In this Artibonite Valley town on Apr. 2, peasants blocked the national highway that runs through it, demanding that the road be repaired. They also renewed their calls for piped water, telephone service, and electricity for the area. They asked local tax collectors to explain what had happened to the 100,000 gourdes ($4000) in tax revenue which was reportedly collected last fall. "It is from the people, the drivers, small merchants, workers, and cart pushers, everybody, that the 100,000 gourdes was collected since last Sep. 27," one demonstrator declared. "How was this money spent? As long as there is no solution to our problems, we are going to demonstrate."

Central Plateau: Union Criticizes Electric Company Administration

The Federation of Unionized Electricity Workers (FESTRED) has criticized how Electricity of Haiti (EDH), the state electric company, is carrying out repairs on the Peligre Dam, the country’s only hydroelectric turbine, located near the town of Mirebalais on Haiti’s Central Plateau. The union told the EDH’s new director, Jules André Joseph, that he should abandon the two month Peligre Dam clean-up now underway because it is the rainy season. He proposed that EDH instead clean some of its thermal (oil) generators.
Jean Harry Clerveaux, FESTRED’s secretary general, also urged overhaul of EDH’s administration. "There must be a plan for straightening out and restructuring the enterprise," he said. "There must be an administrative and financial accounting of what has gone on in the enterprise. They should put a restriction on the departure of the staff so that we can find out what has caused the enterprise to arrive at its pitiful state." Power shortages plague most of Haiti’s cities, including the capital. Most areas of the countryside have no electrical service at all.

Pestèl: People Outraged at Absence of Local Officials

Peasants in the locality of Dichitis, near this southern coastal town, ask if the members of the local Administrative Council of the Communal Section (CASEC) have resigned. The three members -- Ephésien Mesnel, Edmond Jeune or Chavannes Alcheger, -- never even set foot inside their offices, area residents say.
Even members of their party, the Lavalas Family (FL), are asking them to go. "After they resign, we will weigh the matter and name a new commission," a local FL representative said. "The FL itself is going to close the office because the population is demanding that other people be named."

Petit Goâve: Local Official Leads a Rampage

Several animals were killed, several houses trashed, and six people wounded in the locality of Dupuy, near this coastal city, after a confrontation between two "rara" bands: Sa Pi Rèd (The Worst) and Akansyèl (Rainbow). "They burned the houses of Mme. Sauveur, Pétion, and Maurice," a peasant explained to a local radio. "They burned the house of Caméide, and wrecked that of Ti Frère and of Dickson. As for Sonya, they beat her."
Peasants accuse one of the town’s CASEC members, Lavaud Simond, of being the instigator of the rampage. He is also the leader of Sa Pi Rèd. He heads a group of armed men who have terrorized people and extorted money, peasants said.

Pétionville: Plagued by Water Problems

"There is no water in all of Pétionville," said one town resident last week. For several weeks, many Pétionville faucets have been dry, especially in poor neighborhoods. A bucket of water sells for 10 or 12 cents, a prohibitive price for most of the town’s residents. Some people are forced to walk as far as 2 kilometers to get a bucket of water.
The more well-to-do have to pay $50 for a truckload of water. The state water company was slated to receive a $25 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to improve water distribution, said a water company director, Gérald Jean-Baptiste. But the loan was blocked by Washington and until it is released, there will be distribution problems, he said.

Ile à Vache: Four Teachers for 400 Students

On this island, 12 kilometers from the southern city of Cayes, the Sylvio Claude High School is in trouble. The state school has no principal, no discipline director, and no superintendent. Four teachers are schooling 400 students while also trying to run the school. They lack chalk, paper, books, pencils, and other teaching materials. The situation has created great frustration and discouragement, especially among the tiny faculty. "There is no administration, so when a teacher decides not to come teach his class, there is no report against him, no sanctions taken against him," one of the four teachers complained.

Cité Soleil: Thugs Cause a School to Close

Father Tom Hagan directs the Hands Together school in this sprawling shantytown. The school offers practically free education and helps feed people. Now it is closed. On Apr. 5, about 100 people demonstrated in front of the National Palace and Parliament to protest that a handful of armed men had caused the school to close down. "A group of armed men took the keys to Father Tom’s car," a school parent explained. " Then they attacked the school and fired at his car. Because of that, the Father packed up all his stuff to go. We say that if the Father goes, we are finished in Cité Soleil." Several students and other residents of Cité Soleil participated in the protest.

Archaie: 18 people die in sinking

The sailboat "Almighty God," which plied the waters between Port-au-Prince and the island of Gonâve, sunk in the waters off this town on Apr. 15. Eighteen people drowned and three managed to escape, but are in grave condition at the hospital. The Haitian Coast Guard says that the boat hit a reef. It was loaded with charcoal and peanuts.