demonstrations, looting and blocked roads

First modification: 09/16/2022 – 11:31

In Port-au-Prince, protesters attacked the Haitian national television headquarters. The intervention of the police prevented the building from being completely looted, but the public channel had to stop broadcasting. Angry mobs also attacked a bank, burned down one of the country’s main pharmaceutical laboratories and looted businesses and private stores in various parts of the capital.

It is difficult to put a figure at this time, but the damage is significant. Unidentified individuals also attacked and then set fire to the private residence of former senator Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, who heads the Fusion party, an ally of the current government. Further north, in the city of Gonaives, protesters completely emptied Caritas and World Food Program (WFP) food warehouses.

“people are hungry“

The World Food Program premises were packed with people, reports our correspondent Ronel Paul. Everyone went out with a sack of rice on their backs or with cans of oil in their arms.

With a tarpaulin in his hands, a man was amazed: “There are so many supplies in these warehouses that it would take days to take them all. They have not yet reached the second and third rooms. There is a lot of food here while people are starving. No I’m used to being involved in this, but this time I’m in it to the end.”

At the entrance to the building, everyone rushed through the ajar front door. The national police present at the scene tried to calm the crowd by firing tear gas, but to no avail. At the same time, a fire broke out in the building. Despite the intensity of the flames, nothing and no one could stop the anger of the protesters.

Amid the black smoke, some came out with televisions, batteries and solar panels. With a bundle on his shoulder, a young man stopped to send a message to the prime minister: “Ariel Henry you have no power because you were not elected, you are settling down as if you were president, you are not. People are hungry. Even these policemen who They’re here, they’re hungry. That’s why they don’t shoot at us. I’m a security guard, I’m hungry.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the looting scenes continued. In addition to the premises of the Catholic organization Caritas and those of the World Food Program, the protesters also vandalized private businesses. As for the WFP premises, they ended up being destroyed by the flames. This city of 4,000 inhabitants does not yet have a fire department.

Permits to carry weapons are suspended

In this context, the Haitian National Police announced on the night of September 15 the suspension of all permits to carry weapons. This decision has provoked the anger of Internet users: it penalizes private companies that provide security to many hotels and businesses, while criminal gangs do not have weapons permits and will continue to act.

Several countries have announced the temporary closure of their embassies in Port-au-Prince for security reasons, AFP reports. Among others, the diplomatic headquarters of the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, said in a brief statement that it was closing its “doors to the public until further notice,” and the Canadian embassy announced its closure as of 15 of September.