Friends of Belle-Riviere - Location

Belle-Rivière is only about 75 miles from Port-Au-Prince but it still takes more than four hours to drive there due to challenging road conditions particularly the six-mile stretch of mountain road from the main highway to B-R which includes three river crossings. B-R is a farming community which sells charcoal, sisal, corn, and millet, to nearby cities and towns. 

The B-R area has a population of approximately 6,000 but the core of the village is very small and the great majority of those souls are scattered in all directions. The nearest towns of size are Miragoâne, about 45 minutes (by motor vehicle) to the north and Fond des Blancs, about the same distance in the other direction. The attractiveness of the area is counterbalanced by its relative isolation, lack of infrastructure, and limited economic opportunity. The cell phone and motorcycle have modified that isolation somewhat in the last three years. Looming in the foreseeable future is the internet.

Residents of B-R

A year ago he took a job working on the island of Tortola, part of the Virgin Islands, East of Haiti. After paying for room and board he earns about $640/month, less than $8,000 a year. This photo was taken the night before he left for his second year. He can’t afford to travel back and forth. He’ll be gone the entire year. His wife cares for their two young children and works as a Ti Machann, street vendor, to supplement their income.

5/17/2012 8:37:49 PM