ARTICLE - REHABILITATION OF TABARRE 15

REHABILITATION OF TABARRE 15
(Haiti Libre) -

After three months of rehabilitation and sanitation work on the unpaved road, 2.5 km have been rehabilitated, 1.7 km of drains constructed, 2.5 kilometers of drainage ditches curated, 5 cassis built and 2 culverts reinforced.

In addition to facilitating the lives of people in the area, Tabarre 15 is useful for the general population. It connects the National Road 1 to Croix-des-Missions and the crossroads Clercine to Tabarre where there are often traffic jams. This road is now an alternative to relieve traffic congestion.

The work was done by workers employed under schemas of intensive labor (LI), which o employ 171 neighborhood residents and provide them with a financial resource as well. The project was funded by the United Nations Development Fund in the amount of $150,000 dollars through funds from the European Union and implemented by the OBEDDC.

"The road was constantly littered with solid waste and debris of destroyed houses following the earthquake of January 12, 2010. The situation worsened with the arrival of displaced persons who came to take refuge, which has increased significantly the unhealthiness in these areas" explained Jean François Michelet, project manager of the Organization for the welfare of underprivileged children and for community development (OBEDDC). "The uncollected waste flows down the streets during heavy rains. Pedestrian traffic is virtually impossible in the rainy season and children are struggling to go to school because of standing water on the road. The impracticality of these pathways remain a major constraint blocking the economic and social activities for residents of these areas."

"It is very important to ensure the monitoring of the project. If not the latest work will be for nothing. If maintenance is not performed regularly, this road will quickly deteriorate again. We must be organized into a community, taking turns to protect this road with adoquin or concrete," asserts Ludner Remarais, Departmental Director of the Western Department of the Environment and member of the departmental committee of validation of projects.

Indeed, a permanent management structure of the road has been developed by the project and it is composed of members of the neigborhood community. This neighborhood committee is responsible for setting up maintenance activities, in rotation with other members.

"The work has been done with and for the community through the combined efforts of all stakeholders: employees from the neighborhood, neighborhood officials, city hall, the technical staff of the OBDECC and UNDP. This project is the proof that the motivation of workers associated with the technical skills of an operator can produce visible and sustainable results," and contribute to the reconstruction of Haiti, "concludes Marc-André Franche, Deputy Director of UNDP in Haiti.