GEO Haiti 2010

GEO HAITI • 2010
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In 2006, computer-users of 40 years-old and
more, represented less than 5% of users, while
80% of users were between 20 and 39 years of
age. Conversely, the cybercafé users are younger
– while 60% of costumers were under 35 in 2002,
nearly 65% of users in 2006 were under 30, the
majority of these between 20 and 30 years old.
• Telephony
According to a study by AHSI, carried out by the
Haitian Bureau of Computer Science and Economic
and Social Development (BRIDES), and published
by the Sustainable Development Network of Haiti
(RDDH) in 2006, the mobile phone has gained a
strong entry into the communication sector. The
presence of household mobile phones is about
two and a half times more important than that of
fixed telephones. The RDHH states (2006): “Of the
thirteen cities surveyed, the overall coverage is
34.8% for fixed lines against 82.4% for cell phones”.
Despite the fact that the use of this technology is
quite recent in Haiti, households are already very
familiar with it.
Phone usage is strongly approved by nearly
94.1% of the population, with 80% of surveyed
households satisfied, despite occasional
malfunctioning. Telephony is now considered the
main source of information and communication
in Haiti, equally with the Internet. It seems that a
further study on this subject is necessary as the
habits of the population indicate that the situation
has evolved significantly.
• Transportation
Three modes of transportation – by road, sea and
air – have been contemplated as answering to
the population’s needs. However, each suffers of
serious deficiencies.
According to the MWPTC (Ministry of Public Works,
Transport and Communication; mtptc.gouv.
ht), the country has lost 30% of its road network
during the past fifteen years. Roads, whether main
or secondary, are in poor condition and even the
capital, Port-au-Prince, has many dirt and unpaved
streets or in very poor condition. Sometimes, there
are no adequate roads connecting adjacent areas,
and few provincial cities have a fairly accessible
public transportation system.
The situation in shipping is no different. Maritime
activities are concentrated around a few ports
where the infrastructure and facilities have
largely degraded. Maritime operations are poorly
managed and the service offered is totally
inadequate by international standards.
Air transportation is mainly centralized at the
airport in Port au Prince, which has not yet attained
international standards. This airport, alike the
country’s other airport infrastructure, is aging and
poorly adapted, and unable to meet local, regional
and international air traffic needs.
4.2 Social Conditions
4.2.1 Education
School attendance among the population aged 6
years and over is 68.5% in urban areas and around
57.4% in rural areas. Around 60% of children aged
6 to 11 years attend school. Once again, the rural
areas are disadvantaged, with only about 50% of
children in the same category attending school.
The rate of secondary-school attendance is around
22% (IHSI, 2003).
Private schools receive an overwhelming majority
of children at the pre-school and primary levels
(kindergarten, grades 1-3 and 4-6) as well as at the
secondary level. For these three categories, private
schools register, respectively, 95%, 81% and 74%
of the school population, compared to enrolment
in the public schools, for these same categories, of
5%, 8% and 9% (Table 11).