Haiti’s Northwest turns to sea travel as gangs block roads, but operators say soaring fees threaten key alternative

Haiti’s Northwest turns to sea travel as gangs block roads, but operators say soaring fees threaten key alternative

PORT-DE-PAIX— As armed gangs tighten control over Haiti’s highways, residents and merchants in the Northwest are increasingly turning to sea travel to move goods and reach other regions. But boat operators say soaring customs costs, alleged abuses by authorities and weak regulation are making the fragile transport lifeline increasingly unsustainable. “As an alternative to gang-controlled roads, we travel by sea to reach other cities in departmen…