Ti-Rodrig: The Hope for a Miracle

Doris Félicité knows what it means to live in Ti-Rodrig. As a social worker and resident of the area, she has been supporting families facing systemic poverty for several years. Each passing day feels like a waiting game, sometimes filled with the hope for a miracle. This prolonged waiting starts to wear down spirits, yet it has never entirely extinguished the determination of those living in this marginalized neighborhood, where uncertainty has become the norm.

Despite the criticism, judgment, and stigma directed at Ti-Rodrig, Doris Félicité remains on the ground. The social worker continues to do her best alongside the residents, often in the shadows, convinced that beyond administrative and political considerations, there exists a human reality that deserves recognition. "The residents of Ti-Rodrig should not be political tools. It's true that most are in illegal situations, but this situation is not new. Initially, there were only about ten houses. Today, there are between 700 and 800 households, stretching up the mountainside. Many view Ti-Rodrig as a problem area, but it hides a human story."

Doris Félicité, a resident of Ti-Rodrig, has witnessed this part of Résidence La Cure evolve over the years without any real institutional support. The neighborhood has gradually expanded in response to needs and social urgency, resulting in increasingly visible poverty. Despite difficult and sometimes unsanitary living conditions, families continue to survive, driven by solidarity and the desire to provide a better future for their children, even when daily life reminds them of their limitations.

While several parliamentary questions have been raised over time, residents on the ground still await concrete answers. This waiting fosters a sense of abandonment and injustice, intensified by the feeling that some issues progress faster than others. Another major challenge persists: how to connect these families to potable water and electricity while they occupy land illegally? This is a complex issue, acknowledged even in the political sphere.

The deputy for constituency No. 4, Annabelle Savabaddy, mentioned the issue in 2025 during parliamentary discussions. "We have not forgotten Ti-Rodrig, but the regularization of these individuals is not comparable to that of the residents of Singamanie in Bois-Marchand. Most of these families occupy land illegally. A site visit will be conducted soon with the Ministry of Housing, and I hope we can find solutions," she stated.

Potable Water

The issue of potable water remains one of the most urgent and sensitive challenges. According to Doris Félicité, residents have been waiting for help in this regard for many years. The Central Water Authority is cautious in its response. Its director, Shyam Thannoo, explains that any intervention is contingent upon the regularization of the occupants, not to mention the constraints related to the site's topography. "According to our latest data, about 300 families illegally occupy an area of 35 acres. Any connection to potable water is difficult as long as these families are in an irregular situation. Additionally, some houses are located on the mountainside, where there is a risk of landslides," he specifies.

Faced with this deadlock, Doris Félicité, through her social work, calls for a humanitarian response from both the public and private sectors. "A solution is needed, even if temporary. It doesn’t matter what it is. NGOs help us throughout the year, but it’s not enough. Political will is selective. We simply ask to be treated humanely," she concludes.