Gonaives

Here is a picture of Les Allumettes Haitiennes LAHSA Gonaives

Gonaives, a home of sixty thousand people, is famous for two products: malaria and matchsticks. 'Les Allumettes Haitiennes S.A', was a single match factory in Gonaives; it was a place where about 30 people were employed to make matchsticks from the planks of New Orleans aspen and Colombian poplar. The factory started with the dumped stock of Swedish and Czechoslovakian matches that arrived Gonaives by ship from Miami. 'Pierrot,' the last owner of 'Les Allumettes Haitiennes S.A' used to spend hours in the factory building full of phosphorus smells. He inherited the business from Pierre Léon St Rémy, his father, a great trader of Gonaives. The local residents still prefer to call this 1.4 acre match factory property by its old name "Les Allumettes Haitiennes SA". However, because of government corruption and civil unrest the business was forced to move to India 30 years ago. In India, it still produces 90% of the matches sold in Haiti today.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of the cement plant in Gonaives, Siman Lakay

In an article published (August 2012 issue) in the Global Cement Magazine, it was said that Haiti is blessed with natural limestone, essential to produce good quality cement. However, so far Haiti was deprived of its natural advantage because there was no proper infrastructure or any investor to fund and realize such advantage. There is good news. With 'Siman Lakay', a $300 million project, Haiti can produce a good part of its requirements (4.5 million tons per year) and generate enough employment (about 2,200) of diversified skills. 'Siman Lakay' is a new cement plant, has a production capacity of 2 million tons per annum, going to be built in the "La Pierre" locality of Gonaives. The project has come into existence after more than one year's hard work and technical studies by Mr. Bestgen Jérôme, the Honorary Consul of Haiti in Belgium, and it could never have been possible without the support of foreign and Haitian investors.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Prime Minister Evans Paul paying a visit to Gran Lakou Souvnans in Gonaives on April 5, 2015.

Lakou Souvenance is one of the three grand Lakou's of Gonaives which are known for keeping specific African Voodoo traditions. In a quiet and tranquil location, the other two lakous of Gonaives are Lakou Soukri and Lakou Badjo-- all were founded prior to Haiti's independence in 1804. While walking around the courtyard of Souvenance under its giant trees reaching for the sky, you will return to your childhood days and have a feeling of walking in a wonderland. It is a mystical Haitian site where voodooists meet. It is a place where a cycle of ceremonies unfolds around some sacred trees. The trees, the domain of various Lwas, are respected, decorated and honored. Here, the annual festivities usually take place around the Lent season before Easter. Lakou Souvenance, Soukri and Badjo are referenced as sites of pilgrimage for several Haitian presidents in the late nineteenth-century. Prime Minister Evans Paul paid a visit to Gran Lakou Souvnans in Gonaives on April 5, 2015.

Permalink | Comments

'Hospital La Providence' is the only hospital in Gonaïves, the third city with 300,000 inhabitants in Haiti by population. The hospital was devastated by Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. Since then, it is functioning in a deteriorating condition with lack of funds and unpredictable power. We may remember that a development plan for the hospital had been undertaken under the funding from the Canadian International Development Agency to the tune of $17 million through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The construction work for the building at Morne Blanc has been awarded to Abantia, a Spanish group, in consortium with Buildings Cots and Claret. The new building will have an area of 10,380 square meters and a capacity of 200 beds.

Further, Hospital La Providence in Gonaïves will have one emergency care center, pharmacy, laboratory, four hospitalization blocks, one surgical block, maternity and intensive care unit specially dedicated for newborns. Recently, on 23 May, 2014, the Embassy of Mexico has sanctioned $2.5 million for Haiti with the Ministry of Public Health for installation of 4,000 square meters of solar panels to provide 200 KW power to four priority areas of the Hospital La Providence.

Contact: Rte Nationale # 1 Gatreau (old Care building); Tel: 3527-7622 / 3619 7585 pestgilles@yahoo.fr

Departement Artibonite, Artibonite, Deschapelles, Gonaives, Pignon, Dessalines:
Hospital Albert Schweitzer Haiti, Deschapelles (Posted already)
HospitalSaint Nicolas, Saint Marc
Hospital Bienfaisance de Pignon
Hospital Claire-Heureuse, Dessalines

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of the Former Government Commissioners Kerlson Charles Kerlson Charles and Enoch Géné Génélus

As per news report dated April 20, 2015, two Government Commissioners, one from Port-au-Prince and the other from Gonaïves have been terminated on charges of unfair practices. Government Prosecutors Kerson Darius Charles of Port-au-Prince ordered a trial by himself in the case of Woodly Etheart, alias Samson Lafamilia that caused the release of two well known criminals from Gang Galil, Woodly Etheart, alias Samson Lafamilia, and Renel Nelfort. This happened because at the end of the trial, the prosecutors asked that the charges are to be dropped.
In subsequent period, the Commissioner ignored a series of complaints lodged by the victims. Government Commissioner Enoch Géné Génélus was sacked because he released a prisoner (Madsen Clervoyant, a Haitian-American businessman who was imprisoned by an unjustified means with a motive of extortion) temporarily to visit bank and draw $50,000 to pay for an out of the court settlement for his release. Clervoyant is still detained in the prison, never released.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of the plan for Hospital La Providence in Gonaives. the project was to build a hospital capable of serving the entire population of Artibonite region in Haiti.

Hospital La Providence in Gonaïves

Part hospital part reference center, the Hospital La Providence was welcomed into operation in an inauguration ceremony attended by President of the Republic Michel Martelly, and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. The construction was funded by a $30 million injection from Canadian investors, and has the capacity for 200 beds. The modernized building was also ushered into the century by a donation of $1.5 million from Mexico for the addition of solar panels that will help run the hospital's emergency department.

Permalink | Comments