Overview:
Protesters in Vertières, near Cap-Haïtien, blocked Route Nationale #1—a key national highway linking Haiti’s south to the north—for the second time this week, demanding repairs to a deteriorating road and a failing irrigation canal that has repeatedly caused flooding. They vowed to continue protesting until the government begins work to repair potholes on the road and unclog the canal.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Protesters in Vertières say they will continue blocking Haiti’s Route Nationale # 1 until authorities begin repairs to a deteriorating road and fix a clogged irrigation canal that residents say is causing repeated flooding
Residents blocked the highway on April 28 for the second time in two days, and warned they are preparing to return, saying that recent government action, digging out the canal, does address the root cause of the problem
“We can’t be afraid to die,” said a protester who identified himself as MC Bob. “If we are afraid to die, the state will keep making a fool of us… We will be back again tomorrow [April 29].”
Demonstrators burned tires and erected barricades, disrupting traffic along the key highway linking southern cities to downtown Cap-Haïtien. Police fired shots to disperse the crowd, forcing some protesters to flee, but parts of the road remained blocked Wednesday morning, according to local sources.
The protests began earlier this week, when residents first blocked the road to demand repairs. Authorities later cleared the barricades and used an excavator overnight to dig out the canal, temporarily diverting water from the streets.
Residents, however, say the intervention is not a lasting solution.
“They just dig the canal and then 15 days later it will be full again,” said 36-year-old Luckenson Augustin, a tire mechanic who lives near the protest site. “This is nonsense.”
Demonstrators set fire on Route Nationale #1 in Vertières, Cap-Haïtien and erected barricades to disrupt traffic on April 27, 2026. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times
Residents demand long-term solution as flooding persists
The canal, which runs from Des Charriers to Vertières, routinely overflows during heavy rains, flooding streets and worsening already damaged roads
Residents say the water is polluted and unusable by the time it reaches Vertières. They argue that only a full cleaning and structural repair of the canal — not temporary digging — will resolve the problem.
“We can’t be afraid to die. If we are afraid to die, the state will keep making a fool of us… We will be back again tomorrow [April 29].”
MC Bob, a protester
The canal dispute dates back years. In 2024, municipal officials pledged to remove structures built within about 10 feet (3 meters) of the irrigation canal but failed to follow through.
In February 2026, Northern Department Delegate Marc Présumé issued a seven-day ultimatum for residents to clear encroachments. One nearby property owner partially complied, but broader demolition and canal rehabilitation efforts stalled.
Residents say years of promises without action have deepened frustration.
“Destroy what needs to be destroyed and fix the canal properly,” Augustin said. “If they don’t do that, this will keep happening.”
Protest reflects broader grievances with historic site becoming protest ground
The demonstrations also reflect wider frustrations over infrastructure, unemployment and public services in Cap-Haïtien.
Tensions escalated April 25, when residents in the nearby Champin neighborhood rejected food aid from government officials, saying they preferred jobs and infrastructure improvements. Minister of Social Affairs Marc Elie was touring the region and distributing bags of rice, beans, spaghetti and other food products.
Protests spread across several neighborhoods, including Champin, Cité Lescot and Vertières, with demonstrators burning tires and blocking roads.
Some residents see the movement as part of a broader push for accountability in a country where protests have rarely led to lasting change.
Vertières holds deep historical significance as the site of the final major battle of Haiti’s independence in 1803. Built in 1953, a monument honoring key figures of the revolution stands just minutes from the protest site.
A motorcycle rider passes the Vertières monument in Cap-Haïtien on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Photo by Onz Chéry/The Haitian Times.
Today, the area’s symbolic importance contrasts sharply with deteriorating infrastructure.
The road, a major national route with no viable alternative, is riddled with potholes and frequently flooded. Recent rains have worsened conditions, making travel dangerous.
Residents say motorcycles often skid or overturn in the muddy, uneven terrain. Some reported that a pregnant woman was injured in a motorcycle accident earlier this week, fueling anger and prompting the roadblock.
“If the State had a conscience they would have fixed the road,” said Bélo Jean-Pierre, a taxi driver. “We’re in Vertières, where the monument is. People have to put their feet in water to cross the street. This is unacceptable.”
The blockade has disrupted daily life, forcing pedestrians — including schoolchildren — to climb over barricades to reach their destinations.
Despite the mobilization, some residents remain skeptical that the protests will bring change.
“We’ll still be like this on May 18,” Augustin said, referring to Haiti’s Flag Day. “Years can pass, and nothing will be done. Those guys [government officials] are evil.”
Like this:
Loading…
Related
