Grand-Goâve

Grand Goâve Grangwav
Commune
Nickname:  Aguava
Grand Goâve Location in Haiti
Coordinates: 18°25′44″N 72°46′14″W
Country	Haiti
Department	Ouest
Arrondissement	Léogâne

Grand Goâve (Haitian Creole: Grangwav) is a commune in the Léogâne Arrondissement in the Ouest department of southwestern Haiti.

The Rivière de Grand Goâve passes to the east of the town. It is bridged by National Route No. 2 to the south and forded by Rue Tonnere to the east.

History

The town is one of the oldest cities of the country, and was named Goâve by the Amerindians. The Spanish called it Aguava at the end of the 16th century. After French colonization through the releasing of the Spanish, the French divided the city into two halves, Grand-Goâve and Petit-Goâve.

2010 earthquake

Grand-Goâve was 90% destroyed by the earthquake of 12 January 2010.^[1] All public buildings were destroyed, including the schools, city hall, and police station.^[2] The trembling created a landslide which formed a landslide dam that can potentially contain a large basin of water. A dam collapse would directly outflow the contents through the city. The dam is located on the Rivière de Grand Goâve, a dozen kilometres from the city.^[3]

On the 19th, 1300 US Marines were deployed equally between Petit-Goâve and Grand-Goâve.^[4] Catholic Relief Services have been distributing the aid that the US military has been delivering.^[5] USS Bataan was deployed in Baie de Grand Goâve to help rebuild Grand-Goâve.^[6]

As of 9 February 2010, the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is rotating out of Haiti, having been replaced by the US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, in their position on USS Bataan and Carrefour, Léogâne, Grand-Goâve and Petit-Goâve.^[7][8]

References

1. (in French) Le Quotidien, "Grand-Goâve dévastée: le cri du coeur de Rita Vallée", Dave Ainsley, 21 January 2010 (accessed 24 January 2010)
2. (in French) La Presse (Montreal), "Deux Québécoises sont mortes à Grand-Goâve", Émilie Côté, 18 January 2010 (accessed 21 January 2010)
3. (in French) La Presse, "Un barrage menace de céder à Grand-Goâve", Philippe Mercure, 15 February 2010 (accessed 16 February 2010)
4. (in French) Agence France-Presse, "Les Américains passent à la vitesse supérieure", Clarens Renois, 19 January 2010 (accessed 28 January 2010)
5. IPS, "HAITI: Local Leaders Shut Out of Military-Run Relief Efforts" Archived 2010-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Ansel Herz, 28 January 2010 (accessed 29 January 2010)
6. Windsor Star, "World Report"^{[permanent dead link‍]}, Star News Service, 1 February 2010 (accessed 2 February 2010)
7. WITN, "24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Leaving Haiti" Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, NBC News, 9 February 2010 (accessed 10 February 2010)
8. DVIDS, "22nd MEU Moves Into Carrefour", 22MEU, 8 February 2010 (accessed 10 February 2010)