“A total of $51 million will be necessary to build 550 affordable housings, public offices and to run public services' institutions in the new village of Fonds-Verrettes about 46.5 miles from Port-au-Prince.”

This region was devastated by heavy rainfalls and flood on May 23, 2004, killing many people. There are approximately 45,000 people in Fonds-Verrettes who still live in poor conditions and are desperate for help.

At least 1,200 people died in the flood-ravaged areas particularly in Fonds-Verretes and the Southeast Department.

AP/Ariana Cubillos

According to Engineer Frantz Thierry Pressoir, this elaborated project, which includes the construction of 5 schools, one municipal building, as well as the rehabilitation of telephone services, tap water, electricity 24 hours a day, will meet the expectation of the population and make Haitians proud.”

“The new village of Fonds-Verrettes will be located on a hill of approximately 197 feet higher than the devastated village”,

said Mr. Pressoir, who added that there won't be anymore risks of natural disaster for the population. Some survivors still maintain that the area remains traumatized by the rainfall.

The project aiming at the reconstruction of Fonds-Verrettes will also focus on the reinforcement of the cliffs, the deviation of the roads and the rehabilitation of the environment completely destroyed by deforestation to prevent other disasters during the next rainy seasons.

The experts believe that the government could make more than $2 million dollars a year from tax revenues. They envisioned a large eco-tourism development in the region because of the current location of the new village where a majority of peasants will reside, with the “Foret-des-Pins” (Pines Forest) and Malpasse located about 24 miles East of the capital Port-au-Prince and approximately 13 miles North of Fonds-Verrettes.

Environmental Minister, Yves Andre Wainright, who assisted the presentation of the project, is satisfied by the outcome of the first works done after the flood.