The city of Christophienne experienced, this Thursday, another day of mobilization marked by strong tensions in several neighborhoods, notably at the southern entrance and in certain areas of the eastern entrance of the city.
The city of Christophienne experienced, this Thursday, another day of mobilization marked by strong tensions in several neighborhoods, particularly at the southern entrance and in some areas of the eastern entrance of 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 gradually spread to part of the city center, paralyzing public transportation and considerably slowing economic activities. Several businesses, both formal and informal, remained closed, while commercial banks operated at a reduced pace.
In certain areas, notably in Sainte-Philomène, sporadic incidents were reported, including bottle throwing. By late afternoon, traffic on several streets remained very low due to the accumulation of stagnant water, waste, and mud, fueling the frustration of local residents.Faced with the rise of protests, a ministerial delegation went to the field in the middle of the day. Under pressure from the protesters, the authorities were forced to walk through several neighborhoods to assess the state of the infrastructure.
From Sainte-Philomène to Vertières, officials were able to observe severely damaged roads, blocked canals, as well as corridors overwhelmed by stagnant water mixed with waste and mud.
At the end of this tour, the delegation met with several local stakeholders during discussions held at the office of the departmental delegation of the North. However, no official communication has emerged regarding the conclusions of this meeting.
Speaking at the end of the visit, the Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Communications, Almathe Joseph Pierre-Louis, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.“There is no time to waste,” he insisted, specifying that resources are already being mobilized to act quickly. According to him, operations to clean canals and ravines, particularly in upstream areas, as well as waste collection activities under the “Haiti Zero Waste” program, should be carried out as soon as possible, with results expected in less than a week.
In this tense context, the Deputy Mayor of Cap-Haïtien, Patrick Almonor, wanted to recall the initiatives undertaken by the municipality to sustainably improve urban mobility.
He specifically mentioned a set of strategic axes included in a road network reorganization plan, including the road connecting Carrefour SOS to Haut-du-Cap, the one starting from Carrefour Semi (Lycée Anacaona) to join the Carrefour SOS axis, as well as the corridor connecting the Airport Carrefour to Carrefour SOS. In addition, there are two ramps currently being opened on …on national roads #1 and #3 through the SOS–Madeline axis. Furthermore, the Cap-Haïtien city hall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Communications (MTPTC) and with funding from the World Bank, through the Central Execution Unit (UCE), has undertaken a major project to rehabilitate a four-lane section on national road #3. This construction concerns the segment between the Madeline (SOS) intersection and the Airport / Rue 5 intersection, over a distance of approximately 2,400 meters, with a planned connection from a roundabout. This highly trafficked corridor is a critical point whose current condition complicates daily traffic. The contract, with a duration of ten months, was signed on April 22, 2026, with the company T&C S.A., currently in the technical preparation phase before the actual start of the works. Calling for the understanding of the population, the deputy mayor emphasized the benefitsexpected from these interventions.
“We know that this section is difficult to navigate on a daily basis. But once the work is completed, it will really change things: smoother traffic, more safety, and better conditions for everyone,” he said.
In this climate of tension, the population expects concrete and rapid measures to sustainably improve their living conditions.
