Ex-senator and opposition leader encourages protests in Haiti

Benoit, who was elected by a party of the opposition as prime minister for an eventual transitional government, said he was with Haitians in their struggle for change.

He emphasized that the main demands of the population were included in the Montana Convention, which was signed by hundreds of political and social organizations.

For the former parliamentarian, this consensus presents the country with a proposal to get out of the crisis by creating a new government centered around a state at the service of the population.

Likewise, he emphasized that the Montana Convention does not exclude anyone, but is committed to a national union where progressives can jointly pursue the best way to implement this new state project.

Since the end of August, thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest against the rising prices of food and other basic necessities, the devaluation of the national currency, and the chronic shortage of fuel.

Mobilization intensified this week after the government announced an increase in fuel prices, which sparked popular discontent.

On Wednesday, the authorities confirmed a 228 percent increase in gasoline and 89 percent in diesel fuel, and in response hundreds of thousands of people blocked the capital, Port-au-Prince, with tires and other things.

Mass mobilizations were also reported in Cap-Haitien, Jeremy, Les Cayes and Gonaïves, and in the latter there were looting in the warehouses of Caritas and the United Nations World Food Programme.

Banks, embassies, public and private institutions closed their doors and international flights were reduced due to the deteriorating conditions.

The day before, the police had banned the permit to carry a weapon and indicated that it would not allow attacks on the lives and property of citizens.

During the days of protests this week, protesters attacked the headquarters of the national television and FM radio station Model FM, as well as the private residences of lawyer Andre Michel and head of the Social Democrats’ Integration Party Edmund Soublis, who were accused of being government allies.

acl / ann