15 AOUT 2009 LES ANGLAIS
Le programme préparé pour les festivités de la fête n’a pas été exécuté pour des raisons qu’on ignore encore. Cella n’empêchait pas les pèlerins de se réjouir avec les visiteurs venant de partout et les célébrants à la messe dominicale. Les habitants étaient heureux de revoir leurs familles et amis de vieille date en se rappelant des souvenirs du bon vieux temps. La ville n’était pas au rendez-vous comme elle l’était il y a 2 ans. Toujours est-il que les gens étaient si heureux quant à l’apparition du nouveau groupe les « Aiglons » qui apporte de la joie et de l’animation sans précédente dans le cœur et les jambes de la population.
Les Anglais is looking for Volunteers in geomorphic Engineering and financial help to restore the river banks and reforestation of the mountains. For more informations, please send e-mail to
Click on the above link on top of page to explore the river in action during the course of the 2008 hurricane.
Les Anglais, Haiti: A small town in Peril of the aftermath of 4 Consecutive hurricanes Gustav, Fay, Annah and Ike in August '08
Editorial:
Les Anglais is a small town located in the Southwestern pininsula of Haiti with over 30,000 people live in and still suffering of the aftermath of 4 consecutive hurricanes. As a citizen of "Les Anglais" I am extremely concerned of an unprecedented catastrophic disaster that is nearly evolved in the coming months, mostly around summer during next hurricane season. I cannot stand aside without raising my voice and begging the Haitian authorities and other charity organizations to declare "Les Anglais river" a high priority and an emergency action is needed to take in order to prevent this horrible disaster that's coming. I am well aware of the terrible hurricanes that hit Haiti during the 2008 season, but the north side of the country was not the only area that was affected by this natural disaster.
Les Anglais, a small town located about 80Km from Les Cayes. In August 2008, this poor town got hit very bad during the course of 4 consecutives hurricanes: Annah, Gustav, Fay, Ike... people were forced to abandon their homes to refuge to a safer area. Most people lost everything they had and not able to provide for their children. The hurricanes take with them their livetocks, their crops, trees, as well as many acres of cultivated lands etc.
The way the government treats this little remote town of Les Anglais, it as if it’s not part of Haiti or it as if it’s not listed on the map. We are the forgotten far away city. It is unfortunate that the Haitian government is not aware of the important role of Les Anglais plays in food supply. Les Anglais is the main source of natural resources. People who live on the Southwestern coast of the peninsula from Cavaillon to Tiburon depend entirely on les Anglais’s crops including coffee, cocoa, yam, planting and many more just to cite a few, rely on our soil production to survive.
I am disgusted by the attitude of the government including the Ministry of Interior of their careless and ignorance vis a vis Les Anglais. I believe If they did their research, they will realized that Les Anglais should be the first one to rescue in case of emergency in order to save lives of thousand.
Les Anglais has over 30,000 people live in it according to the latest census. We represent a large contributory in tax and goods in the country, and the government refuses to save these people’s lives from being extent by a devastated river. This town cannot sustain another hurricane without digging the river banks and install gabion walls on both sides. Sometime I wonder if there a government in place who vows to protect and save his own people especially when they’re in peril. These are the facts.
If really there is a government that cares for his own people. I wonder why is he so slow prevent the worse. Are we going to stand aside and watch the entire town being washed away to the ocean in the coming months? the population will held you accountable. We make sure every humanitarian organizations aware of the situation this way no one denies being informed of the situation. We cannot believe 9 months after the hurricane that the haitian government did not do anything about this distress town. We are all Haitians, and we have the right to live as nation and as human being. Haiti belong to everyone regardless how far theirs provinces are located from the Capital. All towns should have the same treatment without having to be a lobbyist or be politically affiliated. I may be a little critical, it’s true, but the behavior of our government toward far away cities such as Les Anglais where more than 30,000 people reside, that is not acceptable.
I used to be optimistic, proud and believe about the future of my country, but looking back and compare the pass to the current time, the faith is nearly fading away. I deplore with all my heart the mental condition in which the people of les Anglais are living. Many people that I speak to are living in fear. Fear of one day they may be washed away to the ocean. People are afraid to even sleep at night.
This year during the course of the hurricane, portion of the city was flooded by the river and there was no authority that pay these people a visit or give them hope that they'll be looking to this matter. This behavior is almost as if there is a sort of conspiracy against this town. These poor people has no voice in the goverment, no one who represent them who can their case be heard.
We will be watching what gonna happend during the next hurricane season and hoping these people will be at the mercy of the Lord as it always be. We did our best to contact all authority and to prevent such catastrophic and it seems that this problem is not as important as siting in an office or relax on the beach enjoying tax payer's money. The government is aware of the situation and do nothing about it. All we can say, may God bless these people and save them from that river.
Click on this site below and see all the videos about the river:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-CK22qzu8
Local News from Les Anglais/Nouvelle Locale
All you need to know about your community is right here.
In February 2009 a group of EWB volunteers leads by Carolyn Shapiro travel to Les Anglais in order to restore and treat the drinking water system and conduct physical exams on the locals. This trip has been so sucessful that the locals want them to stay longer. EWB plans to return soon to continue the mission.