Ex-Mayor Michel Saint-Croix returns to lead Cap-Haïtien amid deepening sanitation crisis

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Ex-Mayor Michel Saint-Croix officially returned to lead Cap-Haïtien on Friday, inheriting a city mired in worsening sanitation problems, deteriorating infrastructure and growing public frustration over living conditions in Haiti’s second-largest municipality.

Saint-Croix, a businessman and founder of Rescue Training School (EFOSA), now heads a three-member interim municipal commission alongside nurse Edline Jean and lawyer-political activist Micardo Vréus. The group replaces the outgoing commission led by Angeline “Angie” Bell, whose roughly eight-month tenure coincided with mounting criticism over garbage accumulation, flooding risks and deteriorating roads across the northern city.

“The challenges are enormous, but many hands make the load lighter,” Saint-Croix said during his inaugural speech.

“If I told you I was going to resolve Cap-Haïtien’s problems alone, that would be a lie. But together, we can overcome the challenges,” he added, calling for unity and collaboration.

The swearing-in ceremony, a low-key event but filled with anticipation, took place at the Court of First Instance in downtown Cap-Haïtien, followed by an inauguration ceremony at the town’s City Hall attended by local officials, central government representatives and some residents.

Saint-Croix previously served as mayor from 2006 to 2011, after being elected in the 2006 elections. His return comes after repeated leadership reshuffles at City Hall and amid growing concerns that local authorities have struggled to keep pace with the city’s rapid urban deterioration. 

His appointment by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s government reignited controversy over allegations of financial misconduct during his first term.

He was allegedly accused by Haiti’s Superior Court of Accounts of embezzlement tied to his earlier administration. However, speaking to reporters on May 7, Saint-Croix denied those allegations. He also alluded to them in his inaugural speech as “the work of detractors,” seeking to undermine his credibility and the good work he has done for the city.

For many residents, Cap-Haïtien is no longer the city Saint-Croix managed a decade and a half ago. It has undergone rapid population growth fueled by displacement following the 2010 earthquake, gang violence in Port-au-Prince and migration linked to perceived economic opportunities. 

As a result, local officials estimate the metropolitan area’s population has grown to roughly 700,000 residents, tripling in less than two decades and placing enormous pressure on drainage systems, roads and waste management infrastructure. 

 Mounting frustration as crisis persists                                                                                                                                          

For years, Cap-Haïtien residents have complained about mounting piles of garbage clogging drainage canals, ravines and major roadways, particularly in low-lying neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding during Haiti’s rainy season.

The worsening environmental conditions triggered several days of protests in late April, during which residents blocked roads and demanded government intervention to address the sanitation crisis. Protesters accused municipal authorities of failing to manage waste collection and prevent environmental degradation amid the city’s rapid population growth.

In response to the unrest, an interministerial delegation, including representatives from the Ministries of Public Works, Environment, and the Interior and Local Governments, visited Cap-Haïtien earlier this month to assess the situation, which led to Bell’s dismissal.

Municipal authorities had previously partnered with Pro Public SAM — the local firm overseeing a $34.8 miillion waste management project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) — and Dominican waste management company Cilpen Global to improve garbage collection. But residents say waste continues to overwhelm the city’s limited infrastructure.

Blocked drainage basins and damaged roads have heightened concerns about flooding and public health risks, especially ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season.

During the inauguration ceremony, North Departmental Delegate Marc N. Présumé underscored the urgency of the crisis and urged the new commission to focus on concrete results rather than political speeches.

“Cap-Haïtien does not lack rhetoric but visible results,” Présumé said.

He pointed to vulnerable areas such as nearby Morne Pica, Couleuvre Ravine in Vertières and major watersheds that require urgent intervention to reduce flooding and improve sanitation.

Saint-Croix concurred and acknowledged the scale of the city’s problems. He promised a practical approach centered on reorganization and recovery.

“I was called upon, and here I am,” he said.

Among the priorities announced by the new commission are watershed management, road rehabilitation and efforts to reduce disorder in the city center. Saint-Croix also pledged to clear sidewalks occupied by street vendors, reorganize downtown parking, create designated areas for impounded vehicles and establish surveillance teams to combat illegal dumping.

The commission also plans to rehabilitate roads linking Madeline and Morne Rouge to downtown Cap-Haïtien.

Saint-Croix praised one of his predecessors, Patrick Almonor, describing him as an experienced administrator who would continue to assist with municipal operations during the transition.

The leadership change comes as municipalities across Haiti face mounting pressure from residents frustrated by deteriorating public services, weak infrastructure and limited financial resources.

For Cap-Haïtien — considered a major economic, tourism and historical hub in northern Haiti — the effectiveness of the new commission could carry broader implications for regional stability and development.

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