Miragoâne
Miragoâne is a coastal commune in western Haiti and the capital of the Nippes department. It is also the headquarters of the Miragoâne Arrondissement. It is regarded as one of the major ports in the trade in used goods. Bales of used clothing, shoes, appliances and used cars arrive at the port from Miami and other U.S. cities. Local merchants in the informal sector buy boxes and bales of used goods to sort and resell them in street markets. Inexpensive merchandise is thus dispersed around Haiti.
History
Miragoâne was founded in the 17th century by the English. It was once used as a rest stop for pirates. The city is named after the nearby lake, the Étang de Miragoâne, from the Taino name Miraguano.The port was used by Reynolds Metals aluminum for export of bauxite which was mined inland between the 1960s and 1980s. It has been the site of a proposed collaboration between Max Hardberger and the Bigio family's GB Group for further port development.
In 1963, Miragoâne was devastated by Hurricane Flora.
In the midst of Haiti's gang crisis, Miragoâne's prosecutor, Jean Ernest Muscadin, has become a prominent Haitian figure due to his approach towards gang members, leading to some calls for him to run for president in 2026.