Prime Minister may have resigned, but fight continues, say Haitian activists

On July 14, Haitian Prime Minister Jacques Guy Lafontant announced his resignation after days of protests by unions and social movements after the government announced mbadive increases in fuel prices. The increase announced on July 6 would have seen the prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene rise by 38%, 47% and 51% respectively in the country. The measure was part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for aid and subsidies. Even though the rise in prices was lifted the following day, the demonstrations that broke out did not stop

On 9 and 10 July, the transport unions and the public sector, the rural and urban social movements participated to a major strike. This must also be seen in the context of social, economic and political crises in the country where countless coups, military occupation, systemic corruption and other vile expressions of colonialism, imperialism, racism and neoliberal economic policies have made Haiti one of the poorest and most unequal countries in the world (not to mention the various natural disasters that have had a serious impact on the country)

While protests continued to rage, President Jovenel Moïse refused to resign despite pressure "

Read also: The rise in fuel prices in Haiti has its roots in the IMF transactions

The resignation of Lafontant is the direct result of the power of the people and the organized power. the strength of trade unions and political and social organizations. However, Guerchang Bastia, an activist of the Sosyalis Rasin Kan Pep La activist in Haiti, also noted that the resignation was a strategic movement of the ruling clbad to demobilize the people's struggle:

"It's almost a lie for the people, trying to say that when the prime minister resigns, the situation will change and that means you no longer need to struggle.It is a very important way by which the ruling clbad seeks to counteract the strategy of the people, it makes it difficult to mobilize people, they say we have to wait a few months or even a year, we have to give the new Prime Minister a chance, and it's always the same strategy! a minister, but not the project. "

" This happened several times in Haiti, when people are struggling against the bad situation in the country.They just change minister or prime minister, but that's not the case. 39; is still the same system. Nothing will really change. The neoliberal state project remains and they will continue to follow the orders of the IMF without trying to make any changes to create a better life for the people. It is important to understand, but at the same time [Ladontant’s resignation] is still the result of the people's struggle. It can inspire people. This shows that we are accomplishing things with our struggle, that we can impose our power on the Prime Minister and make him resign. This is very significant for the left and the political trends that fight against the power of Lafontant and President Moses. This means that when we struggle, we can mobilize and fight for something, and that inspires us.

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the institutions that served to impose international capital policies on the island nation. After the 2004 coup that overthrew the progressive Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president, the road was clear for the imposition of a neoliberal economic agenda. Due to turmoil in the country after the coup, the United Nations has decreed the establishment of MINUSTAH, a peacekeeping mission led by the Brazilian Army and composed of soldiers and civilians from various countries. MINUSTAH, which was engaged in the military occupation of Haiti from 2004 to 2017, has committed countless human rights violations, as well as violations of international humanitarian law, including mbadive rapes, contributing to the spread of cholera that has left hundreds dead. Despite the extremely difficult situation in the country and the adverse conditions, the Haitian people continued to resist militarization and neoliberal measures that aggravate the dire conditions of poverty and inequality. This latest popular uprising is part of the resistance movement that continues to grow.