Thousands of people in Haiti’s capital and other big cities staged new protests Wednesday to demand safer streets, lower prices and the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The occasional sound of gunfire mixed with the shouts and applause of protesters as they marched through streets blocked by stones, trucks and burning tires.
“Ariel, you have to go! Go Ariel! Go away, Ariel!” shouted a crowd in the capital Port-au-Prince. One protester held a sign with the message “Down with misery” while another shouted insults at the government and lamented the severe lack of jobs. “We need money to survive!” shouted Ronald Jean.
Other protests brought several coastal cities in Haiti’s northern and southern regions to a standstill, including Port-de-Paix, Petit-Goave and Jeremie, with police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Haitians have increasingly staged protests due to rising kidnappings and gang-related killings, rising prices of basic goods, and severe fuel shortages. Inflation in the country has reached a rate of 30%.
On Tuesday, the prime minister’s office issued a statement saying it was “aware of the seriousness of the situation” and that Henry would take a number of steps, including implementing social programs to alleviate extreme poverty and ensuring more fuel is available. available at stations.