Unity of Action for the Development of Cayes-Jacmel (UDADCAJ)
History
As part of a collective movement, a new association is seeing the light of day in Cayes-Jacmel.
This community association is in effect born of ideas of its citizens looking to offer aid to the residents of the locality.
This will, an expression of humanitarian solidarity and an apolitical-social orientation, comes out of a meeting of the following people of the region: Rose Jean Jules, Mme Hilrick, Succès Auguste, Eberne d’Haïti, Bernadin Jean, Jean Jacques Jules, Hernco Siprien, Juldor Hipolite, Cristin Davance, Magloire Louis Jean, Pierre Feguita Janvier, Ocanot Désiral, Georges Jean Claude, André Joseph Jules, Jean Profet César, Gérard Jules, Eric Orel, Justin Jean Toussaint, Dominique Tomas, Maxot Médé, Omnès Gué, Rigaud Lafont, Francoeur Anacassis, Lelio Jean, Valbrun Augustin, Robert Célestin, Fritzner Thibeau.
Thus, after a long meeting on July 19, 1997 of these 27 interested parties, a 12-member committee was formed to constitute a regional association known as Unité d’Action pour le Développement de Cayes Jacmel (UDADCAJ), Unity of Action for the Development of Cayes Jacmel. The following officers were chosen:
Lelio Jean Coordinator
Maxot Médé Vice Coordinator
Jean Rigaud Lafond Secretary
Jean Jacques Jules Second Secretary
Pierre Feguito Janvier Treasurer
Justin Jean Toussaint Public Relations
Francoeur Anacassis Foreign Relations
Mme Jacqueline Louis Foreign Relations
Inhco Cyprien Delegate
Omnès Gué Delegate
Succès Auguste Delegate
Désiral Ocanot Delegate
Localisation and Presentation of the Commune
Cayes-Jacmel is a commune (town) of particular beauty. In part from its position on the sea coast, much of the commune can be seen from the sea. Part of the commune is also seen from the mountains. From this viewpoint, one can notice a town surrounded by a semi-circle formed by mountains and bathed by the Antilles sea.
Cayes-Jacmel can be accessed by several means:
From the west, by the inter-rural road linking to the city of Jacmel which itself is linked to the capital Port-au-Prince by National Route #2.
From the east, this same inter-rural road skirts the town of Marigot and links the Department of the South to the Department of the West. This road is the base of a big study project called “Trans South East”, linking the Deparment of the South-East to the Dominican Republic. This project is conceived to establish a network of roads from Pedernales in the Dominican Republic and Jacmel in Haïti in order to facilitate development of tourism of these two historic cities.
From the south, by the sea, between the ports of Ti Mouillage and Grand Bassin. It is important to remark that maritime transportation as a foundation of exchange and commerce has a potential that was exploited during the 1980s between the coastal towns of Anse-à-Pitres, Bellanse and Grand Gosier towards Cayes Jacmel. Today this traffic is centered around the port of Marigot.
However, we must note that in recent times, a good number of inhabitants travelling by airplane use the airstrip in Jacmel. Don’t forget that in a formerly difficult period, some peasants from the mountains often had to pass, on foot, through the peak of La Selle mountain range to go to Port-au-Prince.
Geography of Cayes-Jacmel
Cayes-Jacmel is situated in the Department of the South-East about 15km from the city of Jacmel. The residents are called “Cayemelais(e)”. In fact, because of its proximity to Jacmel, the capital of the department, the commune shares the center part of the department and constitutes the central point of intercommunal projects for many years, especially the road system, Stenio Vincent Street, linking Jacmel, Cayes-Jacmel and Marigot.
Cayes-Jacmel is part of the district (“arrondissement”) of Jacmel. It is bordered on the north by the Gosseline River, which separates the town from Jacmel; on the east, by the town of Marigot; and on the south by the Antilles sea. It is 79km square, of which 98.8% is rural.
The commune has 4 communal sections (rural zones): 1st Ravine Normande, 2nd Gaillard, 3rd Cap-Rouge and 4th Fond Melon Michineau. It is subdivided into 44 zones (“habitations”) and 110 hamlets (“localités”). Each section has its own micro-climate and its own landscape. The climate varies from warm to cool. The landscape of the commune is dominated by mountains. The town center is the only part of the commune where the landscape is flat (“la plaine”). The 1st and 2nd communal sections are coastal. The other two are interieur and situated in the mountains.
Population of Cayes-Jacmel
In 2005, the population of the commune was estimated at 31,456 residents. The density of the commune is 398.2 residents per square kilometer. By communal section, the population is: 29% in the 1st, 38% in the 2nd, 15.2% in the 3rd and 17% in the 4th. About 92% of the population lives in rural areas. At an inquiry by MICT, 93% of the population is original to the commune.
The population is thus divided by age groups: 40.2% less than 15 years old, 52.4% between the age of 15 and 64, 7.4% 65 and over. The ratio between men and women is 9 to 10. According to the poverty map of Haïti, Cayes-Jacmel classified among the least populated. However, its demographic density is higher than those of its neighbors, Jacmel and Marigot.
History and Original of the Population of Cayes-Jacmel
Cayes-Jacmel was formerly a part of Marigot. It was promoted to the classification of commune in 1934 by the efforts of its Député (Congressman) Arthur Mégie. The name Cayes-Jacmel was adopted with the arrival of foreign sailing ships come to build a wharf for the acostage of boats loaded with building material for the city of Jacmel. Run up on the reefs, they had to go a little farther in the zone today called Jacmel.
Research confirms that the word “Cayes” is an Arawak Indian word which means “reefs.” In speaking of Cayes-Jacmel, one makes reference to the reefs and cliffs found on the landscape of the commune. Thus the name Cayes-Jacmel is a combination of the city of Jacmel and the derivative of the word Caye referred to the reports of the sailing ships, which afterwards returned to settle in the area.
According to the history of the population of Cayes-Jacmel, the first families to settle the commune came for many reasons. Some were attracted to the commercial opportunities, fishing and speculation. Others came as small administrators of public health and education.
· Some families came from foreign countries, Jamaica, for example. That is the case of the family Fenton, such as Lancelot Fenton, former justice of the peace.
· Some families came from other Haitian towns, Les Cayes and Jacmel, for example. Thus, the family Simon, former specialist in fishing, originally from Les Cayes, deputy of the district. The family Le Maître, such as Charles Le Maître, came from Jacmel as a commercial speculator. The family Camille, Colbert Camille, is related the well-known Haitian poet Roussan Camille.
· Families coming from neighboring zones such as the families Roy, Marcelin, Alphonse, Thibaud, Augustin, etc.
Projects in Progress
Cleaning the streets in the town center and garbage pick-up, organized under the leadership of Volonte pou Pwopte Kayjakmèl (VPKJ), Volonteers for a Clean Cayes-Jacmel, in collaboration with UDADCAJ.
Initial budget: $3,000 US, financed jointly by UDADCAJ and ADM (Association pour le Dévelopment de Marigot, “Association for the Development of Marigot”) as well as other organizations.
Projects Completed
· In December 2006, UDADCAJ provided a gift of medical and surgical material to the Hospital of Cayes-Jacmel, equal to $2,500 US:
Metal sorter, set of 30 medical instruments, 7 boxes of lancets (total 700), 12 bonnets, 4 ciseaux croissants, 5 instruments for dental cleaning, 10 ciseaux portes aiguisées, 5 portes bistouris, 5 instruments for dental extraction, 15 pairs scissors, 5 pinces hémostatiques
These gifts were contributed by the New York City branch of UDADCAJ, under the direction of Francoeur Anacassis, Secretary and Joel Ceyrac, Public Relations.
· In July 2007, UDADCAJ joined the ranks of the FEDADSE (Fédération des Associations pour le Développement du Sud-Est, “Federation of Associations for the Development of the South-East”). Since then, with the support of FEDADSE, UDADCAJ has become officially recognized by the State of New York and is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. UDADCAJ has its bank account in the New York.
· In November 2007, Francoeur Anacassis, Secretary of UDADCAJ, was elected Vice-Coordinator of FEDADSE for 2 years.
· In January 2011, the New York branch of UDADCAJ sent another gift of medical and surgical instruments as well as 5,000 units of doxycyline, worth $3,000 US, to help combat the cholera epidemic which had by then had caused hundreds of deaths (the death toll has since risen to several thousand). A special acknowledgement is due to the members of the New York branch, especially Francoeur Anacassis, Joel Ceyrac, Fernande Augustin, François Drouillard, Carmel Thibeau and Level Figarot.
History
As part of a collective movement, a new association is seeing the light of day in Cayes-Jacmel.
This community association is in effect born of ideas of its citizens looking to offer aid to the residents of the locality.
This will, an expression of humanitarian solidarity and an apolitical-social orientation, comes out of a meeting of the following people of the region: Rose Jean Jules, Mme Hilrick, Succès Auguste, Eberne d’Haïti, Bernadin Jean, Jean Jacques Jules, Hernco Siprien, Juldor Hipolite, Cristin Davance, Magloire Louis Jean, Pierre Feguita Janvier, Ocanot Désiral, Georges Jean Claude, André Joseph Jules, Jean Profet César, Gérard Jules, Eric Orel, Justin Jean Toussaint, Dominique Tomas, Maxot Médé, Omnès Gué, Rigaud Lafont, Francoeur Anacassis, Lelio Jean, Valbrun Augustin, Robert Célestin, Fritzner Thibeau.
Thus, after a long meeting on July 19, 1997 of these 27 interested parties, a 12-member committee was formed to constitute a regional association known as Unité d’Action pour le Développement de Cayes Jacmel (UDADCAJ), Unity of Action for the Development of Cayes Jacmel. The following officers were chosen:
Lelio Jean Coordinator
Maxot Médé Vice Coordinator
Jean Rigaud Lafond Secretary
Jean Jacques Jules Second Secretary
Pierre Feguito Janvier Treasurer
Justin Jean Toussaint Public Relations
Francoeur Anacassis Foreign Relations
Mme Jacqueline Louis Foreign Relations
Inhco Cyprien Delegate
Omnès Gué Delegate
Succès Auguste Delegate
Désiral Ocanot Delegate
Localisation and Presentation of the Commune
Cayes-Jacmel is a commune (town) of particular beauty. In part from its position on the sea coast, much of the commune can be seen from the sea. Part of the commune is also seen from the mountains. From this viewpoint, one can notice a town surrounded by a semi-circle formed by mountains and bathed by the Antilles sea.
Cayes-Jacmel can be accessed by several means:
From the west, by the inter-rural road linking to the city of Jacmel which itself is linked to the capital Port-au-Prince by National Route #2.
From the east, this same inter-rural road skirts the town of Marigot and links the Department of the South to the Department of the West. This road is the base of a big study project called “Trans South East”, linking the Deparment of the South-East to the Dominican Republic. This project is conceived to establish a network of roads from Pedernales in the Dominican Republic and Jacmel in Haïti in order to facilitate development of tourism of these two historic cities.
From the south, by the sea, between the ports of Ti Mouillage and Grand Bassin. It is important to remark that maritime transportation as a foundation of exchange and commerce has a potential that was exploited during the 1980s between the coastal towns of Anse-à-Pitres, Bellanse and Grand Gosier towards Cayes Jacmel. Today this traffic is centered around the port of Marigot.
However, we must note that in recent times, a good number of inhabitants travelling by airplane use the airstrip in Jacmel. Don’t forget that in a formerly difficult period, some peasants from the mountains often had to pass, on foot, through the peak of La Selle mountain range to go to Port-au-Prince.
Geography of Cayes-Jacmel
Cayes-Jacmel is situated in the Department of the South-East about 15km from the city of Jacmel. The residents are called “Cayemelais(e)”. In fact, because of its proximity to Jacmel, the capital of the department, the commune shares the center part of the department and constitutes the central point of intercommunal projects for many years, especially the road system, Stenio Vincent Street, linking Jacmel, Cayes-Jacmel and Marigot.
Cayes-Jacmel is part of the district (“arrondissement”) of Jacmel. It is bordered on the north by the Gosseline River, which separates the town from Jacmel; on the east, by the town of Marigot; and on the south by the Antilles sea. It is 79km square, of which 98.8% is rural.
The commune has 4 communal sections (rural zones): 1st Ravine Normande, 2nd Gaillard, 3rd Cap-Rouge and 4th Fond Melon Michineau. It is subdivided into 44 zones (“habitations”) and 110 hamlets (“localités”). Each section has its own micro-climate and its own landscape. The climate varies from warm to cool. The landscape of the commune is dominated by mountains. The town center is the only part of the commune where the landscape is flat (“la plaine”). The 1st and 2nd communal sections are coastal. The other two are interieur and situated in the mountains.
Population of Cayes-Jacmel
In 2005, the population of the commune was estimated at 31,456 residents. The density of the commune is 398.2 residents per square kilometer. By communal section, the population is: 29% in the 1st, 38% in the 2nd, 15.2% in the 3rd and 17% in the 4th. About 92% of the population lives in rural areas. At an inquiry by MICT, 93% of the population is original to the commune.
The population is thus divided by age groups: 40.2% less than 15 years old, 52.4% between the age of 15 and 64, 7.4% 65 and over. The ratio between men and women is 9 to 10. According to the poverty map of Haïti, Cayes-Jacmel classified among the least populated. However, its demographic density is higher than those of its neighbors, Jacmel and Marigot.
History and Original of the Population of Cayes-Jacmel
Cayes-Jacmel was formerly a part of Marigot. It was promoted to the classification of commune in 1934 by the efforts of its Député (Congressman) Arthur Mégie. The name Cayes-Jacmel was adopted with the arrival of foreign sailing ships come to build a wharf for the acostage of boats loaded with building material for the city of Jacmel. Run up on the reefs, they had to go a little farther in the zone today called Jacmel.
Research confirms that the word “Cayes” is an Arawak Indian word which means “reefs.” In speaking of Cayes-Jacmel, one makes reference to the reefs and cliffs found on the landscape of the commune. Thus the name Cayes-Jacmel is a combination of the city of Jacmel and the derivative of the word Caye referred to the reports of the sailing ships, which afterwards returned to settle in the area.
According to the history of the population of Cayes-Jacmel, the first families to settle the commune came for many reasons. Some were attracted to the commercial opportunities, fishing and speculation. Others came as small administrators of public health and education.
· Some families came from foreign countries, Jamaica, for example. That is the case of the family Fenton, such as Lancelot Fenton, former justice of the peace.
· Some families came from other Haitian towns, Les Cayes and Jacmel, for example. Thus, the family Simon, former specialist in fishing, originally from Les Cayes, deputy of the district. The family Le Maître, such as Charles Le Maître, came from Jacmel as a commercial speculator. The family Camille, Colbert Camille, is related the well-known Haitian poet Roussan Camille.
· Families coming from neighboring zones such as the families Roy, Marcelin, Alphonse, Thibaud, Augustin, etc.
Projects in Progress
Cleaning the streets in the town center and garbage pick-up, organized under the leadership of Volonte pou Pwopte Kayjakmèl (VPKJ), Volonteers for a Clean Cayes-Jacmel, in collaboration with UDADCAJ.
Initial budget: $3,000 US, financed jointly by UDADCAJ and ADM (Association pour le Dévelopment de Marigot, “Association for the Development of Marigot”) as well as other organizations.
Projects Completed
· In December 2006, UDADCAJ provided a gift of medical and surgical material to the Hospital of Cayes-Jacmel, equal to $2,500 US:
Metal sorter, set of 30 medical instruments, 7 boxes of lancets (total 700), 12 bonnets, 4 ciseaux croissants, 5 instruments for dental cleaning, 10 ciseaux portes aiguisées, 5 portes bistouris, 5 instruments for dental extraction, 15 pairs scissors, 5 pinces hémostatiques
These gifts were contributed by the New York City branch of UDADCAJ, under the direction of Francoeur Anacassis, Secretary and Joel Ceyrac, Public Relations.
· In July 2007, UDADCAJ joined the ranks of the FEDADSE (Fédération des Associations pour le Développement du Sud-Est, “Federation of Associations for the Development of the South-East”). Since then, with the support of FEDADSE, UDADCAJ has become officially recognized by the State of New York and is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. UDADCAJ has its bank account in the New York.
· In November 2007, Francoeur Anacassis, Secretary of UDADCAJ, was elected Vice-Coordinator of FEDADSE for 2 years.
· In January 2011, the New York branch of UDADCAJ sent another gift of medical and surgical instruments as well as 5,000 units of doxycyline, worth $3,000 US, to help combat the cholera epidemic which had by then had caused hundreds of deaths (the death toll has since risen to several thousand). A special acknowledgement is due to the members of the New York branch, especially Francoeur Anacassis, Joel Ceyrac, Fernande Augustin, François Drouillard, Carmel Thibeau and Level Figarot.