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Haiti's President Rolls Back Gas Price Amid Protests

by Sandra Lemaire

   MARIGOT, HAITI --

   Haitian President Jovenel Moïse has rescinded his administration's
   decision to hike gas prices by 49 percent amid violent protests that
   left at least three dead Saturday.

   "Gas prices will go back to what they were previously nationwide,"
   Moïse announced in a national address late Saturday. The president
   also called for calm, asked protesters to clear the streets and allow
   police to restore order.

   Hours earlier, protesters burned tires in the streets of
   Port-au-Prince, and a nearby suburb, Petionville, looted stores, set
   fire to cars in front of luxury hotels and threatened to burn down the
   parliament building.

   A security guard at the parliament shared a video with VOA, showing
   dark smoke coming from a burning tire in front of the complex, as
   multiple gun shots could be heard in the background.

   Before Moïse rolled back his decision, the price of gas had been hiked
   to $4.75 (309 Haitian gourdes) per gallon, more than twice as much as
   most Haitians' daily income.

   Kange Makenson, a Haitian man who was protesting in Port-au-Prince,
   told VOA the people can't even afford basic necessities and the price
   hike would just make life harder.

   "When we voted for this president, we weren't voting to be abused by
   his administration," he said. "I believe these protests will force the
   government to go back on its decision. When you consider the cost of
   basic necessities -- a small can of rice costs 69 cents (45 gourdes) --
   we expect higher gas prices to lead to price hikes on everything."

   VOA Creole stringers reported seeing burning tires and looting in
   Carrefour, Jeremie, Jacmel and Les Calles. The situation in northern
   cities such as Cape Haitian and Fort Liberte were reportedly calm, with
   few cars on the roads.

   Asked how she felt about the violent protests and looting Gislaine
   Jeudy, from Marigot a few kilometers from Jacmel, said it was
   discouraging and unnecessary.

   "When they [thugs] loot and create chaos in the city it hurts us
   because we need a functioning city to buy what we need. When our
   gardens don't produce what we need we go to town and buy it. So this
   hurts us," she said.

   Haitians VOA spoke to after the president's speech said they were not
   impressed with his tone nor his review of his administration's
   accomplishments. Most adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and anticipated
   more trouble.

   Reacting to the insecurity in Haiti, U.S. airlines have suspended
   flights to and from the country, leaving many tourists stranded.

   The US Embassy is advising all Americans in Haiti to shelter in place,
   and published emergency contact numbers on social media.

   VOA Creole stringers Matiado Vilme and Renand Toussaint in Port au
   Prince contributed to this report.