Anse-à-Pitres is a commune, small in size, inhabited by some 25,000 souls, founded in the year of 1844, when the Independence of the Dominican Republic was declared. The trade between Pedernales and Anse-à-Pitres takes place above all in the “Plaza de la Fraternidad”, a bi-national market full of diversity and color. The two communities share the Caribbean Sea in search of a fishery that demands greater care and better understanding every day to conserve the riches of the marine fauna of the area, which will yield better economic results for their fishermen and populations. From Anse-à-Pitres, transport is carried out with Jacmel, Haiti’s cultural center, which contributes to stimulating commercial exchanges between the two border areas. Close to Anse-à-Pitres are wonderful towns, treasures to know, such as: Mal Tipe, Trou Ibo, Konnen pa Mal and countless caves on the edge of the coast, particularly in La Saline. Going to La Visite National Park, which is located on the De La Selle mountain, and its Cabaio Peak, where the two sides of the peninsula can be seen: south of the Caribbean Sea and north of the Gulf of Gonave, constitutes an experience unforgettable trip. The city of Jacmel, capital of the Department of Southeast Haiti, is one of the cultural jewels of the entire Caribbean. Founded in 1698, it is one of the oldest cities in Haiti. Penetrating it, by cabotage, from Anse-à-Pitres, will forever mark the visitor. And stressing something already established when the fourth bi-national version of the Ecotourism and Production Fair was held, the following can be affirmed: “The Pedernales Province of the Dominican Republic and the Department of Southeast Haiti constitute one of the territorial groups where better complement and harmonize natural beauties with historical and artistic heritage, strengthening the tourist capital of the two nations. The two States, the local governments and the different organizations, private and community, as well as the regional and international cooperation organizations that interact there, must endeavor with unprecedented vigor to remove from abandonment and backwardness to such a rich area. This means that all entities are called to direct their efforts towards improving the productive and collective infrastructures of the Department of Southeast Haiti and the Pedernales Province. They must also dedicate resources and capacities in this direction, as well as supporting any initiative that favors ecotourism and sustainable production. The idea is to turn ecotourism into a true instrument of integral development. Ecotourism routes as a vector of unity and articulation of various places of tourist vocation, of localities of the same province and of regions of the two bordering countries, are ideal for sowing progress and solidarity in the heart of the border towns.
ACTIVITIES INAUGURAL PARADE: Thursday, December 02, from 2:00 p.m. at 3:00 p.m. (two groups will leave: one from the central park of Pedernales and the other from the Anse-à-Pitres Town Hall to the fairgrounds). INAUGURAL ACT: 4:00 p.m. -Exhibition and sale of products, services, technologies, crafts. Presentation of projects, reports, videos, photos, books, plastic arts. -Conferences and scientific workshops, every day: from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. -Pavilion training courses. -Artistic and cultural presentations, every afternoon and evening, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. –Except on Fridays and Saturdays which run until 12:00 p.m. -Excursions to the Jaragua, Bahoruco and La Visite, national parks, and other protected areas. -Visits to beaches, caves, cultural and religious centers, ecotourism projects. -Sports activities, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. -CLOSING CEREMONY: Sunday, December 12, to 4:00 p.m. -CLOSING PARTY: from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Text: José Serulle Ramia and Jacqueline Boin, Ciencia y Arte Foundation Art: Sandino Neftalí Rodríguez Mercado Translation from Spanish to English: Nicole Nelson
Fundación Ciencia y Arte, Inc. Ave. Sarasota #.91. Edif. Géminis, Apto. 2D. Ens. Bella Vista, Sto Dgo, D.N. Rep.Dom. Email:fundacioncienciayarte@yahoo.com. 809-621-8890. www.fca.org.do. RNC: 401502283
CONTEXT
A collective effort that strengthens links between peoples and states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic The eighth version of the Binational Ecotourism and Production Fair will take place from 02 to December 12, 2021. Its setting is a farm located on the border of the Municipality of Pedernales, Pedernales Province, Dominican Republic, and the Haitian Commune of Anse -à-Pitres, in Belle Anse, Department of the Southeast of the Republic of Haiti. The two border communities will return, as in 2010, when the fourth Binational Ecotourism and Production Fair (14th version in historical terms) was held, to combine their efforts and their capacities for the successful achievement of an activity that seeks to raise the level of development of each country, strengthening ties of cooperation and solidarity between the border towns of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and promoting the development of ecotourism. The binational fair is part of the process of organizing the Ecotourism and Production Fair that the Science and Art Foundation, Inc., has sponsored and organized since 1997 in different parts of the Dominican Republic, and that, after 2004, has also been carried out bi-nationally with Haiti. Likewise, given the scope it has been taking, it was decided that, as of 2014, it should be carried out every three years on a global basis. This eighth binational version corresponds, therefore, in historical terms, to the 24th.
Ecotourism and Production Fair. Since the beginning of this activity in the Dominican Republic, the Foundation for the Development of Alternative Tourism in Haiti (Fondtah) and the Puente Haiti Center have developed ties of solidarity and work with the Fundación Ciencia y Arte, Inc. Responding to a communion of ideas about the island’s past, present and future, the three organizations agreed to hold the binational Ecotourism and Production Fair on a regular basis in a different location and to alternate their headquarters on the two sides of the border. Through a significant effort to coordinate, raise awareness, organize, promote and seek participation from the broadest sectors and communities of both countries, the three organizations have managed to carry out seven binational versions. On this occasion, the municipalities of Anse-à-Pitres and Pedernales, the Provincial Government of Pedernales, the representatives of the Congress of both areas, the Pedernales Ecotourism Cluster and the community, artistic and business entities of both sides of the border. It will also have the active participation of the two governments, companies from the two countries and cooperation agencies. The Haitian Ministry of Planning will continue, as in previous versions carried out in the Haitian territory, providing all its support in institutional coordination for the successful achievement of the activity. In recognition of the hard work carried out by entities such as Plan International, Dominican and Haitian Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the border life of
the two nations, they will participate as SPECIAL GUESTS. The Fundación Ciencia y Arte, Inc., Centro Puente Haiti and Fondtah, as well as the communities involved in the different versions of the fair, have become aware that the development of ecotourism and sustainable production are real options to guide the region towards comprehensive development. Ecotourism is an ideal instrument to guarantee, at the provincial and national levels, the rational use of natural resources, the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of cultural identity. It also contributes, at the international level, to spreading the idea that it is necessary to respect cultural and biological diversity as a concrete way to achieve integral development, progress and peace. This collective work has strengthened the wishes of the organizers to continue promoting the task of bringing the two peoples closer each day, to strengthen their relations and to contribute to promoting the development of each nation. THE BINATIONAL FAIR ECOTOURISM AND PRODUCTION: OBJECTIVES, CONTENT AND SCOPE
The binational versions have had the following places and dates as a stage: the Fonds-
Parisien / Jimaní Natural Park, from November 20 to December 5, 2004; Dajabón / Ouanaminthe, from March 25 to April 9, 2006; Belladere / Elías Piña, from March 1 to 16, 2008, Pedernales / Anse-à-Pitres, from July 10 to 25, 2010; Savanette / Hondo Valle, from November 30 to December 15, 2013; Comendador / Belladere, from November 7 to 15, 2015; Lascahobas / Comendador, from December 3 to 11, 2016. The slogans that have defined the general content of the binational editions, in the previously established order of the binational Ecotourism and Production Fair, are: Let’s preserve the Azüei and Enriquillo lakes! Let’s protect our border rivers! For a rational management of the hydrographic basins! For protected areas and sustainable tourism! For the preservation of the Artibonito Basin and the continuity of the bi-national ecotourism and production route! For the integral development of the Haitian-Dominican border! The binational Ecotourism and Production Fair commits Haitian and Dominican regions in its organization, promotion and implementation. It mobilizes, in a given area, a set of institutions, people and actors in general, who promote and encourage ecotourism and promote comprehensive development. In this sense, the fair is a catalyst for a movement of progress in the region. In its binational version, this activity constitutes a process of sensitization, education, promotion and organization of the Dominican and Haitian communities that is carried out both in their preparatory activities and during their celebration, around the criteria widely demonstrated in previous binational versions: “ if the two peoples strengthen and harmonize their relations, add and articulate efforts, the possibilities of both developing are greater ”. Both populations accept this
principle without problems. Throughout the preparation process, the economic, social, cultural and environmental situation of the region is studied, in order to identify obstacles to development, as well as the potentialities and the formulation of projects and action plans. One of the essential characteristics of this binational action lies in the fact that it leads to programmatic approaches based on decentralized cooperation, given the preponderant place that is granted to the honorable municipalities. In this way, the Dominican municipalities and the Haitian communes, on both sides of the border, discuss their common interests, their particular plans for local development and work in search of solidarity relations and regional synergies. The different levels of the two States, especially their local governments, have been, in one way or another, involved in this important exercise. It has been, therefore, a very valuable experience of unity of efforts, wills and capacities of the two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, of their States - in particular of their local governments - and populations. This work has confirmed both the need and the possibility that both nations go together in defining policies and goals that can improve, at all levels, their commercial and economic relations in general, artistic-cultural, educational, health and diplomatic, as well as promoting the development process of each nation. Among other elements, the importance of properly preserving and managing the immense cultural and biological heritage that is proper to the entire island has
been demonstrated. The organization of the seven binational versions has favored, at both the regional and national levels, the strengthening of relations between Haitians and Dominicans, has contributed to multiplying their economic, inter-institutional and cultural exchanges and, in this way, has influenced the development of each country. As we saw, the approach and harmonization of relations between neighbors must be carried out on the basis of a conscious and reciprocal knowledge of their own realities, at the levels of their geography, their history, and their natural and cultural resources. Consequently, a scientific program will be formulated to deepen this knowledge. The Dominican Republic and Haiti have many common interests and objectives, but also particular ones. However, they must always work together for the defense of their common interests and cooperate in achieving their own objectives. Border areas have features similar to all regions of a country. They also have features inherent in their boundary characteristic. The issue of the development of the Dominican-Haitian border is of interest to both countries. The general motto that the organizers of the activity have defined for this version, due to the nature and scope that it will have, is: FOR THE INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT OF BORDER PEOPLES AND THE PROMOTION OF ECOTOURISM!
ANSE-A-PITRES AND PEDERNALES: TWO JEWELS OF THE CARIBBEAN Anse-à-Pitres and Pedernales have enormous potential to develop ecotourism and promote comprehensive development. Since 2012, the creation of the “La Selle” Biosphere Reserve was approved, including a set of twelve communes, distributed in the Western and Southeast Departments of Haiti. These are: Ganthier, Thomazeau, Fonds-Verrettes, Kenscoff, Croix des Bouquets on the west coast, and Thiotte, Grand Gosier, Belle Anse, Cayes-Jacqmel, Marigot, Anse-à-Pitres, on the southeast coast. In this context, the Anse-à-Pitres municipal park project is of particular importance. This park, as an extension of the recently created La Selle Biosphere Reserve, falls in the zone of influence of the Cuba-Haiti-Dominican Republic biological corridor. The habitat of the species that claim to be protected is located on both sides of the HaitianDominican border. On the Dominican side, there is already a protected area in order to preserve threatened species that are endemic to this part of the island. Pedernales is located at the extremity of the south west of the Dominican Republic. Limited to the north by the Independencia Province and to the south by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by the Barahona Province and to the west by the Caribbean Sea and the Anse-à-Pitres Commune. Pedernales is endowed with the two most important national parks in the Dominican Republic: Bahoruco and Jaragua, the latter being proposed, in November 2001, by UNESCO as a world
heritage site. The Jaragua National Park and its buffer zone represent in a special and incomparable way the typical nature of the Antilles. It is a unique sample under protection of the ecosystems that belong to the important biogeographical provinces of the island of Quisqueya and the Antilles. The natural beauty of the Pedernales Province makes the Dominican State consider it as the fourth tourist pole in the country. Of course, the tourism that takes place there has to be attached to the care of the immense natural wealth that its environment houses. Thus, this area as a whole, ANSE-A-PITRES / PEDERNALES contains one of the greatest assets in biological diversity and ecosystems in the Caribbean Region and in the world. Its towns are very representative of the expressions proper to the culture of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Pedernales Province is the least populated and the furthest from the urban centers of the Dominican Republic. However, it is the richest in biological diversity and has the largest number of ecosystems, also characterized by its great variety of reliefs, climates and landscapes. Visiting this province is taking a tour of the most peculiar places on the planet: the Jaragua National Park, the Bahoruco National Park, the Cabo Rojo-Aceitillar panoramic road, the Bay of Eagles, the Alto Velo and Beata islands, the Oviedo Lagoon, Arroyo Salado, Juancho Bay and Los Cocos wind farm. The same happens with Anse-à-Pitres, a town that, due to the state of its roads, is very far from Haitian cities, and which is married by the mountain to La Visite de Haití National Park, where there is natural potential, Historical and cultural impressive for the boom in activities related to ecotourism. Of course, since such a beautiful park is not exploited, this leaves a large part of the population and the territory in abandonment, isolation and poverty.