Terre Neuve (Kreyòl: Tenèv; English: Newfoundland) is a commune of Artibonite, Haiti, located 24 km (15 mi) north of the city of Gonaïves. The population was 31,252 at the 2015 census. Terre Neuve is one of the oldest municipalities in the Artibonite Department. It was elevated to the rank of commune under the government of President Elie Lescot.
Welcome sign
About[]
The village is located in a charming valley created by two mountains, not too far from Grand Port-a-Piment, which is well-known for its hot springs and used to have a small settlement. A branch of the Trois Rivieres River flows nearby. Terre Neuve was established prior to 1789 in an area that produced coffee, cotton, and wood suitable for construction and dyeing. The region also features caves with golden sand (Mica, known as cat's gold) and formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Additionally, there are iron and copper mines where Spanish tools have been discovered. The source of the Montaca River can be found in the Terre Neuve mountains.
Moreau de Saint Mery described Terre-Neuve as a depression (geologic) toward Gonaives, abundant with reserves of iron and copper, with deposits starting from the surface. Father Thimothee and Mr. Gauche explored the area in 1785 and their findings were documented by the Societe des Sciences et Arts du Cap. This place may be one of the richest in the world in terms of these minerals. In 1904, Mr. Ed Roumain was granted the copper mines of Terre-Neuve by the government. The plain of Port-A-Piment is known for its abundant plant life, while the ranches provide livestock and horses. In the 18th century, the canton was home to various wild animals, including guinea fowl, wood pigeons, parrots, turtledoves, and crows. The nearby shores are full of fish.
History[]
Artist at work in Terre-Neuve, Haiti
Terre-Neuve, one of the oldest communes in the Republic, has a mysterious origin and uncertain founding date. It gained recognition as a Member of the House of Representatives after President Boyer's departure. In late 1793, Toussaint Louverture claimed Terre-Neuve for Spain, but the French took control the following year.
Around 1820, it became a full commune with its own officials and council of elders. The law of October 17, 1821 solidified its status as a commune in the canton of Gonaïves (which at the time consisted of four municipalities, Gonaïves (capital), Ennery, Gros-Morne, and Terre-Neuve). In 1843, it became a commune in the Gonaïves Arrondissement, which had ten communes at the time (Gonaïves, Ennery, Gros-Morne, Terre-Neuve, Marmelade, Saint-Michel-de-l'Atalaye, Hinche, Banica and Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite).
S Ex. Mr de Jh. Victor was Count of Terre-Neuve under the Empire in 1849.
Former setup
Terre-Neuve was initially divided into five communal sections upon its establishment:
- 1. Brabant Bois-Neuf
2. de Darane
3. de Bras-a-droite
4. de Port-a-Piment and
5. de Grand Port-a-Piment.
Geography[]
Town Center of Terre Neuve, Haiti
According to the IHSI, this commune has a total area of 176.83 square kilometers (68.27 sq. mi), of which 127.79 km2 (72%) is rural, 48.93 km2 (28%) is suburban, and 0.11 km2 (>1%) is urban. It currently has three communal sections (Dolan, Bois-Neuf, and Lagon). It is bordered on the north by the Northwestern Department city of Port-de-Paix, on the east by the city of Gros-Morne, on the southeast by the city Gonaïves, and on the west by the town of Anse-Rouge. Its terrain consists primarily of mountains and its climate varies from cool to moderate. The town lies along the valley surrounding the Rivière Colombier and its tributary brooks. Set between two smaller ranges that are a western extension of the Northern Mountain Range, Terre-Neuve includes the summit of Morne Degas, elevation 919 meters (3,015 feet) above sea level. The mountain, located within the town's 1st section, is the highest point in the Artibonite Department.
The law of November 20, 1821 fixed the precise distance of this commune from the capital at 47 leagues.
Neighborhoods
| TNV | Terre-Neuve | 31,252 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTN | Ville de Terre-Neuve | Urban | 1,396 | ||
| DOL | 1ère Section Doland | Rural | 11,897 | Bivac, Bois-d'Huis, Bois-Pite, Ca Bodin, Ca Lanmac, Ca Roi, Darang, Digoterie, Dolan, Fond-Georges, Fond-Sarasin, Grande-Ravine, La Fortune, Mapou, Miguinda, Moulin-Bassin, Nan Fond, Nan Gouman, Nan Paul, Perdu-Temps, Platon-Dumé, Platonnanmas, Terre Neuve. | |
| BNF | 2ème Section Bois Neuf | Rural section | 7,198 | Avocat, Bassin-Tortue, Ca Louis, Grand-Jour, La Cour-Paletot, Nan Nicotte, Savane-Longue, Troupeau | |
| LAG | 3ème Section Lagon | Rural | 10,571 | Bois-Neuf, Bras-à-droite, Ca Philippe, Ca Roche, Cote-Garde, Derrière-Lagon, Fond-Lagon, Lagon, Merci, Nan Canot, Nan Figuier, Vieux-Camp, Voûte-Rouge |   Lagon; Terre Neuve, Haiti |
Demographics
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 7,000 | |
| 1969 | 15,953 | +128% |
| 1998 | 24,370 | +53% |
| 2003 | 17,045 | -30% |
| 2015 | 31,252 | +83% |
Climate[]
Terre-Neuve experiences a diverse climate with typical patterns, including a brief dry season from January to mid-May and a rainy season from mid-May to November. However, the heavy rainfall contributes to soil erosion and the occurrence of ravinement.
Geology
Geologically, Terre-Neuve is characterized by a series of anticlines, forming a mountain range with small valleys. Some areas of the region have abundant high-flow springs. In the Bois-Neuf(2nd) section, all the rivers converge to create the Terre-Neuve River. Unfortunately, at Cotton, (a locality in the second section), the water flow is absorbed by sand, resulting in the Plain de l'Arbre (in Anse-Rouge) being the only plain in the country without a river. Additionally, Terre-Neuve is rich in minerals, including iron and copper deposits, bauxite, and limestone, which can be transformed into marble.
Economy[]
Marketplace of Terre Neuve, Haiti
The local economy is based on agriculture, with a focus on market gardening, cotton picking, and tobacco leaf collection. The commune specializes in growing crops like peas, corn, millet, yam, potato, and cassava, as well as various fruits including mangoes, avocados, oranges, lemons, figs, and bananas. Terre-Neuve stands out as one of the few communes in the country that provides mangoes for export.
Terre-Neuve is situated in a significant mining area, particularly known for copper mining, as well as the extraction of iron, gold, lead, zinc, and silver.
In terms of Economic and Financial Establishments, there is a marketing cooperative present in Terre-Neuve, with other establishments being non-existent in the commune.
Infrastructure[]
Transportation
The commune of Terre-Neuve is located in the Greater Gonaïves Area, which has accommodating sea, air and highway facilities. Route Communale 100-K provides a direct link to Route Nationale 1.
Administration
In the image of the country State services are not fully insured. However, the commune is known as one of the communes of the department supplying the schools of Gonaïves with smart and bright pupils who have, for several decades, occupied important places in private and public institutions in the country. Yet, for some time, it has faced serious problems.
Education
The Ministry of National Education of Youth and Sports is represented in the municipality of Terre-Neuve by a school inspection office. The manager is an inspector, responsible for supervising the activities. The schools counted are: one private school at kindergarten; elementary level, six public schools, one congregational and a number of private schools. At the secondary level, there is only one private school.
Health
The Ministry of Public Health and Population is not represented in the commune of Terre-Neuve, but there is a nurse, in charge of controlling the operation of a health center. Nurse is assisted by an assistant.
Terre Neuve Medical Center
It was under a scorching sun, in front of a crowd crowded under tarpaulins, that the Terre-Neuve Health Center was inaugurated last Wednesday. This unique center of Terre-Neuve in theGros-Morne borough, of the Artibonite, serves an estimated population of 30,000 inhabitants. In the heart of the city, just a stone's throw from the Catholic Church and close to the market, the two-story building is the pride of Paula Caldwell St-Onge, maple country ambassador. Canada continues to be proud to partner with the Haitian government, the health sector. This partnership has allowed Terre-Neuve to contribute to the priorities of the Haitian government through several projects whose fundamental objective is to improve the health of the Haitian population. This includes the construction of several health facilities in the Artibonite department. [1] This new health structure is divided into two modules: the main building built on two levels and a zone of services. The main building comprises the ground floor. Two poles structure the health center: internal medicine and mother-children. There is the clinic with its two consultation rooms, a dressing room, a laboratory, an inpatient room; the maternity ward with a delivery room, a work room, a room for babies, a prenatal room. And in addition, a waiting room for women about to give birth. It should be noted that this center has a waste zone including three incinerators and a placentas pit. The Minister praised Canada's support for the health, water and sanitation programs in which it is involved in Artibonite.
Utilities
The municipality of Terre-Neuve has two rivers and three springs. There are also twelve faucets for domestic use.
Security
With respect to the administrative and judicial infrastructure, the municipality of Terre-Neuve has a peace court located in the city and there is a prison. The garrison is made up of a gendarmerie company, an administrative police force, an artillery from Gonaives, the national guard on foot and on horseback, and rural police.
Administration
As of December 2021
Town Hall
  Joanel Raymond |
  Evelyne Louissant |
  Celony Accelon |
Culture[]
Religion
Eglise paroisse St-Laurent
Nearly 37 temples of all beliefs have been enumerated in the commune of Newfoundland. These confessions are mainly: Catholic, Baptist and Adventist. Patronal feast is October 8 at Saint-Brigite.
Organizations
For political parties and organizations, they are very few: only two grassroots organizations, one NGO and two international organizations were counted in the commune.
Communication
Terre-Neuve does not have a radio station, newspaper / magazine or television station. Sometimes it is necessary to combine networks to have a more or less stable connection; cyber cafes are in demand.
Leisure
As for Leisure, the town has no library, museum, theater, nor cinema. There are only seven gâguères.
Michael Vedrine
References[]
Terre-Neuve [2]
"Discovering town of Terre-Neuve" - Haiti Observer [3]
Terre-Neuve - Romuald Bouchard, Facebook. Apr 20, 2024 [4]
Terre-Neuve - Bernardo Pierre, Facebook. Apr 20, 2024 [5]
Terre-Neuve - Asly Serin, Facebook. Apr 20, 2024 [6]