The same problems have persisted in Carrefour Rita for ten years. Blocked drainage canals are causing constant flooding, creating frustration among road users. In Port-au-Prince, some lawless areas are controlled by gangs, while others are shaped by environmental chaos. Carrefour Rita, located in Tabarre, is a clear example. For the past two weeks, traveling through this intersection has been extremely risky. Motorcyclists move cautiously with half-submerged wheels, while trucks struggle through stagnant water covering the road. In some areas, water levels reach several centimeters, slowing traffic significantly.
During these rainy days, Carrefour Rita appears completely abandoned. Rainwater, without proper drainage, turns the area into a swamp. Dirty water replaces the few remaining traces of asphalt in this busy zone, especially used by schoolchildren and leading to key state institutions.
Students trying to reach school are often forced to turn back. Some lose entire school days due to these conditions.
Alternative routes exist but are heavily congested.
Traffic has worsened due to gang-related road closures elsewhere, making Carrefour Rita a critical passage.
Some young people offer to help pedestrians cross for a fee. Police officers attempt to manage traffic but remain overwhelmed.
The flooding is mainly caused by poor infrastructure maintenance and blocked drainage systems filled with waste.
Experts stress that only long-term drainage solutions can resolve the issue.
