Cap-Haïtien’s indoor market closure for clean-up leaves vendors in economic jeopardy

CAP-HAITIEN — “I am going through one of the worst times of my three-year career as a plantain vendor,” said Marie Garçon as she sat on the sidewalk in front of her small green plantains on Monday. Her plantains were just a few yards from an enormous pile of trash, and about every vehicle that drove by too quickly sprayed dust on her and her products.

Garçon, 62, left the indoor market on June 30 because Cap-Haïtien’s town hall closed it for the first significant clean-up there in four years, part of preparation for the city’s anniversary on Aug. 15. The pile of trash along Letter L, a main downtown road, was primarily generated by outdoor street vendors who had been cleaning their stations. This situation is not unique to Letter L, as many urban areas in Haiti face similar challenges with waste management, especially in areas with high foot traffic and street vendors.

Town hall workers addressed the issue by picking up the trash on Monday night.

“Why couldn’t the town hall clean the market every night?” Garçon said. “It got really dirty there. Cleaning it now is good, but they did not give us somewhere else to sell. We’re in the sun and the dust.  At least inside the market, we made a little something.”

Government projects often create disruptions and pain for residents

Selling on the sidewalk is illegal in Cap-Haïtien, leading town hall security agents to actively remove merchants from these areas. Unfortunately, this enforcement has sometimes resulted in the destruction of vendors’ merchandise. For example, Garçon reported that town hall security agents kicked and stepped on her plantains on July 5.

The temporary closure of the indoor market has exacerbated the difficulties faced by street vendors. This closure is part of the town hall’s broader efforts to upgrade the city, which have often had adverse effects on residents. For instance, a $56 million renovation project in 2022 stalled due to administrative issues, leaving many homes and businesses in poor condition or incomplete.

In May 2024, the town hall demolished homes in Laborie, a neglected area on a hill, due to safety concerns during the rainy season. This action followed a tragic mudslide that resulted in the deaths of at least 11 residents. However, the town hall did not compensate those who lost their homes, forcing some to sell rocks from the hill to survive.

The last significant cleanup of the indoor market occurred in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The market had become infested with roaches and other insects, and a black, musty liquid from a clogged drainage system covered the floor. Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor described the conditions as “unbelievable,” noting that the market resembled a garbage dump.

“It was unbelievable,” Almonor said in a quick WhatsApp phone call on Monday evening. “Where people were working was like a garbage dump. A place people are eating from can’t be in this condition. If the vendors cleaned up, we wouldn’t have to ask them to leave to clean.”

As part of the current cleanup project, the town hall has addressed the drainage issue and plans to rearrange the facility to create more space. The project aims to finish by the end of July, although no specific end date or cost estimate has been provided. Approximately 2,000 vendors are affected by the market’s closure, with some joining outdoor vendors and others abandoning their businesses.

The town hall has faced criticism for the timing and execution of the cleanup project. Residents argue that the project is taking too long and is not being conducted in an orderly manner. Outdoor vendors have accused town hall security agents of throwing away their products, leading to significant financial losses for many vendors who have not yet paid for their merchandise.

Observers like Almonor concede that the situation in Cap-Haïtien highlights the complex challenges of urban management and the impact of enforcement actions on vulnerable populations. They argue that while the town hall’s efforts to upgrade the city and clean the indoor market are necessary, the approach has often resulted in unintended harm to residents and vendors. A more balanced and compassionate strategy is needed to address these issues effectively.

Many of those vendors still need to pay for the products and need a way to earn money for them.

“I have three kids to care for, and their father died,” said Liliane Derisca, a 46-year-old who has been a street vendor for 17 years. “I don’t know what to do now. Thank you, Yvrose [Pierre]. She’s our mayor, so look at what she did. Now, what am I going to do? Steal?” 

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