Les Anglais

Les Anglais (Kreyol: Lezanglè, French: "The English") is a coastal commune in the Chardonnières Arrondissement of Haiti’s South Department. Situated at sea level, the town is known for its flat terrain and proximity to the Caribbean Sea. As of the 2015 census, the population was estimated at 27,182.

About[]

The town sits on the site of the former Gravier sugar plantation, enjoying a pleasantly warm climate despite a sea that is often rough. Its port, though not open to foreign trade, provides reliable anchorage. The Petite Rivière des Anglais, which originates on the Morne Cahouane, is abundant with fish, including excellent carps, supporting local fishing activities. Life in the commune revolves around these natural resources, blending agriculture, fishing, and historical heritage into the rhythms of the community.

History[]

Prior to European contact, the region now known as Les Anglais lay within the territory of the Taíno, an Arawak-speaking indigenous people who inhabited Hispaniola and much of the Caribbean. The island was organized into several chiefdoms, each ruled by a cacique. The southwestern portion—including modern-day Les Anglais—fell under the chiefdom of Jaragua, governed by Bohéchio and later by his sister Anacaona, as part of the expansive Xaragua polity.

The Taíno of this region lived in river valleys and coastal plains, cultivating cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, and beans, while supplementing their diet through fishing and hunting. Their organized settlements and agricultural system laid the foundations for later land-use patterns that would shape colonial and postcolonial landscapes.

With the Spanish conquest in the early 1500s, the Jaragua domain was violently dismantled and its Taíno population decimated by disease, forced labor, and massacres. The southern coast, including Les Anglais, remained only sparsely settled for much of the 16th century, serving more as a transit zone for Spanish ships than a center of habitation.

By the 17th century, French colonists had established sugar and coffee plantations in the surrounding plains, among them the plantation of Gravier, which later gave rise to the town itself. The area’s name, Les Anglais (“The English”), came into use during this period, a reminder of the frequent British raids along the coast during the colonial wars, when England and France battled for dominance in the Caribbean. The port, though never opened to foreign trade, became a guarded anchorage and strategic lookout, while the surrounding lands were worked by enslaved Africans who sustained the plantation economy.

Colonial and Revolutionary Era

Under French rule, the fertile plain of Les Anglais was drawn into the plantation economy, with sugar, coffee, and indigo worked by large numbers of enslaved Africans. Les Anglais was first settled by the British in 1774, when British forces established a post in the area, setting the stage for its later strategic role. When the Haitian Revolution broke out, the town quickly aligned with them as a way to resist French attempts to reimpose slavery, which had previously been outlawed.

The town grew in strategic and military importance, initially established as a military post during the 1790s, before being officially recognized as a commune in 1881. Despite its development, the area experienced instability; in 1869, Les Anglais was overrun by the Cacos and Piquets, leaving the local population considerably affected by these conflicts. The commune is also notable as the birthplace of Colonel Nicolas Regnier, a distinguished figure in Haiti’s wars of independence, whose legacy remains tied to the town’s historical identity.

20th Century to Present[]

Les Anglais, like much of southern Haiti, experienced the ripple effects of national upheaval during the early 20th century, including the controversial U.S. occupation. This period brought infrastructure projects countrywide—roads, bridges, and public buildings—but often through coercive labor under the corvée system, which generated deep resentment in rural areas.

The commune also endured recurring environmental disasters. In 2008, a series of hurricanes brought destructive flooding across the region, damaging homes, agricultural fields, and livestockHaiti Fandom. More devastating was Hurricane Matthew, which struck on October 4, 2016, with its eye passing directly over Les Anglais. The storm’s powerful Category 4 winds, up to 145 mph, and storm surges damaged infrastructure and prompted mass evacuations.

In recent years, the community has embarked on renewal. Local leaders and educators, such as Jean Noel Marc Paget—a math teacher and clean-energy advocate—helped pilot micro-grid systems that now supply reliable electricity to homes and businesses, offering hope for improved quality of life and local revitalization.

Today, with a population around 27,000, Les Anglais balances its modest pace of rural life with the push for sustainable modernization. Its economy continues to rely primarily on agriculture and fishing, while recent development efforts have focused on improving infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and access to basic services.

Aerial view of Ville des Anglais, facing the Caribbean Sea

Geography[]

Les Anglais is located at 18.30867° N, -74.2148° E, on the southwestern coast of Haiti in the South Department, about 36 kilometers (22 miles) west of Les Cayes. According to the Institut Haïtien de Statistique et d’Informatique (IHSI), the commune covers a total land area of 118.04 square kilometers (45.58 square miles), of which 65.73 km² (56%) is rural, 50.81 km² (43%) is suburban, and 1.50 km² (1%) is urban. Administratively, it is one of the eighteen communes of the department and is divided into three communal sections: the 2nd section of Edelin, which is inland, and two coastal sections that include the town center.

The commune sits at the mouth of the Rivière des Anglais, where fertile alluvial plains meet the Caribbean Sea. Its topography is a mix of low-lying plains and coastal flats around the urban core, contrasted with rolling hills and upland terrain in the communal sections further inland. Les Anglais is bordered to the northwest and north by the Grand’Anse Department communes of Moron and Jérémie, to the east by the commune of Chardonnières, and to the west by the commune of Tiburon.

This coastal setting provides fertile soils that sustain agriculture and fishing but also exposes the area to risks such as flooding, erosion, and storm surges, making geography a defining factor in both the livelihood and vulnerability of the commune.

Commune map of Les Anglais — Commune map of **Les Anglais**

Neighborhoods

ANG	Les Anglais
VGL	Ville Des Anglais
VRN	1ère Section Vérone	Boco, Bon Pas, Cannette, Capoliette, Jambon, Nan Casse.
EDL	2ème Section Edelin	Anglais, Bacilier, Bois Cochon, Bois Délaï, Délabré, Mahotière-Piment, Pond-Bleu, Rossignol, Véronne.
CSS	3ème Section Cosse	Béléo, Chanterelle, Constant, Débouché, Fond-Charlemagne, La Chaine, La Visite, Les Anglais, Lima, Nan Cosse, Nan Pota, Nan Saint, Nan Digue, Pierre-Paul, Taquin.

Demographics[]

Les Anglais has an estimated population of approximately 27,000 residents, distributed across its three communal sections. The majority of the population resides in the coastal areas, while the inland second section of Edelin is more sparsely populated.

Inhabitants of the town are called Anglaisien. The population is predominantly of Afro-Haitian descent, with Creole as the main spoken language and French used in formal education, administration, and legal matters. Household structures are often extended families, with multiple generations sharing housing in both coastal and inland areas. Livelihoods are closely tied to agriculture, fishing, and small-scale trade, which influence settlement patterns, population density, and seasonal mobility within the commune.

Religious practices are mostly Christian, with Catholicism historically dominant, alongside a notable presence of Protestant denominations. Community life is structured around family, church, and local markets, which serve as both social and economic hubs.

Year	Population	Change +/-
1890	6,000
1998	34,461	_+474%
2009	27,182	-20%
2015	29,981	+10%

Les Anglais lies at sea level with its Downtown and three divisions.

Climate[]

The climate of Les Anglais varies across its communal sections, with the coastal town center and the third section experiencing a humid tropical climate, while the first and second sections, situated further inland and at higher elevations, benefit from comparatively fresher conditions. Like much of southern Haiti, the commune endures heavy seasonal rains from May to October, leaving it highly vulnerable to flooding and storm surges generated by hurricanes along the Tiburon Peninsula.

Hurricane activity has historically inflicted severe damage on the area; in 2008, for instance, successive storms inundated the town with floodwaters that destroyed homes, croplands, and livestock. The coastal plain remains particularly exposed, while the interior hills and valleys create localized microclimates that are slightly cooler and more favorable for crops such as coffee. These climatic contrasts shape agricultural practices, settlement patterns, and the community’s ongoing adaptation to natural hazards.

In response to such threats, disaster resilience has become a priority. Officials and community leaders have explored measures such as restoring protective mangroves, reinforcing riverbanks, and improving drainage systems. Strengthening housing with hurricane-resistant materials, elevating key public buildings, and developing designated storm shelters on higher ground are further strategies under consideration. Long-term efforts also include reforesting upland areas to stabilize runoff, creating evacuation routes less prone to flooding, and adopting early warning systems. Together, these environmental and infrastructural approaches aim to reduce the commune’s exposure to natural disasters while safeguarding livelihoods.

Economy[]

Agriculture remains the principal economic force in Les Anglais, with farmlands producing fruits, coffee, and tobacco, alongside staple crops such as bananas, maize, cassava, and beans. Livestock farming and small-scale food production further support local livelihoods, while numerous springs in the interior and hills sustain both households and crop cultivation, producing campeches, syrup, timber, and dry fish.

Fishing, particularly in Petite Rivière des Anglais and along the coastal waters, complements agricultural activity, with freshwater and coastal species supplying local markets and households. The town’s strategic location along one of the world’s busiest sea lanes presents notable potential for export, and non-governmental agencies have highlighted opportunities to expand foodstuff exports through quality assurance measures that could make local products more marketable.

Trade and commerce also play a significant role, with Les Anglais exchanging goods with neighboring communes such as Port-au-Prince, Chardonnières, Tiburon, Les Cayes, and Miragoâne. Local markets are central to economic life: the main market day occurs on Wednesday, with a smaller market on Sundays, concentrated at Marche Bradelai in the second section and Carrefour Colse in the third. Over time, development efforts have aimed at improving infrastructure, supporting sustainable farming practices, and bolstering the resilience of agriculture and fisheries to coastal and climatic hazards, while the economy continues to balance its rural character with gradual steps toward modernization and market integration.

Infrastructure[]

Education[]

Education in Les Anglais is primarily provided through a combination of public and private institutions. The Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sports does not maintain a direct presence in the commune, yet local schools serve the population across the three communal sections. Twenty-two primary schools, two secondary schools, three technical and vocational schools, and four literacy centers have been identified, reflecting a focus on both basic literacy and practical skills.

Primary education is dispersed throughout the commune, while secondary and vocational training is concentrated in the town center. These institutions emphasize subjects aligned with local economic activities, such as agriculture, fishing, and small business management. Non-governmental organizations have contributed to education through scholarships, literacy programs, and infrastructure improvements, particularly in rural areas where access has historically been limited. Overall, Les Anglais maintains a network of educational facilities that support foundational learning while preparing students for economic opportunities.

Health[]

Health services in Les Anglais are essential yet limited, with the Ministry of Public Health and Population not maintaining a direct presence in the commune. The primary healthcare facility is the Hôpital de Les Anglais, which provides a range of services including emergency care, maternal and child health services, and general medical treatment. For more specialized care, residents often need to travel to larger cities such as Les Cayes or Jérémie.

Common health challenges in the area include waterborne diseases, tropical infections, and the impacts of frequent natural disasters, which can strain local resources and infrastructure. Non-governmental organizations and community health programs supplement public efforts by offering vaccination campaigns, health education, and temporary clinics during crises. Access to clean water and sanitation remains a priority, as do initiatives to improve maternal health and emergency response capacity, particularly in the wake of hurricanes and heavy rains. Despite these challenges, the community continues to demonstrate resilience, with ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare access and quality.

Utilities[]

Les Anglais has four rivers, twenty-seven springs, a pond, two lagoons, fourteen wells, and twenty-two public fountains, all of which support the town's water supply. Piped water was introduced in 2020, though many households are not yet connected to individual meters. Electricity has been available in the downtown area since June 2015, provided through a privately operated solar-hybrid grid. The system was temporarily disrupted by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 but has been fully restored to 24/7 service since June 2019. Despite these improvements, many residents continue to rely on alternative sources, such as private generators and solar panels.

Sanitation infrastructure is minimal, with a combination of private latrines and community-managed facilities serving the population. Solid waste management is largely informal, with residents often relying on local disposal methods or small-scale collection efforts. Recent development initiatives have aimed to expand access to potable water, improve electrical connectivity, and promote sustainable waste management practices, though coverage remains uneven across the commune’s three sections.

Administration[]

Les Anglais is one of the eighteen communes of Haiti’s South Department and is administratively divided into three communal sections. The commune is governed by a mayor and municipal council, who oversee local services, development projects, and regulatory functions. Les Anglais falls under the jurisdiction of the Chardonnières Arrondissement, coordinating with departmental authorities for planning, disaster response, and infrastructure initiatives.

Public safety and judicial functions are served locally: the commune has a police station and, since 2020, a UDMO (Unité Départementale de Maintien de l’Ordre) base. Judicial administration is managed through a court of the peace, which falls under the jurisdiction of the civil tribunal of Les Cayes, and includes a custody room and a civil registry office. Municipal offices, concentrated in the downtown area, serve as the hub for governance, civil registration, and coordination of communal services, while local administration liaises with NGOs and community committees to address public needs in education, health, utilities, and agriculture.

Culture[]

Les Anglais has a fairly population-dense downtown and enough economic activity to make it sustainable.

The cultural life of Les Anglais reflects its coastal heritage, agricultural traditions, and deep historical roots. Local customs, festivals, and religious observances remain central to community life, while music, cuisine, and artisanal crafts express the unique identity of the Anglaisien people. A creative and innovative spirit is also evident in the commune; for example, a local inventor developed the “Miracle Stove,” a fuel-efficient cooking device that has enabled families to reduce household expenses.

Religion[]

The religious life of Les Anglais is primarily Christian, reflecting the broader Haitian landscape. Catholicism remains the dominant faith, with six Catholic churches serving as spiritual and community centers throughout the commune. Protestant denominations have also established a presence, including three Baptist churches, two Adventist churches, two Pentecostal churches, and sixteen other churches representing smaller congregations. Religious observances, festivals, and ceremonies remain integral to community cohesion, influencing local culture, holidays, and communal events. The town celebrates its patron saint, the Immaculate Conception, every December 8.

Organizations[]

Les Anglais hosts a variety of political, civic, and community-based organizations that support governance, education, health, and economic development. Two representations of political parties, twenty-eight popular organizations, four peasant groups, two women’s groups, and one international organization form the political and organizational institutions of the commune. Additionally, several NGOs and cooperatives operate in the area, providing support in education, health awareness, disaster preparedness, and agricultural development.

ACRAH (Action Communautaire pour le Renforcement d’Haïti) provides educational programs, health awareness campaigns, and disaster preparedness training.
FOH (Fondation des Oeuvres Humanitaires) supports local healthcare initiatives and assists families affected by natural disasters.
CAGL (Coopérative Agricole de Les Anglais) helps farmers with training, quality control, and market access for agricultural exports.
JOVEN (Jeunesse et Volontariat en Action) engages youth in community service, cultural programs, and environmental projects.
LAMS (Les Anglais Ministries Haiti) supports children from diverse backgrounds, providing them with the education, support, and care they need to thrive.

Haiti Libre – Les Anglais Chapter focuses on civic engagement, local governance awareness, and advocacy.

Communication[]

The commune receives postal service on Mondays at noon via Les Cayes and Tiburon, with outgoing mail sent immediately by special courier. The town does not have landline telephone service, nor does it host a local radio or television station, newspaper, or magazine. Residents rely primarily on mobile phones and occasional internet access for regional and international connectivity. The lack of local media highlights both the rural character of the commune and the ongoing need for improvements in communication infrastructure.

Leisure[]

Leisure infrastructure in Les Anglais is limited but provides essential communal and recreational spaces. The town has a theater room, a cinema room, one football (soccer) field, and a public square for gatherings and events. Coastal activities, such as swimming and small-scale fishing, remain popular, while inland areas offer space for walking and informal sports. Local markets, church events, and cultural festivals serve as important social hubs, and traditional music and dance continue to be central to celebrations.

References[]

Les Anglais, Haiti Observer - [1]

Les Anglais, Haiti, www.polacynahaiti.com - [2]

_{Michael Vedrine}