Gated community with 24h security

Jacmel is a very safe place to live. It’s nothing like Port-au-Prince. But still, there is nothing like 100% peace of mind. Some people are willing to pay a little extra to live in a so-called gated community. like you see a lot in Florida. BELLE VILLE SUR MER is the only such community in Jacmel, and one of the few on the entire island.

The waterfront is a high cliff where nobody can climb up, and the backside has a 10 foot wall and a beautiful entrance gate with armed guards 24 hours a day. Nobody comes in who has no business inside. There are only some 25 large properties inside this exclusive compound. Only beautiful homes of a certain size are allowed in this area. Certain restrictions apply.

 

Wide roads

If you have ever been in a typical Haitian neighborhood or a "spontaneous development", the roads are very narrow, and some homes don’t have road access at all. Only a little alley leads to many homes, "in the back".

Our development was not a "spontaneous" one, but a well planned and well organized urban development. Our main roads are 30 feet wide, and our secondary roads are 25 feet wide. This is wider than most of the streets within the city of Jacmel.

Of course, the wider the roads, the less property is available for sale, and the less money the owner can make. In fact, once the roads are built, they belong to the City. And that is why most property owners are very stingy with roads. Unfortunately,this causes big traffic problems later.

The neighborhood of BELLE POINTE SUR MER has generous road allocations, and will distinguish itself in the city of Jacmel as the finest neighborhood in town.

That’s where YOU want to be.

 

 

Water and electricity access

If you are an American, a Canadian or a European, you probably take water and electricity for granted. But if you are a Haitian, you probably know what it means to have access to water and electricity. We have, at our own cost, installed water lines and power lines all over the Development.

But watch it. Having access and being hooked up to water and electricity does not mean that you are going to get either one, every day. In order to get it, there has to be water in the pipe and electricity in the line. WE cannot control that part of it: the government does.

However, Jacmel is perhaps the only City in Haiti, which has enjoyed 24 hour electricity for the past two years. City water is delivered in the pipes once or twice a week. Traditionally, every Haitian home must have a large enough reservoir to collect City water and rain water (from the roof), to last several weeks. It is still a good idea.

 

 

Telephone, Fax, Television, E-mail, Internet

In the past two years, a lot of good things have happened in Jacmel, besides 24 hour electricity. We have a new Port, and paved roads all the way to Marigot, with construction continuing all the way to Pointe a Pitre and the Dominican Republic.

As you may know, the telephone "land line" is now almost history, all over the world. Indeed, there is no land line coming to our development, and it would probably take years before the TELECO brings in the land line to the new suburbs of Jacmel. But who needs it? A company called HAITEL is now providing cellular phone service. As of recently, everybody in Jacmel who wants one, has a portable cell phone. Special stationary cell phones to handle faxes are also available.

Television? No problem. Just a matter of money. Satellite installations provide the same service you can get in the United States, for a total installation cost of some US$2000. Local Haitian TV is also available with a standard antenna.

E-mail, Internet? No problem. Also available by satellite. Several service providers in Port-au-Prince can set you up for e-mail and internet access. Its costs a little more (monthly) than in the U.S., but still reasonable.

 

 

Walking distance from Jacmel Market

Whether you are a foreigner or a Haitian working abroad (diaspora), the best part about coming home to Haiti permanently or for a few weeks, is that you can hire a cook and a maid to help your wife, at a reasonable price. Don’t worry, if you treat them with kindness and respect, they will love to work for you. They are, like all Haitians, the friendliest and happiest people in the world. Your wife will love them. No more cooking, no more laundry and ironing, no more house cleaning. It’s the good life.

There is only one catch. The servants don’t have a car. And unless they live at your place, they have to walk back and forth to work every day. What is more important is that your cook has to go to market every day to buy fresh "organic" fruits, vegetables and meat to cook for you, three meals a day. By the way, the food is delicious and healthy in Haiti. It’s truly French cooking with a tropical touch.

If you live miles away from town, you will either have to drive your cook to market early in the morning or pay a taxi to take her there. Not very practical.

BELLE POINTE SUR MER is within walking distance of the Jacmel market and downtown Jacmel. That’s a big plus.