President Martelly and Ambassador White Participate in Opening Ceremony for Key Roads Rehabilitated in Petit-Goâve

October 10, 2012

The rehabilitated Avenue La Hatte in Petit Goave (DOS).

President Martelly and Ambassador Pamela A. White inaugurated on October 4 rehabilitated stretches of Avenue La Hatte and Avenue L’Abeille that connect the commercial center of Petit-Goâve to Route Nationale #2, a major highway and transportation route for goods and people, located sixty-eight kilometers southwest of Port au Prince. 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided funding to and managed a contract with Vorbe et Fils Construction S.A, a Haitian firm, to pave 1.25 kilometers of road in this area that was severely damaged by the January 2010 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.  USAID previously installed drainage systems to prevent water from damaging the road surfaces.  Following the USAID investments, the Government of Haiti’s Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communications  paved an adjoining 1.25 kilometers of Avenue La Hatte linking downtown Petit-Goâve to Route Nationale #2.  Together, the two efforts improve access to a police station, a school, hotels, several markets, and a diverse set of businesses which were negatively impacted by the natural disaster.

“This collaboration demonstrates that Haitians are making great strides in rehabilitating key infrastructure so that the citizens of Petit-Goâve can obtain necessary public services and economic activities can thrive,” said Ambassador White. 

She also praised the local community which contributed greatly to the effort.  “I am very pleased to see firsthand how your hard work has helped to promote economic growth here,” she told the crowd.  Hundreds of Petit-Goâve residents and employees of local businesses have already volunteered their time to sweep the streets and keep the drainage systems clean.  USAID donated the necessary materials to community-based organizations, such as shovels and brooms, and provided training on proper maintenance techniques to enable the population to protect the road for future generations.  

USAID estimates that the joint effort will directly benefit approximately 1,500 residents and businesses in Petit-Goâve.  The effort took more than one year to complete.