For the Bassins Bleu of Jacmel, click here.
Bassin-Bleu (Kreyol: Basenblé; English: Blue Basin), officially Fond Bassin Bleu (English: Blue Basin Valley), is a commune in the Northwestern Department of Haiti. It is the third most-populous municipality in the Port-de-Paix Arrondissement, after Tortuga and Port-de-Paix.
Location in Haiti
About Bassin-Bleu[]
Click here to visit Bassin-Bleu's Facebook page.
Located near Port-de-Paix, Bassin Bleu is a very small place in the region of Northwest Haiti with a population of approximately 34,000 people. The town is positioned on the Les Trois Rivières River.
History[]
The Town of Bassin Bleu was settled in 1874 as a village within the boundaries of Port-de-Paix under the name Nan Pèze. The town separated from Port-de-Paix and was officially incorporated in 1930, the second of the three communities to separate from Port-de-Paix (after Jean-Rabel and Chansolme) over the span of several years. The town, like many in the area, had agrarian roots; the river Les Trois Rivières provided water power for milling and irrigation for farming. Today, the town is mostly rural.
In May 1865 there was a battle between the government troops commanded by General Nissage Saget, and the insurgent bands of Salnave. The victory was with Saget, and the insurgents retreated and scattered in the woods
Geography[]
Bassin-Bleu is located at 19.7807° N, 72.7998° W. According to the IHSI, this commune has a total land area of 214.83 square kilometers (82.95 square miles), of which 143.72 km² (67%) is rural, 69.32 km² (32%) is suburban, and 1.79 km² (1%) is urban.
It is bordered on the north by the town of Chansolme, on the northeast by the communes of La Pointe and Saint-Louis du Nord, on the southeast by the Artibonite city of Gros-Morne, on the south and southwest by the towns of Terre-Neuve and Anse-Rouge, and on the west by the city of Port-de-Paix.
The town center features a flat terrain, while its three communal sections consist of hills in the first section (La Plate), plains in the second section (Carreau Datty), and plateaus in the third section (Haut de Moustiques). These sections are further subdivided into about 26 habitations and 86 localities.
Neighborhoods
| BAB | Bassin-Bleu | 63,446 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VBB | Ville de Bassin Bleu | Urban | 7,002 | ||
| LPL | 1ère Section La Plate | Rural | 18,267 | Bassin, Beauséjour, Belanger, Biaby, Dos Petit-Mil, Fond Bassin Bleu, Fond-Papaye, Grande-Place, Jean-Pierre, La Plate, La Source, Magray, Migon, Nan Fort, Nan Mare, Nastrid, Nérac, Odige, Pendu, Rampart, Station Haut Piton, Ti Boucan, Tyron | |
| CDA | 2ème Section Carreau Datty | Rural | 11,204 | Arcahaie, Carreau Dati, Déboire, Detonnel, Estere Batte, Ganeré, La Brousse, Morras, Nan Bete, Nan Etang, Nan Fouillon, Savane-Marc, Terre-Cassée, Zerbe-Boule | |
| HDM | 3ème Section Haute des Moustiques | Rural section | 26,773 | Bambou, Bélizaire, Bellevue, Bernard, Bois Chandel, Brigand, Camp-Pongnon, Cazeau, Gallois, Grivo, Labady, La Boucher, Larode, La Voute, Mombin-Crochu, Mont Bayard, Nan Campêche, Nan Gramond, Nan Mapou, Nan Pion, Nan Tranquille, Peuplier, Roussel, Tardif, Toussaint |
Demography
The inhabitants are called Bassinois.
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 36,411 | |
| 2003 | 33,296 | |
| 2009 | 57,697 | +58% |
| 2015 | 33,296 | -42% |
Economy[]
The local economy is based on growing coffee, cotton, and tobacco. The honey is harvested by local beekeepers in equipped hives.
Economically and financially, the town of Bassin-Bleu barely has any businesses. There are however two gas stations and two pharmacies.
Bassin-Bleu, NO, Haiti. Money, knowledge, fame without Jesus equal zero
Infrastructure[]
The town of Bassin-Bleu inaugurates its new town hall.[1]
Education
In the field of education, the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports is represented in the commune of Bassin-Bleu by a School Inspectorate office. There are two kindergartens, 70 primary schools, five secondary schools, a technical school, and 21 literacy centers. Notably, the Jacques Stephen Alexis High School is situated in a spacious, newly constructed reinforced concrete building, located in a large, healthy, and wooded environment.
Health
In terms of health services, the Ministry of Public Health and Population does not have a municipal presence in Bassin-Bleu. Nevertheless, the commune is served by a hospital (Hôpital Bon Samaritain) and a public dispensary, staffed by a doctor and two auxiliary personnel.
Utilities
The town of Bassin-Bleu features four rivers, four springs and two ponds. The rivers and springs are harnessed for distribution. The central area of Bassin-Bleu receives electricity for four hours each week through an electric motor, a development made possible by the efforts of local parliamentarians.
The Union Guest House Hotel, in Bassin-Bleu, NO, Haiti
Culture and Heritage[]
Religion
Bassin-Bleu has 46 temples representing various beliefs, excluding vodun. The largest group is the churches of God at 37%, followed by Catholic churches at 28%, Baptist churches at 17%, and Adventist churches at 13%.
Leisure
The town lacks a library, public square, monuments, and sites, but it has a cinema, theater, museum, nightclub, and seven gaguères. Sports activities include soccer, cycling, and other athletics.
Communication
The town of Bassin-Bleu is equipped with a telephone service.
Organizations[]
- Heifer International has been active in Haiti since 1999, focusing on economic growth, environmental care, food safety, nutrition, risk management, and empowering women. They collaborate with various Haitian organizations, such as MARNDR and MPCE, to enhance food security and improve water resource management in the Northwest and Northeast Departments.
Jacques Stephen Alexis[]
Jacques Stéphen Alexis (1922–1961) was a prominent Haitian author, doctor, and political activist who significantly influenced Haitian literature and advocated for social justice. Born in Gonaïves, Haiti, to historian and diplomat Stéphen Alexis, he is best known for his novels Compère Général Soleil (1955), Les Arbres Musiciens (1957), L’Espace d’un Cillement (1959), and the short story collection Romancero aux Étoiles (1960). His writing is celebrated for its lyrical realism and insightful exploration of Haitian identity and class issues. Alexis was also politically active, founding the People's Consensus Party in 1959 and opposing the Duvalier regime, which led to his exile. In 1961, he was captured and killed while attempting to return to Haiti to incite a revolution. The Lycée Jacques Stéphen Alexis in Bassin Bleu, Haiti, commemorates his literary legacy and dedication to his country.
References[]
Bassin Bleu - Wikipedia [2]
Bassin-Bleu, la lutte pour la survie - Le Nouvelliste [3]
Union Guest House - Vivens Rhuma, Local Guide [4] Michael Vedrine