Following incomplete and confusing information, disseminated on social networks reporting cases of anarchic stone logging on the Marigot coastline, the Ministry of the Environment informs the general public that a delegation led by Mrs. Nicole Yolette Altidor , the Director General of the Ministry composed of executive of the office went to this Commune at the beginning of March, to investigate the veracity of the information disseminated.

Several interviews were carried out, in particular with the executives of the Departmental Department of the South-East Environment (DDE / SE), the Departmental Delegate assisted by his Secretary General, the Mayor of the Municipality of Marigot and two other executives of the Bureau of Mines and Energy dispatched there for the same reasons.

Given the data collected and in order to clarify the situation, the Ministry of Environment considers it appropriate to shed full light on this file in order to restore the truth of the facts.

Recall of facts :

In July 2017, the Haitian firm of Cayes-Jacmel "AQUIMEL" asked and obtained in the first place from the Mayor of Marigot an authorization to exploit the pebbles of the coast of this town. It also sought and obtained from the Bureau of Mines and Energy, an authorization to export a cargo of pebbles to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, to test the market.

Alerted by this situation, the Departmental Department of the South-East Environment wrote, on August 19, 2017, to the Marigot Town Hall through the DDE / SE, to demand the immediate cessation of operations.

In order to reinforce this decision, Pierre Simon Georges, the Minister of the Environment, on September 26, 2017, wrote to Max Rudolph Saint-Albin, the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities, to request his support for requesting to the Mayor of Marigot to obey. An intervention that has proved fruitful, since since that date, by a municipal decree, the Marigot Town Hall has banned all stone mining operations.

The Ministry of the Environment regrets that the firm "AQUIMEL" was able to obtain the authorization to act, without having been consulted in advance to obtain an environmental no objection. While reiterating its strong commitment to conserve and protect the marine ecosystems of Haiti, the Ministry invites citizens and authorities concerned, to be vigilant and in solidarity to counter any attempt of new offenses.

HL/ HaitiLibre