Nippes Turns 23: Assad Volcy Calls for Turning the Department’s Heritage and Resources Into Engines of Development

On the 23rd anniversary of the creation of the Nippes department, celebrated on Friday, October 30, 2026, CEO Assad Volcy addressed a message to the people of the Nippes and to compatriots in the diaspora. In the statement, issued from Fonds-des-Nègres, he paid tribute to the history of the region, which became Haiti’s tenth geographic department in 2003, with Miragoâne as its capital. Made up of three arrondissements, eleven communes and thirty-seven communal sections, the department has a history that, in his view, goes far beyond its administrative status. He recalled Miragoâne’s role in the events of 1883 and the contributions of intellectual figures from the region, including historian Beaubrun Ardouin and poet Coriolan Ardouin, both born in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes.

Historical heritage and resources to develop

Beyond this historical and cultural heritage, Volcy believes the Nippes has major economic assets, including farmland, marine resources, landscapes and the know-how of its people. Agriculture, fishing, tourism and entrepreneurship are among the sectors that could drive the department’s development. He also highlighted the potential of young people, the dedication of farmers and the skills of the diaspora. To that end, he called for stronger initiatives to support decentralization, good local governance and the development of local authorities.

A call for the economic and social development of the Nippes

Hoping to see the Nippes move toward genuine economic, social and cultural empowerment, Volcy stressed the need to give families better access to education, local health care, roads and job opportunities. In particular, he wants young people to be able to build their future in their own department and for the benefits of development to reach rural communities as well. “Ann mete tèt ansanm pou n fè richès Nip tounen byennèt pou tout pitit li yo. Avni Nip se nan men nou li ye” (“Let’s come together to turn the wealth of the Nippes into well-being for all its children. The future of the Nippes is in our hands”), he said, calling for the department’s riches to become a real driver of shared prosperity. He closed his message by wishing the department a happy 23rd anniversary under the slogan “Pitit Nip, se Nip” (“The children of the Nippes are the Nippes”).