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The Haitian government returned Saturday on its decision to raise oil prices, a very unpopular measure that triggered violence that killed at least one person in the country where the majority of the population lives in extreme poverty.
Anti-govt protests erupted throughout the capital of PAP, #Haiti today. Corruption, violence, hunger and misery are taking their toll. pic.twitter.com/aRAZ8IX0PR
– HaitiInfoProject ? (@HaitiInfoProj) July 7, 2018
Haiti is on fire. En route to for US occupation ? pic.twitter.com/pAtK7yxbai
– Alhy_sylvester (@alhy_em) July 7, 2018
Haiti: Population uprising in the face of rising prices fuel. The government finally backtracked after less than 24 hours, fearing an escalation of the people's anger. pic.twitter.com/2tGYHzMTeo
– Guyana the 1st (@ guyla1ere) July 7, 2018
– Jack Guy Lafontant (@LafontantGuy) July 7, 2018
"The Government announces the suspension of the oil price adjustment measure until further notice," said Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant on Twitter, condemning "vigorously the acts of violence and vandalism. "
Prime Minister criticized for his inaction
Previously, Speaker of the House of Commons Gary Bodeau issued a two-hour ultimatum to the government to reconsider this increase otherwise he would be considered "resigning."
Even before this controversial measure, jack Guy Lafontant, appointed in May 2017, was already widely criticized for his inaction. The deputies, whose majority is acquired from President Jovenel Moïse, had begun last week a debate to decide on its future. The government's retreat, after less than 24 hours, could put an end to its mandate and bring about the collapse of the government.
Port-au-Prince, capital paralyzed
The announcement Friday afternoon of the increase in Petroleum product prices triggered a surge of violence. A supermarket and various businesses were looted and several companies and vehicles were burned, mainly in the affluent neighborhoods of Pétionville.
Saturday, while the police presence is nonexistent through Port-au-Prince, most major axes were still blocked by barricades. Sporadic shooting was heard in some neighborhoods. Several international flights to the Haitian capital in the morning were canceled. Similar movements of anger were recorded in Cap-Haïtien, the second largest city in the country, and in the communes of Les Cayes, Jacmel and Petit-Goave.
Friday evening, a policeman badigned to the security of a political leader opposition was killed in an altercation with a group of protesters in Port-au-Prince. He was lynched as he tried to force the pbadage, and his body was then burned on the roadway.
An unbearable rise in the price of fuel
Faced with challenges, the Prime Minister had called Saturday morning the population to "patience". "Our administration has a vision, a clear program," he said in a televised address. "Do not destroy because, each time, Haiti becomes poorer," added Jack Guy Lafontant.
The director of the national police, Michelangelo Gideon, also condemned the violence and called for calm , saying to understand the "right to protest, to claim". He reported at least two police stations and several police cars burned down.
The price increases for gasoline (38%), diesel (47%) and kerosene (51%) force Saturday at midnight, in the framework of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the cessation of the public subsidy on petroleum products, a significant source of the budget deficit of the State. This large increase is perceived as untenable by the majority of the population who face extreme poverty, mbad unemployment and inflation of more than 13% for the third year in a row.
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