Most of these structures are built without the required permits and are causing flooding. They may also be linked to money laundering, according to a local expert
During heavy rains, more than a hundred houses were flooded by the “Madan Samdi” river, which runs along National Road #7 near Simon, between September 25 and 27, in southern Haiti.
Amid the chaos, local residents point to the construction of a concrete cover over the river—part of a gas station project—that blocked the drainage of the overflowing waters.
These gas stations are popping up like mushrooms across Haiti’s third-largest city. On a surface area of barely 219.11 square kilometers, about forty service stations have been identified.
“It’s a very lucrative sector,” open to “money laundering,” where owners set their own prices, explains attorney Faltinor Patrick Douyon, director of a local law school, in an interview with AyiboPost.
Many of these gas stations also house propane distributors and are built near homes, schools, restaurants, and public institutions—without any respect for safety standards meant to prevent fires or other disasters.
“I’ve never seen a single gas station built to international standards in Les Cayes,” says Wisly Jean Claude, an urban planning specialist and university professor, speaking to AyiboPost.
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The city authorities are alarmed by the uncontrolled rise of gas stations over the past five years.
On September 1, 2024, the city hall issued a municipal decree on protected areas and environmental management in Les Cayes.
According to Article 21 of that decree, the construction of new gas stations, vetiver factories, or propane stations is prohibited in the commune without an environmental impact assessment approved by the Ministry of the Environment.
However, AyiboPost observed at least three new gas stations currently under construction.
“To my knowledge, only one gas station has begun this process with the Departmental Directorate of the Ministry of the Environment,” says Jean Marc Cherizier, the ministry’s regional director for the South.
The “Madan Samdi” river, whose flow is blocked by a concrete structure built over its bed for a gas station project, had never before overflowed to such an extent, crossing the national road and violently flooding the surrounding community, according to local official Reneau Joseph.
The city hall denies any responsibility for the disorder.
“In two years of administration, the city has not signed any construction permits. These gas stations obtained their authorizations long before this municipal council took office,” says Les Cayes Mayor Claire Daphnée France.
“A letter was sent to the Ministry of the Environment requesting an environmental impact study of the gas stations in the city, to identify those that should be shut down,” she adds in another statement to AyiboPost.
AyiboPost has not seen this correspondence. Contacted by our newsroom, Cherizier from the Ministry of the Environment denied receiving any such document.
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These illegal constructions are already causing damage.
Civil Protection officials report 2,500 homes flooded in Les Cayes and the loss of 250 livestock animals during Tropical Depression #9, which hit the southern department between September 25 and 27.
The “Madan Samdi” river, whose flow is blocked by a concrete structure built over its bed for a gas station project, had never before overflowed to such an extent, crossing the national road and violently flooding the surrounding community, according to local official Reneau Joseph. “This is the first time we’ve faced flooding of this kind,” he adds.
Local residents blame the construction of a covering structure over the river, connected to this gas station, for blocking the overflow drainage from the ravine
The construction of another gas station across from a propane sales point along the Antoine Simon Airport road, also near Simon, is raising further concern.
To connect the national road to this gas station, a concrete structure was built over the river. The work was designed by engineer and architect Fritz André Sévère, according to official documents obtained by AyiboPost.
This bridge narrows the riverbed and blocks its flow, causing a sudden rise in water levels and significant damage, according to Bourdet district representative Reneau Joseph.
The local leader says he alerted the municipality to the danger of this construction—a concern confirmed by the mayor, who says she asked the regional office of the Ministry of Public Works to carry out an assessment.
Contacted by AyiboPost, the ministry’s southern regional director, engineer Hans Larieux, said he never gave a favorable opinion for the project.
“The Public Works Ministry wasn’t aware of the project before construction began. It was only after work had started that the city asked us to assess it—something that should have been done beforehand. And if construction went ahead, it’s because the city was supportive,” Larieux told AyiboPost.
During heavy rains, the river now spreads across the entire width of National Road #7, disrupting traffic. Over time, such flooding could damage the asphalt covering the road.
Contacted by AyiboPost, gas station owner Patrick Édouard said he holds both a city permit and a favorable opinion from Public Works authorities.
Asked about the narrowing of the river caused by his bridge, the businessman said he knew nothing about the technical aspects, referring instead to the “licensed” engineer in charge of the project. “It’s up to the state to dredge the riverbed to prevent these floods,” Édouard argued.
Civil engineer Berthin Félix, dispatched by AyiboPost to the site for inspection, confirmed that the structure does in fact reduce the river’s flow capacity — “a major issue for construction in Les Cayes,” he noted.
A group of frustrated local residents is planning to hold a press conference soon to denounce the flooding caused by the structure, according to a local media source.
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Meanwhile, nothing seems to stop the proliferation of gas stations in the city: twelve between downtown and Boulmier, thirteen between Cartagena and Lagodray, and another thirteen between Quatre Chemins and Desmorne, according to the city hall.
Over just 600 meters between Croix-des-Quatre-Chemins and the Ravine du Sud bridge, four stations have already been built.
At Carrefour Aurel, a “National” station sits right next to houses, facing the ONA building, surrounded by bars and restaurants.
On April 23, 2022, a gas leak in Pont Salomon caused a fire that destroyed at least two nearby houses along National Road #2.
A man riding his motorcycle on the road was caught in the explosion and severely burned.
Flooding in Les Cayes. Photo by Charles Boyer
“There were no strict regulations guiding where gas stations could be built under previous administrations,” says Bocage Pablos, a civil engineer and head of urban planning at Les Cayes city hall.
The weakness of the state in regulating this sector is one of the main factors behind the uncontrolled expansion of these facilities, observers note.
“Often, people involved in the fuel industry are also linked to illicit activities,” says former deputy for the Les Cayes/Île-à-Vache constituency, Jean David Geneste, speaking to AyiboPost.
By : Jabin Phontus
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