The January 12, 2010 earthquake points to the deficiency of Haiti functioning as a one City State. There needs to be alternate Cities to service the population should the Capital become paralyzed again. Aux Cayes, Haiti’s third largest City located far in the south peninsula is strategically positioned to respond to the challenge. It is in this context that we reviewed the infrastructure systems of this beautiful and historic City and make the following recommendations: (Note: See disclaimer notice below)
1) The installation of drainage retention basins and control structures along the
path of the River Ravine du Sud to collect and retain storm water runoffs.
2) The dredging of canals inside City limits, the installation of control structures,
check dams and weirs to manage the water level of the rivers for public
enjoyment.
3) The construction of a shoreline protection system from Ravine du Sud to
Riviere Islet to mitigate the effects of the projected rise of sea water level.
4) The installation of dykes and discharge pumps for flood control.
5) The installation of a system of “closed” underground drainage piping system
connected to “artificial” ponds with forced discharge to the ocean.
6) The installation of a system of “closed” sanitary piping system connected to a
sewer treatment plant facility with discharge to the ocean.
7) The construction of a series of hydro electric power plants along the banks of
the Ravine du Sud to service the (discharge) pumps downstream.
8) The construction of a series of solar power plants along the bank of the River to
compensate for the loss in efficiency of the hydo-electric plants.
9) The erection of a series of bridge crossings over the (two) rivers thereby
connecting the central section of the City to nearby areas.
10) The raising of the level of new homes and buildings to 3 feet above grade and
adequate mitigation measures for existing structures.
11) The establishment of a light rail system of transportation throughout the City.
12) The construction of an industrial park in the designated zone.
13) The expansion of the seaport wharf far into deep seawater to accommodate
international cargo ships.
14) The construction of a civil defense facility and appurtenances (airstrip, navy
dock, etc.) for air land and sea patrols.
15) The realignment of the skewed roadways to conform to the originally well laid
out City grid system and the construction of bypass road along Riviere Islet.
16) The redevelopment of the commercial district with distinctive frontages that
replicate the architecture of the historical buildings.
17) The establishment a ferry service transportation system along the coast from the
Ravine du Sud to Riviere Islet with connections to Ile-a-Vache.
18) The building of a biomass power plant facility for the dual purpose of solid
waste reduction and generation of electricity.
19) The building of a reservoir in the mountain and a potable water storage facility
in the City (Cistern) connected by an aqueduct.
20) The building of a landfill and a solid waste reduction plant facility.
21) The establishment of a financial district to cater to the local residents and
Diaspora entrepreneurs at generating new businesses and investments in the
South region.
22) The building of a State University with a major research/teaching hospital
facility and a science/tech center.
Conclusion
We are extremely pleased to present the above ideas for the redevelopment of this beautiful City. The challenges are immense but the rewards are very gratifying if those infrastructure projects are well planned and executed adequately. Aux Cayes could then become the Haitian economic powerhouse that interacts with other great cities in the South Caribbean.
Luckner Bayas is a registered professional engineer with an engineering practice in Boston, Massachusetts. He has thirty years of professional experience and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University and a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Lowell, Massachusetts. Mr., Bayas may be reached at (781)724-4214 or at bayassociates@email.com
Disclaimer Notice:
The recommendations stated above and the accompanying plans constitute an idealistic vision for the City of Les Cayes, projected to an optimum development stage. They were prepared without the benefits of a site assessment and are only meant as a guide for brainstorming sessions and discussions (a charrette) regarding the proper redevelopment of the City. Due to the vulnerability of this particular location and the high costs of the proposed infrastructure systems, a comparative analysis of different alternatives is warranted, considering:
1) This option of Modernizing.
2) The option of Relocating (Not advocated here).
3) The Do Nothing
Alternative. The plan shall not be used for any purposes other than stated herein.