12896: The Bon Repos Highway (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Pascal Antoine <pascal.antoine@verizon.net>

Is there anyway to take the Bon Repos highway without passing through Cité Soleil? I just got back from a two-week trip to Haiti and had a scary incident on my last day there. Although I've made several trips and am very comfortable driving around in Haiti, on my way back from a day at the beach on the Cote Des Arcadins, we decided to take the Bon Repos highway back to Port-au-Prince to avoid traffic back ups in La Pleine.

If you remember, this shortcut had been the target of much criticism last year since Zenglendos had attacked many people traveling along it. Because of Aristide's 'Zero Tolerence' policy, we had heard that the road was no longer dangerous and decided to take it. Anyway, after following this direct, well-paved road, we found ourselves lost in Cité Soleil in the middle of the night, fearing for our lives, and looking for a way out. Everyone we would ask directions to would either run from us or ignore us. Eventually, an elderly gentleman gave us directions because, according to him, he was afraid that someone would take advantage of our situation.

We got out of there and fully realized the gravity of our situation only when my family told us how lucky we were. So again, is there anyway to take the Bon Repos highway without passing through Cité Soleil? On my flight home the next day, I was able to get a good look at the highway from the air and it looked like you had to go through Cité Soleil if you were going to take this route. Is his correct?

Thanks in advance.

Pascal Antoine
pascal@haitixchange.com
HaitiXchange
http://www.HaitiXchange.com
Peyi Nou Pap Tonbe