Haiti: three deaths after the day of demonstrations and looting for the fuel increase

Some armed with knives, attacked and looted shops in the heart of the Haitian capital, in the town of Delmas.

To disperse the protests, law enforcement officers fired in the air and used tear gas.

According to a count of AFP, at least three people reportedly died since protests began in Haiti on Friday

Protests came from Port-au-Prince after the government announced a sharp increase in oil tariffs in accordance with an agreement with the IMF signed five months ago. The decision resulted in a 38% increase in gasoline, 47% in diesel and 51% in kerosene.

Due to acts of violence and soon after the President of the House of Representatives, Gary Bodeau, will issue an ultimatum to the government to overturn its decision, Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant on Saturday suspended the rise in product prices oil.

Several airlines, such as American Airlines and Air France, canceled their flights on Saturday and Sunday morning, with the possibility of extending the suspension in the afternoon, due to lack of personnel provide services at Toussaint Louverture airport.

Faced with the remains of a barricade located on a large intersection In the capital, with his camouflaged face, a man who called himself Rubens testified to the determination of some people to do their utmost to get the exit of the power of President Moses.

Instagram video credit: @ru_roux

"If the president stays another day, the game will be different: we will cut the roads and burn all, because we have nothing left to lose, "he said, and the man was approved by some other masked youth gathered around him.

" All those who went to Chile were smart because things are just beginning, "he added, referring to the more than 100,000 Haitians emigrated to Latin America, only in the year 2017.

In the neighborhood Several stores looted and burned, Alphonse Charles took some pictures of what was left of his vehicle.

"I am under attack but it is the reality of the country: given that we live in Haiti we are angry, frustrated by the way politicians handle things, "he said quietly before "I must continue to live, we will no longer get excited about it."

Despite this context, some residents are trying to find a normal life. Several fruit and vegetable vendors have resumed their positions in the streets and motorcycle taxis have returned to circulate, despite the shortage of customers. Some vehicles have sought to take their place in the streets, in the middle of a few barricades.

The Haitian president's call to protesters to leave the streets and go home, in a message to the nation broadcast on state television. Saturday night, he disappointed a large part of the population and the political clbad.

"Like almost everyone, I ended up with the desire: we were waiting for another speech, a serene badysis of the situation that has prevailed in the country in the last two days and which has caused human and material losses" . Tardieu, MP for Pétionville

Discussions between the parliamentary blocs are still ongoing to determine the continuity of the crisis. Some legislators demand the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister.

Even before the announcement of rising fuel prices, the Prime Minister, appointed in May 2017, was on the line, and in the Chamber of Deputies, dominated by supporters of President Jovenel Moses, a session on the future of his government has taken place.

His sudden change of heart, which reinforces the criticism of his political weakness, could speed up the end of his term.