$6.5M international port opens as ‘beacon of hope’ for southern Haiti’s economic renewal

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Local entrepreneur Ferguson Calix once operated five bustling soft drink warehouses in Haïti’s southern city of Les Cayes. But over the last few years, insecurity has slashed his operations to just one, as gangs seized cargo and made the country’s southern roads impassable. Now, with the inauguration of the Saint-Louis du Sud International Port, Calix and others in the Greater South are daring to hope again. 

“The port will be very beneficial to Haitian society, not just the business sector,” Calix said. “All that’s left is to see if it truly delivers.”

The Jan. 17 opening of the $6.5 million Saint-Louis du Sud International Port marks a critical step for Haiti’s economic decentralization. Positioned as a lifeline for the isolated Grand South, the port promises to facilitate the import and export of goods, create jobs, and reduce dependency on the gang-controlled National Route 2. Yet, questions linger about whether the ambitious project can meet the region’s dire needs amid the country’s ongoing insecurity and economic turmoil.

A dream decades in the making

The port’s inauguration held in Baie-du-Mesle, the second communal section of Saint Louis du Sud marks the culmination of a vision more than three decades in the making. Born out of the economic grip imposed by the 1991 U.S. embargo on Haiti, the project gained momentum in 1998, when agronomist Pierre Léger and port administrator Ann Hauge engaged the Danish firm Ramboll to conduct a feasibility study. Their findings identified Baie-du-Mesle as the ideal location, thanks to its natural sandbanks, calm waters, and protection from southeastern winds, reported the Secretary-General of the Saint-Louis du Sud Research Society (SORESA), Bermann Sana, in a 2011 publication revisiting the study on the advantages of the “Baie.”

Despite its potential, construction did not begin until 2015, delayed by political instability and funding challenges. According to the study, the port boasts two berths, measuring 140 and 160 meters in length, and a depth of at least 10 meters, designed to accommodate modern cargo vessels. Future plans include a container terminal and a 234,000-barrel oil facility, estimated to cost between $40 and $60 million, Hauge said on local media.

“This is a dream come true for the people of the South,” said Hauge, reflecting on the years of effort poured into the project. “It’s a beacon of hope for economic renewal.”

A lifeline for the Greater South

The port’s strategic location offers a potential economic boost for the Greater South, a region isolated by gang violence that has turned National Route 2 into a no-man’s land. Since June 2021, when gangs took control of the route, truck hijackings, kidnappings, and toll extortions have paralyzed commerce and travel. For many, alternative routes by sea or mountain roads have become equally perilous.

“Since the announcement of the port’s inauguration, several people in my circle have received bulk orders for processed products like cassava and palm kernel oil. This will have a positive impact on productivity in the South.”

Diogène Claude Célestin, entrepreneur in Les Cayes

“The situation is still the same; nothing has changed regarding the security situation on the Mariani road,” said Petrus Lerice, a trade unionist with the APCH. “People are forced to use the sea and the hills to get to Port-au-Prince and the deep south.”

A situation Calix is all too familiar with as he recounted how the “Krache Dife” gang hijacked a container of Brana soft drinks worth 2 million gourdes (about US$13,793 USD) in March 2023. In the same month, another container carrying Prestige beer, Guinness, and Malta drinks—valued at 3 million gourdes (around $20,689 USD)—was seized by gangs operating in the same area.

“I no longer hold the same financial value since those losses,” Calix said.

The Saint-Louis du Sud port offers an alternative for Calix. On inauguration day, On January 17, the port welcomed its third ship, which carried 2,000 tons of rice. This followed the arrival of the “Cygnus Madeira,” which brought approximately 82,000 bags of cement in November 2023. In its first month of operation, the shipment received signals of its potential as a reliable hub for goods. Other local entrepreneurs, like Diogène Claude Célestin, see the port as a game-changer for regional commerce.

“Since the announcement of the port’s inauguration, several people in my circle have received bulk orders for processed products like cassava and palm kernel oil,” said Célestin, also a departmental coordinator for the Center for Leadership and Excellence, (CLE). “This will have a positive impact on productivity in the South.”

“The opening of the port already inspires a sense of encouragement among those involved in commerce throughout the Greater South,” said Célestin. 

An economic stimulus with more potential 

The $6.5 million investment is seen as just the beginning of the completion of the port’s construction, but the maintenance and logistics of port operations remain. The port’s current infrastructure is designed to facilitate exports of agro-industrial goods to many destinations. Haitian authorities hope it will also attract private investment and create jobs, improving living conditions for local communities.

During the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 17, Lesly Voltaire, President of Haiti’s Presidential Transition Council, described the port as a landmark achievement in the country’s decentralization efforts. 

“The Southern port represents the beginning of several other projects that will be carried out in the ongoing struggle for the decentralization of the country,” he said, emphasizing that the port marks a step toward greater economic independence for the Grand South.

For Voltaire, the achievement of the port, supported by 1,500 shareholders from the Haitian diaspora and residents of the South, is a major victory in the fight for the development of the Grand South. Voltaire also outlined a broader plan to sustain the port’s impact.

 “We will have a large financial package over two to three years to make the south a decentralized region compared to Port-au-Prince, and capable of exporting all kinds of agro-industrial goods to Latin America, the United States, and Europe,” he added.

However, significant challenges remain. The port’s success depends on completing surrounding infrastructure projects, including a seven-kilometer access road to Les Figuiers. At the same time, the persistent issue of insecurity casts a long shadow. Without improved security on the national scale, the port’s potential to drive economic growth may remain unrealized. Local leaders also stress the need for transparent management to ensure the port’s benefits are widely felt. 

“Farmers, especially those in maize and cassava production, can start planting again to stabilize the prices of these products on the national market,” said Célestin. “But we need proper management to ensure the port operates efficiently and without corruption.”

The community sees a glimmer of hope 

For residents of the Greater South, the port’s opening is a rare bright spot in a landscape dominated by insecurity and economic despair. As Haiti grapples with its broader challenges, the Saint-Louis du Sud Port stands as a symbol of what could be possible with sustained investment and leadership.

“This is one of the best things we could do, as ports are the best tools for decentralization,” said Célestin. “This port shows that we are catching up.”

The Lorquet Foundation for a New Haiti (FOLONHA) welcomes the port’s opening and plans to utilize its services through the “Oasis Village International” project. This initiative, driven by partnerships between Haitian and international companies, focuses on industries like car assembly, precious metal refining, and strategic services.

“It is vital for local residents to manage this infrastructure effectively to maximize its potential,” says the foundation. “The port, aimed at boosting trade, also plays a key role in attracting new export opportunities.”

Yet, for businessmen like Calix, the port represents not just hope but also a cautious wait-and-see moment.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Calix said. “Now we need to see if it can deliver on its promises.”

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$6.5M international port opens as ‘beacon of hope’ for southern Haiti’s economic renewal was first posted on January 29, 2025 at 10:55 am.