Port-de-Paix residents cry for help as trash overtakes the city

PORT-DE-PAIX — The arrival of people escaping the insecurity of Haïti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has exacerbated the long-standing waste management challenges in the northwestern city of Port-de-Paix. Debris fills the streets at every corner, and the absence of structured waste disposal has turned the city into a public health hazard and an environmental crisis.

“When it rains, this city floods in no time. Mud and water with foul odors are everywhere because the canals aren’t cleaned. I see a city at risk of collapsing due to these unsanitary conditions,” said Ygnel Salomon, a university student, who expressed frustration with the lack of cleanliness in the city, noting that the situation could lead to a complete breakdown in city function.

Once known as Valparaiso or the Valley of Delights, the city of Port-de-Paix, founded in 1644 by a Spanish settler with the same name, now faces alarming unsanitary conditions that obscure its historical charm. Located 142 miles north of Port-au-Prince, the city, designed for 10,000 residents, is now home to over 300,000, overwhelming its outdated infrastructure and its ability to manage waste. This situation is largely due to the city’s rapid population growth, fueled in recent months by a rural exodus and the massive influx of people escaping the violence and insecurity in Port-au-Prince, putting immense pressure on the city’s resources and environment.

Residents deal daily with the fallout of inadequate waste management. Due to the absence of a dumping site or a designated place to store garbage, most residents, untrained and without a cultural habit of waste management, dispose of it anywhere. With no re

al options, despite fearing for their health, they continue to dump waste indiscriminately, unconstrained by local authorities.

“Very close to my house in the airfield area, residents come with all kinds of waste,” said Jochouas Saint-Jean. “It bothers my family and others living in the area because of the unpleasant odors it gives off. I think it could affect our health.”

Haiti and its regions have long struggled to implement effective waste management plans. In the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other cities, it is common to see streets overflowing with trash, forcing pedestrians and drivers to navigate around heaps of waste on sidewalks and in marketplaces. Despite some localized efforts to manage waste in Port-au-Prince and other areas, these initiatives have not yet scaled up to provide a viable solution to the ongoing waste crisis.

A city in decline, the sights and smells of neglect

A part of the city of Port-de-Paix is overwhelmed by visible signs of neglect. The situation has become intolerable for many, who report seeing garbage piles up on street corners, in public spaces, alleys, canals, near health clinics, and even in the open market, where flies travel between the rubbish and stalls displaying produce. This creates a pervasive odor, especially after rainstorms that exacerbate flooding. Children walk barefoot on waste, and farm animals intended for consumption, like pigs and goats, feed on waste near the open market. Some piles of rubbish grow so tall they block roads and entrances to houses. The rivers, too, have become dumping grounds, with rubbish being swept away by the water during rains. Residents complain that the accumulation of waste creates a significant public nuisance.

The unsanitary conditions in Port-de-Paix pose broader environmental and health risks. Contaminated water supplies and increased disease vectors are among the pressing concerns. The health implications extend beyond the city, potentially affecting the entire region.

Authorities in the city, who previously announced in June their intent to reorganize and regulate local marketplaces to meet health and safety standards, are now under scrutiny for their ongoing struggle to address the city’s mounting waste crisis.

The city has no waste management capacity

Port-de-Paix’s waste management issues are deeply rooted. As its population grew from a mere 10,000, the city now faces challenges with outdated infrastructure and poor planning, former mayor Ilric Augustave points out.

In 2012, the city of Port-de-Paix produced around 40 tons of waste daily, yet the local authorities could only manage to collect about 5 tons per day. This inefficiency has persisted, worsened by the city’s growing population and lack of resources, according to Augustave.

“Twelve years ago, we knew that the city produced 40 tons of waste every day. The town hall could collect 15 tons only daily. Now, the city can produce more than 60 tons of waste per day,” Augustave said. 

This situation will continue to deteriorate if authorities do not adapt and implement a robust waste management plan to address daily waste production. The ongoing reliance on inadequate equipment and lack of coordination between the town hall, the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Communications (MTPTC), and the Ministry of Environment exacerbates the problem.

“Twelve years ago, we knew that the city produced 40 tons of waste every day. The town hall could collect 15 tons only daily. Now, the city can produce more than 60 tons of waste per day.”

Ilrick Augustave, former Mayor of the city of Port-de-Paix

The government response has been inadequate

Despite the growing crisis, local authorities’ efforts to address the waste problem have been insufficient. No specific measures are being taken to address the waste management crisis. The Director of the Port-de-Paix city hall, Guyno Norvilus, acknowledged the dire situation and that the city does not have an immediate solution.

The city hall’s resources are limited to a single working truck, which is insufficient to keep the city clean. Requests for additional equipment have gone unanswered, and there’s little sign of effective national government intervention on the horizon.

“I know that the city is currently in a bad state, as it is facing unsanitary conditions. This is happening because of the lack of equipment that the town hall has,” Norvilus said. “We have only one truck working for garbage collection at night sometimes, but it is not enough.” He acknowledges that the city hall also relies on community efforts, noting that some citizens have to borrow equipment to assist with cleaning. 

“For the cleaning of this city, some citizens have borrowed equipment from us, and we have made requests to the departmental directorate of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Communications (MTPTC) to help us find heavy machinery to carry out work related to the cleanliness of the city,” he continued.

Port-de-Paix City Hall announced plans to launch a citywide awareness campaign aimed at educating residents on proper waste management practices.

“In each district, we’ll establish awareness cells to guide residents on effective waste disposal methods,” said Norvilus, the Director of the Port-de-Paix city hall. “We believe this initiative could offer solutions to the current sanitation crisis. We’re also working on several other projects to address the situation, but I cannot confirm when they will be implemented.”

Citizen discontent and calls for action

Residents of Port-de-Paix are increasingly vocal about the need for collective action to address the city’s severe sanitation issues. Although the future of a city-organized plan for waste management in the city seems uncertain, they said that improved waste management plans and training, infrastructure investment, and community-led initiatives could offer hope. They argue that waste management should not solely rest on the shoulders of local authorities but should be a shared responsibility among all members of society. 

“I see a city that risks being stopped functioning, while, I could say, the leaders are almost absent,” said Salomon.

Salomon’s sentiments reflect a broader call for everyone in the community to take ownership of the city’s cleanliness. Many others believe that while the state must play a significant role in ensuring a clean environment, the contribution of every citizen is crucial. This includes maintaining cleanliness in their homes and public spaces.

However, opinions differ on the extent of government involvement. Marc-Endy Lubin, another resident, insists that waste management should primarily be the responsibility of state authorities. 

“Waste management in the city should be the responsibility of the local authorities. Officials must act quickly to address this major problem of unsanitary conditions,” Lubin said. “Without significant support from both local and national governments, the city’s future sanitary and environmental conditions remain uncertain.”

“To save the city of Port-de-Paix from this serious disease called insalubrity, I would like to see academics, professionals, schoolchildren, doctors, teachers, and all other layers of society take this issue with much more rigor. They should start organizing conferences addressing the problem of pestilence in Port-de-Paix,” Salomon added.

The post Port-de-Paix residents cry for help as trash overtakes the city appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Port-de-Paix residents cry for help as trash overtakes the city was first posted on August 29, 2024 at 12:46 pm.