LES CAYES (Reuters) – Days before a powerful earthquake struck, Rosemond Clermont paid the $1,554 rent on the office of his construction business in southern Haiti for the rest of the year. On Saturday morning, the investment vanished when his small shop collapsed along with hundreds of other buildings in his home town as the coastal city of Les Cayes began crumbling. Dozens of businesses ranging from hotels, restaurants to corner shops in downtown Les Cayes and surrounding areas suffered a similar fate, with premises either badly damaged or flattened. The loan saddled Clermont with a monthly debt of $207 that he is struggling to pay off. Haitian economist Etzer Emile told Reuters that in the past, small businesses have been overlooked in post-disaster responses.

Source: MetroXpress August 18, 2021 17:48 UTC