EXPLOITING
EDEN
Île-à-Vache

A. GOVERNING BY DECREE

On May 5, 2013, the Government declares the island a reserved area of ​​public interest,

investors in the sector, ignore property titles and constitution, which protects the right to property of citizens, especially from foreigners.

B. CONSIDERATIONS

20 August 2013. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and Tourism Minister Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin, among others, lay the foundation stone of the construction of an international airport (Bois Boutout). A community center (Kay-Kòk). A Cantina (Kay-Kòk). A radio station (Twou-milye). The government builds fountains, playgrounds, a mini-hospital center, puts solar streetlights ... The project is part of a global and tourist vision of Haiti with a social and many say that it is only a marquetry to cover up private interests on the part of the former Prime Minister.

C. CREATION OF KOPI

December 2013. Following road construction and certain abuses by the institutions as evictions without prior notice, violence etc. the community begins to protest

peacefully and forms a local group called KOPI (Collective for Île-à-Vache). In response, the

government tries to stop them by all possible means: blackmail, defamation, imprisonment ...alleged assassination of the leader. Despite this, KOPI continues to organize demosntrations over and over again. The tension and the police presence increases.