Gonaïves
Encyclopedia
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti
, the capital of the Artibonite Department
. It has a population of about 104,825 people (2003 census). The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city". The Bay of Gonaïves is named after the town.
, the Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres
was fought near Gonaïves.
declared Haiti, the former Saint-Domingue
, independent from France on January 1, 1804 by reading the Act of Independence, drafted by Boisrond Tonnerre, on the Place d'Armes of the town.
Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
, the wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, died here in August 1858.
, and on February 5, 2004, a group calling itself the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front seized control of the city, starting the 2004 Haïtian rebellion. But in recent years the city has seen a complete return to calmness.
In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne
caused major flooding and mudslides in the city.
Four years later, the city was again devastated by another storm, Hurricane Hanna
, which killed 529 people, mostly in flooded sections of Gonaïves, where the destruction was described as "catastrophic" and 495 bodies were discovered as late as September 5. Haitian authorities said the tally could grow once officials are able to make their way through Gonaïves. "The assessment is only partial, because it is impossible to enter the city for the moment", Gonaïves Mayor Stephen Moise said. At least 48,000 people from the Gonaïves areas were forced into shelters.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, the capital of the Artibonite Department
Artibonite Department
Artibonite is one of the ten departments of Haiti. With an area of 4,984 km² it is Haiti's largest department. Artibonite has a population of 1,168,800 . The region is the country's main rice-growing area. The main cities are Gonaïves and Saint-Marc...
. It has a population of about 104,825 people (2003 census). The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city". The Bay of Gonaïves is named after the town.
The Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres
In 1802 an important battle of the Haitian RevolutionHaitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
, the Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres
Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres
The Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres was a major battle of the Haitian Revolution. A French division under General Donatien Rochambeau was advancing down a ravine , towards the city of Lacroix, Haiti...
was fought near Gonaïves.
Haitian independence
Gonaïves is also known as Haiti's City of Independence because it was there that Jean-Jacques DessalinesJean-Jacques Dessalines
Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1801 constitution. Initially regarded as Governor-General, Dessalines later named himself Emperor Jacques I of Haiti...
declared Haiti, the former Saint-Domingue
Saint-Domingue
The labour for these plantations was provided by an estimated 790,000 African slaves . Between 1764 and 1771, the average annual importation of slaves varied between 10,000-15,000; by 1786 it was about 28,000, and from 1787 onward, the colony received more than 40,000 slaves a year...
, independent from France on January 1, 1804 by reading the Act of Independence, drafted by Boisrond Tonnerre, on the Place d'Armes of the town.
Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité was the Empress of Haiti as the spouse of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.- Background :She was born in Léogane to a poor but free family as the daughter of Bonheur Guillaume and Marie-Élisabeth Sainte-Lobelot. She was educated by her aunt Elise Lobelot, who was the...
, the wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, died here in August 1858.
Recent history
In the early 2000s, Gonaïves was the scene of substantial rioting and violence primarily motivated by opposition to President Jean-Bertrand AristideJean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide is a Haitian former Catholic priest and politician who served as Haiti's first democratically elected president. A proponent of liberation theology, Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies...
, and on February 5, 2004, a group calling itself the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front seized control of the city, starting the 2004 Haïtian rebellion. But in recent years the city has seen a complete return to calmness.
In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne was the deadliest hurricane in the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the tenth named storm, the seventh hurricane, and the fifth major hurricane of the season, as well as the third hurricane and fourth named storm of the season to make landfall in Florida...
caused major flooding and mudslides in the city.
Four years later, the city was again devastated by another storm, Hurricane Hanna
Hurricane Hanna (2008)
Hurricane Hanna was the deadliest storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm was the eighth tropical cyclone and fourth hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands on August 28...
, which killed 529 people, mostly in flooded sections of Gonaïves, where the destruction was described as "catastrophic" and 495 bodies were discovered as late as September 5. Haitian authorities said the tally could grow once officials are able to make their way through Gonaïves. "The assessment is only partial, because it is impossible to enter the city for the moment", Gonaïves Mayor Stephen Moise said. At least 48,000 people from the Gonaïves areas were forced into shelters.
Media
- www.radio newstarfm.com
- Tele Radio new star fm 99.9 Chaine 13
- Radio Continentale 99.5 FM
- Radio Sun 91.3 FM
- Radio Independence 101.5 FM stations affiliées: radio Metropole 100.1 www.metropolehaiti.com Lavwadlamerik www.voanews.com/creole
- Radio Mega Max 95.9 FM
- Radio Kiss FM 96.9 www.kissfmhaiti.com
- Radio Provinciale 95.3 FM
- Radio Pyramide FM
- Radio Trans-Artibonite
- Radio Gonaïves 97.7 FM
- Radio Trans Atlantique 102.5 FM
- Radio explosion
- Radio Etincelle
- Radio Nouvelle Vision Chrétienne
- Radio Intrepide 97.3 FM
- Radio Tambou FM
- Radio Express FM
- Radio Classic Inter FM
- Radio 4VEG FM
- Radio Espace FM
- Radio KL 2000 FM
- Radio Super Vision FM
- Radio Megamax FM
- Radio Main Dans La Main FM
- Radio Clarté 103.9 FM
- Radio Vision 2000 98.1 FM
- Radio Télé 2004 (101.1FM)