The city of Les Cayes, Haiti
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The ancient town of Les Cayes has a rich history. It was founded in 1786. Simon Boliver, a man who is considered as a South American liberator, came to Les Cayes in the early 1800’s to accept the troops he was offered by Haiti to help him fight against the Spanish colonial rule. During the colonial times indisposition and pirates were the most commonly encountered difficulties.
Natural disasters have some affection for this town. Fast and forceful hurricanes have destroyed Les Cayes at least twice: in 1781, 1788 and most recently in 1954. A blazing fire released its anger on the town in 1908, thereby destroying a great portion of the small town. History has it that a lot of blood was shed in Les Cayes during the 1929 massacre.US seagoing soldiers killed a horde of poor agricultural laborers who were protesting against poor economic times under the US tenure in cold blood.
It is a seaport that majors in exportation of coffee, bananas, timber, cotton and hides.
The creation of a paved highway, the National Route 2, has connected the sea port of Les Cayes to Port-au-Prince. The city is served by only one airstrip, the Antoine-Simon Airport. This airport is named after one of the Haitian presidents.
Health wise, the natives of Les Cayes are served by a small health unit called Les Cayes Hospital. However, it is respectable to mention that the Cuban military set up a field hospital in this town when the 2010 earthquake struck.
In the education sector the town of Les Cayes has not been left far behind, for that is where you find the American University of Haiti.
There are a few landmarks of historic importance, including an arsenal and a few strategically positioned forts. A beautiful cathedral does exist.
A number of prominent men were born in Les Cayes. They include Andre Corvington (the Olympic fencer), Andre Rigaud (A military leader) and John James Audubon (the French- American naturalist).
