The Macaya Institute, a Haitian private sector think tank founded in 2022 by local entrepreneurs, has implemented its first social initiative by equipping Place Saint-Pierre in the heart of Pétion-Ville with high-performance solar lighting and free internet access. Executive Director Jean-Paul Faubert explained that the project arose from a blunt reality: the square was plunged into total darkness most nights due to power shortages, leaving it completely deserted. To resolve this, the institute installed solar streetlights provided by the French company Fonroche Lighting. These devices feature a lifespan of over ten years and can be managed individually via a mobile application to adjust light intensity based on the time or ongoing activities.
The digital component has quickly gained traction. Roughly one month after its launch, the free Wi-Fi network records about 800 daily connections and has reached 2,600 unique users, with a technical capacity to support over 1,000 simultaneous users. Each session is capped at 60 consecutive minutes, though users can instantly reconnect if the system is not saturated. Le Nouvelliste independently verified that the network is fully operational on-site. The platform plans to introduce a 30-second civic awareness video focusing on cleanliness and anti-corruption before users connect. The internet service is managed 24/7 by Access Haiti, while the physical deployment was carried out by P&P Multiservices.
Faubert specified that this project, which cost just under 10 million gourdes, is not a full renovation of Place Saint-Pierre, as a complete rehabilitation is a separate project led by the Pétion-Ville municipal government. However, both initiatives aligned well, and the town hall provided formal authorization and guidance throughout the process. Although local residents were not consulted beforehand due to the clear and urgent need, a follow-up survey showed that users are delighted with the results. Moving forward, the Macaya Institute intends to use this pilot project as a model to replicate free connectivity and solar lighting in other regions of the country, likely starting with a provincial city.
