The city of Cap-Haïtien experienced another day of mobilization this Thursday, marked by high tensions in several neighborhoods, particularly at the southern entrance and in certain areas of the eastern entrance to the city. From the early hours of the morning, groups of protesters erected barricades on several strategic routes, burning tires and blocking traffic. The movement progressively spread to part of the city center, paralyzing public transport and significantly slowing down economic activities. Several businesses, both formal and informal, remained closed, while commercial banks operated at a reduced pace.
In some areas, notably Sainte-Philomène, sporadic incidents were reported, including bottle throwing. By late afternoon, traffic on several thoroughfares remained very low due to the accumulation of stagnant water, waste, and mud, fueling residents’ anger over the persistent degradation of living conditions. Faced with rising protests, a ministerial delegation visited the field at midday. Under pressure from the protesters, the authorities were forced to walk through several neighborhoods on foot to observe the state of the infrastructure.
From Sainte-Philomène to Vertières, officials observed severely degraded roads, blocked canals, and corridors flooded with stagnant water mixed with waste. Following this tour, the delegation met with local stakeholders at the North departmental delegation office. However, no official communication filtered out regarding the conclusions of this meeting. Intervening after the visit, the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Almathe Joseph Pierre-Louis, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “There is no time to lose,” he insisted, specifying that resources are already mobilized to intervene quickly through canal clearing and waste collection under the “Haiti Zero Waste” program, with results expected in less than a week.
In this tense context, the Deputy Mayor of Cap-Haïtien, Patrick Almonor, pointed out ongoing municipal initiatives to improve urban mobility. He mentioned strategic axes in a road network reorganization plan and a major project to rehabilitate a four-lane section on National Road #3, funded by the World Bank. The contract, signed on April 22, 2026, with the company T&C S.A., is for ten months and is currently in the technical preparation phase. Calling for the public’s understanding, the Deputy Mayor insisted on the expected benefits: “Once the work is finished, things will truly change: smoother traffic, more security, and better conditions for everyone.”
