and the private entity will be free to collect revenues, build infrastructure, roads, or do anything necessary for the functioning of the project.

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According to Arnel Belizaire who was a guest in the popular Radio Show Ranmase, a Decree has been issued by the Martelly government to sell the island of La Gonave. La Gonave is located in the west-northwest of Port-au-Prince in the Gulf of Gonâve and considered to be one of the largest islands in Haiti. According to Arnel Belizaire on Ranmase, the plan is for the island to be transformed into an international financial island with three official languages: English, French and Creole. The only thing pending before the new plan for La Gonave is implemented is its ratification by both chambers.

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On Saturday, 13 September 2014, on the eve of the 10th Edition of the "Gouvènman an lakay ou" Program, in La Gonâve, the Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe in the presence of the President Michel Martelly accompanied by several other important ministers, has expressed his government's commitment to support the people of Gonâve to develop their home island. Such development assistance is a part of the government's program to develop the islands in Haiti such as, La Tortue, Ile-à-Vache and La Gonâve.

Initially, the government will provide a funding of 1,750,000 gourdes to a conglomerate of 20 different merchant associations of La Gonâve to benefit its total 300 members engaged in fishing and agriculture. Further, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will provide 50,000 gourdes each to 48 small and medium enterprises. A forum will be built for the development and regulation of the fishing sector. Some fishing equipments like fishing boats, motors, ice boxes fishing igloo, fishing kits, etc had already been provided to these associations.

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Recently, led by the president of the republic, a government meeting took place in La Gonâve in the town of Pointe-à-Raquette. The aim of the meeting was to discuss ways to provide the entire country, but in particular the many communes, with the necessary tools for development. The group also discussed the supervision of the development within areas and the way in which inter-ministerial duties will be delegated.

The meeting, chaired by the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE), was also attended by Minister for the Promotion of the Peasantry, Mimose Félix, the deputy of La Gonâve, Béguens Théus, various representatives from the Health and Agriculture ministries, members of the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), and the Minister Delegate in charge of Human Rights and the fight against extreme poverty, Rose Anne Auguste. The team used to visit to listen to the 50 locals of the area, using their aired grouses to develop their plans for improvement in the area.

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Haiti's 2010 earthquake forced 7,500 survivors to flee to La Gonave outside Port-au-Prince, during the first 19 days after the earthquake hit. Some estimates record 20,000, which included refugees from other bomb-shelled areas.

Haiti received nine billion dollars in disaster relief and La Gonave needed a significant amount of that figure for shelter and food. But the city received almost no aid, and its population swelled to 100,000, caused by returning migrants. La Gonave is one of 12 food-insufficient areas, and the food crisis has worsened since Hurricane Sandy hit in 2013, closely followed by Hurricane Isaac, both destroying its crops with flooding.

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Gonâve Island lies on the Caribbean Sea, in the Gulf of Gonâve, to the west and northwest of Port-au-Prince. It is in the La Gonâve Arrondissement, part of Ouest Department. Because the island's topography is composed mainly of limestone, it lacks sufficient vegetation, and low levels of annual rainfall bring on water shortages. La Gonâve Arrondissement is comprised of two districts, Anse-à-Galets and Pointe-à-Raquette. It has a large population of 80,000 inhabitants.

Gonâve's biggest challenge is the scarceness of its water supply. In 2005, a crisis arose when the island experienced a severe drought, bringing many aid agencies to its rescue, sealing springs and erecting rainwater tanks. They have also installed an island-wide water-transport system and dug wells to deliver water to the drought-stricken islanders. A consortium of government, non-government and non-profit organizations, churches, and other aid organizations have established the Water Platform. This body coordinates the efforts of all agencies working on Gonâve to further their work. Within two years of the drought crisis, 25 wells had been dug and more were planned.

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