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Sainte-Suzanne (Haitian Creole: Sent Sizàn) is a municipality located in Haiti's Northeastern Department, part of the Trou-du-Nord Arrondissement. In 2015, the population was estimated at 28,031.

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Riviere de Haut Foulon. Sainte-Suzanne, NE, Haiti



About[]

Nicknamed the "Garden City", Sainte-Suzanne boasts a variety of vegetation such as bamboos, western pines, and mahogany cones. The mountains in the region are highly fertile, yielding coffee and various food crops like sugar cane and syrup. Numerous rivers flow through the area, forming cascades. The locals are known for their hospitality and firmly believe that agriculture is the cornerstone of economic and social progress in the region.

Sainte-Suzanne-5 8

Location in Haiti

History

The first chapel in the village was built in 1780.

S.E.M. de Eustache Pierre was Count of Sainte-Suzanne under the Empire, in 1849.

During the colonial period and the American occupation, the commune of Sainte-Suzanne had served as a resistance zone for both slaves under French rule and Cacos during the American occupation.

Historically, the commune of Sainte-Suzanne was considered a part of Trou-du-Nord, but due to the efforts of the late Septimus Jean-François, the area was granted municipal status in 1881.

The first deputy who represented this commune in 1882 was citizen Lieutout Prophete.

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Sainte-Suzanne view from the mountains

Geography[]

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Sainte-Suzanne aerial

Sainte-Suzanne is located at 19° 35' 0" N, 72° 5' 0" W. According to the IHSI, this commune has a total land area of 127.91 square kilometers (49.39 square miles), of which 69.38 km² (53%) is rural, 57.45 km² (45%) is suburban, and 2.34 km² (2%) is urban. It is bordered by the Northern Department town of Limonade to the north, the city of Trou-du-Nord to the northeast, the city of Vallières to the southeast, and the Northern Department communes of Ranquitte, Bahon, and Grande-Rivière du Nord to the south and west. It is an inland municipality, and its land area consists primarily of mountains and a cool climate.

Administratively, it is divided into six communal sections and a district called Dupity, which is part of the Fond-Bleu section. Despite being far from the town center, Fond-Bleu is the most populous communal section, housing nearly a third of the population.

Geographically, Sainte-Suzanne is an extension of the ​​Vallières watershed, coming out of Grosse-Roche through Fond Bleu and Mocaneuf. This watershed also extends to Limonade and supplies the Parois River with rainwater.

The distance, from the capital is measured at 70 leagues.

Demographics The inhabitants are called Suzanese.

Year Population -/+
1890 9,000
1998 22,694
2013 25,596 +11%
2015 28,031 +9%
Sainte Suzanne Michael Vedrine 530

Sainte-Suzanne commune map

Neighborhoods

STS Saint-Suzanne 28,031
VSS Ville Sainte Suzanne Urban 1,882
QDY Quartier De Dupity Urban 547
FOU 1ère Section Foulon Rural 3,213 Baptiste, Bicloire, Bois de Lance, Charles segue, Foullon, Richard, Sainte-Suzanne.
BBL 2ème Section Bois Blanc Rural section 2,495 Broute, Chateau Briand, Duro, Manviel, Seguin, Vincent.
CTL 3ème Section Cotelette Rural 2,793 Acul Connu, Bois Blanc, Gabriel, Gilette, La Coupe, Larose, Meyoc, Tercel, Torsin
SRZ 4ème Section Sarazin Rural section 3,159 Nan Richard
MKN 5ème Section Moka Neuf Rural 4,925 Barrois, Boulet, Caduc, Dinote, D'Leau Bouillie, Donis, Macombe, Mathurin, Moka-Neuf, Savane Cotelette.
FBL 6ème Section Fond Bleu Rural section 9,017 Bois Pin, Brisant, Capoux, Charité, Couvry, Dissosser, Dossac, Dupity, Michonne, Platon Mat, Précot, Prévaux, Roquet, Salnave.

Climate[]

The commune of Sainte-Suzanne as a whole is semi-humid, considering the climate of the four communal sections close to the Town Center (1. Foulon, 2. Bois-Blanc, 3. Cotelette and 4. Sarazin) which appear to be dry, and that of the communities near Dupity (5. Mocaneuf and 6. Fond Bleu), which are noticeably wet.

In general, rainfall varies, which prevents farmers from understanding the seasonal patterns.

Inter-monthly variations in rainfall and temperature

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Drought Very rainy Drought Rainy
cold Hot Hot Very cold

Source: LAC of Sainte-Suzanne

The region has a delightful and refreshing atmosphere, with a yearly average temperature hovering around 27°C (81°F). This creates an ideal climate for cultivating crops like coffee and facilitates fruit production, whether it be on the hills or in the highlands. The favorable weather conditions enable the residents of the four communal sections (1 through 4) near the town center to grow various vegetable crops and cultivate yam and beans. Meanwhile, in Mocaneuf and Fond Bleu on Dupity, farmers focus on maintaining cassava, potatoes, and beans.


Natural Resources[]

Water

The commune of Sainte-Suzanne possesses an extensive hydrographic network, yet it remains largely underutilized by the community. Numerous rivers traverse almost all of the communal sections, exhibiting varying degrees of water flow. Sudden floods occurring throughout the year pose a constant threat to both lives and property. However, a respite from these calamities can be found in the months of February and March, coinciding with the period of drought.

Basins

Sainte-Suzanne is home to nearly four watersheds that originate in its various communal sections and flow into the Northern Department. This is the reason why, even in the absence of rain in the neighboring lands of the Great North River or from Parois River in Limonade, these waters appear muddy and turbulent. This phenomenon is a result of the vast catchment basins that begin in the highlands of Sainte-Suzanne.

Furthermore, the region possesses significant hydroelectric and agricultural potential. This is evident through the presence of a hydro-electric dam between Sainte-Suzanne and the communal section of Caracol. This dam generates electricity to supply the greater Cap-Haïtien region. However, it is important to note that the most important water source for this dam is located at Bois Blanc, which is within Sainte-Suzanne. Unfortunately, Sainte-Suzanne itself does not benefit from this exploitation.

Economy[]

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Center of town; Sainte-Suzanne, Haiti

The local economy revolves around trade and agriculture. There are nine grocery stores, a hair salon, and a photography studio listed in the area. The commune of Sainte Suzanne also has a credit union for economic and financial infrastructures. The main occupation of the people in Sainte-Suzanne is subsistence farming, where they grow lime, coffee, and orange trees. Some farmers also rear livestock to generate income.

Small businesses, in addition to agriculture, are vital economic activities in the town. Both men and women are involved in trade, while formal employment and craftwork also play a role in the local economy. Many families depend on remittances from Port-au-Prince or the Dominican Republic. Para-agricultural activities, like making straw chairs, baskets, and hats, contribute economically to a lesser extent. Lastly, games of chance, particularly borlette (lottery) and gaguere (cockfighting), are significant economic activities, especially for men.

Agriculture

Rainfed agriculture in Sainte-Suzanne is primarily focused on cultivating food crops, which serves as the main economic activity in the region. The main crops grown throughout the year include yam, cassava, sugar cane, and beans. In the past, the economy of Sainte-Suzanne relied heavily on its extensive coffee production. However, the decline in international coffee prices, aging plantations, and difficulties in controlling bark beetles have significantly contributed to the downfall of this export commodity. The absence of suitable technology and environmental degradation have further hastened the disappearance of large coffee plantations in the commune. Instead, farmers have opted for erosive crops such as peanuts, cassava, and beans on slopes exceeding 40%. These choices are primarily driven by the lack of supervision from the Ministry of Agriculture, whose agents are severely lacking the necessary resources to provide quality services to the residents. Fortunately, the commune still benefits from the intensive production of fruit trees, which serves as a valuable contribution for local growers.

Livestock

The challenges faced in animal breeding are similar to those encountered in agriculture. Livestock, which primarily includes cattle, goats, pigs, and chickens, provide farmers with a means to overcome critical situations. Horses, donkeys, and the rare mules are mainly utilized for agricultural tasks, household requirements, and long journeys.

In order to enhance efficiency, the MARNDR has recently provided training to farmers in each Communal Section to act as veterinary assistants or GSB (Gwoupman Sante Bet). Their contributions to the community are invaluable, as they administer treatment to sick animals. While not official employees of the MARNDR, these assistants have the opportunity to purchase medications at a reduced cost, enabling them to earn a profit. Livestock, particularly cattle, goats, and pigs, are typically sold at markets in Lasset (Mokaneuf), Savane l'Eglise (Cotelette), Bois de l'Anse (Limonade), and Bahon.

Trade

Farmers are connected to markets through the marketing channels controlled by "madan Sara". Despite the distance of these significant markets (Bahon, Trou-du-Nord, Cap-Haïtien, etc.) and the limited or non-existent road connections between them and the town of Sainte-Suzanne, the transportation of food products and their by-products (such as cereals, cassava, and cane syrup) that are sold there is remarkable. Within the community, there are no physical structures to provide shelter for the traders. The sale of products, which are placed on the ground, takes place under palisade arbors and attracts people from Bahon, Grosse-Roche, and various communal sections.

Market days across the commune of Sainte-Suzanne

Localities Days
1re Foulon No market day
2e Bois Blanc No market day
3e Cotelette Thursday
4e Sarazin No market day
5e Mokaneuf Tuesday Saturday
6e Fond-Bleu Sunday
Town Center Monday

Across the commune, there is a lack of small shops; in the town center, there are barely six. The charcoal and planks produced in different communal sections are swiftly sold to Mokaneuf, which has evolved into a well-established hub for the sale of these goods. While the flow of agricultural products to neighboring markets like Trou-du-Nord and Cap-Haïtien is weak, with the exception of coal and planks, the flow of purchased products is significant and diverse. This includes rice, corn, spaghetti, oil, wheat flour, fuel, and essential items. As per the individuals interviewed, the influx of purchased products from surrounding areas surpasses that of sales. This sheds light on an economy that is gradually declining not just in terms of finances, but also due to the degradation of its ecosystems and subsequent loss of biodiversity through rhexistasia.

Infrastructure[]

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L'entree de Sainte-Suzanne

In Sainte-Suzanne, the only institutions represented are agriculture, public health, justice, national archives, finance, and the town hall. These institutions offer a range of services, but they are quite limited and cater primarily to the local population. It is worth noting that most of these institutions lack any distinctive symbol or flag to distinguish them, except for the town hall. The town hall, constructed by UNCDF in 2008, boasts an appealing and compliant facility. This administrative complex also accommodates the DGI and the National Archives. On the other hand, other services such as justice do not have dedicated premises, while public health operates in unsuitable working environments.

Transportation

The nearest airport is in Cap-Haïtien, 20 km (12 mi.) away. On the other hand, Port-au-Prince's airport is much farther, about 235 km (146 mi.) away from Sainte-Suzanne.

In terms of road infrastructure, paved roads are scarce in Sainte-Suzanne, except for the road leading to the town center from Trou-du-Nord. Within the town center itself, there are only 400 meters (1,300 ft.) of concrete streets. This lack of road connectivity isolates Sainte-Suzanne from neighboring municipalities.

The responsibility for maintaining the tracks falls on the local elected officials, who receive support from international organizations such as CECI and PAM. Unfortunately, there is no regular car transport service to the communal sections, except for two trucks that transport charcoal from Dupity to Cap-Haïtien, making two to three trips per week. However, the parish priest of the Catholic Church, Reverend Father Enos Brunot, has a vehicle that operates in the area up to Dupity. Additionally, there is motorcycle transport available between Trou-du-Nord and Sainte-Suzanne, with a fare of approximately Gdes 100 (US $0.66).

Education

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Ecole a Colette; Sainte-Suzanne, NE, Haiti


Students have to walk long distances on footpaths to reach educational centers located far away. Unfortunately, some of these centers are in poor condition, which hinders hungry students from learning effectively. During the rainy season, certain schools are unable to operate due to the state of their premises.

Schools Across the Commune of Sainte-Suzanne.

levels Foulon Bois-Blanc Cotelette Sarazin Mokaneuf Fond-Bleu Town Center
Primary 2 3 2 1 7 17 10
Secondary - - - - - - 1

Source: Based on information from a former Mayor, teacher at Ste-Suzanne High School

Health

The town has with three dispensaries: one located in Dupity and two in the town center. One of the town center dispensaries is managed by the MSPP, while the other is overseen by the Sisters of Saint Therese. The MSPP Dispensary has limited space, including a reception area, a consultation room, and an administrative room. On average, this facility sees between twenty to twenty-five patients daily. The staff at this dispensary falls below the expected standards and is made up of a physician, a nurse, two auxiliaries, three assistant supervisors, ten health agents, and a technologist. While this clinic serves the areas of Foulon, Bois Blanc, Cotelette, and Sarazin, the Dupity location caters to Mokaneuf and Fond Bleu. Unfortunately, access to healthcare is hindered during rainy weather, limiting the reach of public health services.

Utilities

Sainte Suzanne is well-equipped with nine rivers, numerous springs, lagoons, and public fountains that are serviced by three pumps.

Additionally, the town enjoys access to electricity through an electrification network powered by the Hydroelectric power plant in the neighboring Caracol area, utilizing water from its watersheds to turn the turbines.

Security

One of the prominent challenges in the realm of justice is the lack of police presence to enforce decisions and maintain law and order. The peace court, previously located in a rented building, was destroyed by a fire and is currently operating from the local police station, which has been devoid of police officers since the departure of ex-President Aristide. Deputy judge Mr. Arinks Manigat of Sainte-Suzanne highlighted the significant impact of the absence of police on the administration of justice in the area, allowing offenders to escape without consequences due to the community's inability to apprehend them.

The deputy judge of the Town Center, when asked about the justice system, pointed out that crimes and offenses are alarmingly common in the communal sections of Foulon and Bois-Blanc. These cases are referred to the Government Commissioner in Fort-Liberté, where they encounter further challenges.

Culture[]

Typically, households in Sainte-Suzanne consist of nuclear families, with single-parent families being uncommon. Fathers, who are primarily involved in agricultural work, bear the burden of providing for the family financially, while women take care of household duties. Juvenile delinquency is relatively low, as families prioritize their children's education and often lack the means to send them to larger cities like Port-au-Prince, or Cap-Haïtien, or even nearby Trou-du-Nord.

Religion

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Eglise Catholique a Sainte-Suzanne

A significant portion of the population in Sainte Suzanne practices Catholicism and Voodoo, with Protestants making up a minority. Chapels or temples can be found in almost all communal sections and in the Town Center. These two dominant religious influences play a role in various aspects of daily life, such as evangelization, education, healthcare, supporting the less fortunate, and providing mutual aid. For instance, the "Little Sisters of Saint-Therese of the Child Jesus" congregation in the Town Center offers valuable assistance in public health, while the Dupity Health Center, led by Reverend Father Enos Brunot, also contributes to healthcare services. Additionally, vodouisants and hougans, who are sought after for traditional medicine, are occasionally present in the Communal Sections.

Harvest festival dates through the Commune of Sainte-Suzanne.

Localities Dates Holidays Patron saint Harvest dates
1re Foulon June 29 Saint-Pierre
2e Bois Blanc November 9 Saint Charles Boromé
3e Cotelette October 04 Saint Therese of the baby Jesus
4e Sarazin October 19th Saint Luke
5e Mokaneuf
6e Fond-Bleu June 27 Perpetual Help
Town Center August 11 Sainte-Suzanne 3rd Sunday, August

Source: Interviews with residents

Organizations

Several NGOs intervene in some areas of Sainte-Suzanne. These organizations satisfactory services and frameworks to the population.

Non-Governmental Organizations in Sainte-Suzanne

NGOs interventions
THIS Roads, Livestock, Construction recreation center, Plow, Soil conservation
FAO Seed distribution
IRATAM Breeding, Training for farmers, Literacy, Beekeeping
WHO Vaccination campaign
SDSH Vaccination campaign
UNCDF Construction, Local Development and Governance, Coaching
CARITAS Watershed Protection
WFP School Canteen, Road Layout
FONKOZE Finance

Sources: Combined

Communication

Teleco used to operate in Sainte-Suzanne, but after former President Aristide left, the power station was shut down and the equipment was relocated to Cap-Haïtien. Without Digicel stepping in to establish a relay in Foulon, communication within the commune would have been impossible. This is evident in areas like Mokaneuf and Fond-Bleu, where one has to traverse from high to low ground just to get a signal.

The town of Sainte Suzanne lacks a post office, radio station, newspaper, magazine, and television station.

Leisure

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Public Place - Espace de Concertation; Sainte-Suzanne, Haiti

This commune offers limited options for leisure activities. The only public space in the entire commune is located in the town center, along with an undeveloped football (soccer) field that is owned by a prominent local figure who can reclaim it at any time. Football (soccer) is not a popular sport among young boys, but girls often engage in folk dances. In the evenings, some members of the community find entertainment in film screenings, which cost 5 Gdes per person ($0.04 USD). In 2008, a recreation room was constructed in the Town Center, bringing joy to the youth who previously only had access to the parish hall of the Catholic Church for end-of-year programs. This new facility provides them with an alternative venue without any limitations. Mature men, on the other hand, participate in betting at the gaguères to earn some extra income.

The town has a significant historical background, being a zone of resistance during colonial times and the American occupation. There are two forts and traces of colonial times in nearly twenty localities. Natural attractions, such as waterfalls, have also been documented. It is worth noting that visitors to Sainte-Suzanne may be surprised by the diverse colors of the soil (pink, yellow, white, etc.) found in various parts of the town.

Unfortunately, historical sites of interest like the Gorge de Foulon remain unmarked and unprotected, although they can be freely visited. It is challenging to find qualified guides to provide information about these sites. Fortunately, Haitians are generally welcoming towards foreigners and are happy to assist visitors in finding their way around.

Tourism[]

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Sainte-Suzanne, Haiti

The Commune of Sainte-Suzanne naturally has a tourist appeal, but its potential is hindered by a lack of information and research in the area, as well as issues of accessibility in certain parts of the communal sections. From the colonial hovels of the 1st Section Foulon to the Indian scriptures on stones in Gomez, remnants of the Gervé-era Indians on the island of Hispaniola can be found. Despite the rich tourist offerings such as the panoramic views from Cotelette, Morne Coco Loco, and Morne d'Haiti, as well as the historical colonial houses and waterfalls, this sector has not yet contributed significantly to the economic development of the area. Sainte-Suzanne remains somewhat isolated, even with its undeniable tourist attractions. The inaccessible regions have the potential to pique the interest of both local and foreign tourists, generating revenue for the commune.

The capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, is located 235km away, with several places of interest nearby such as Roche Platte Church, Juchereau Church, River Sarazin, and the surrounding mountains.[1]

References[]

Sainte-Suzanne, Nord-Est, Haiti [http:sainte-suzanneht.blogspot.com/p/presetation-de-sainte-suzanne-haiti.html?m=1]

Michael Vedrine

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