https://themilitant.com/2018/12/01/protests-hit-widespread-govt-corruption-misrule-in-haiti/
Protests hit widespread gov’t corruption, misrule in Haiti
By Seth Galinsky
Vol. 82/No. 46
December 10, 2018
PetroCaribe Challenge
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Haiti for several
days and some went on strike starting Nov. 18, protesting government
corruption and theft. The crisis of capitalist production, trade and
jobs has hit hard in Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world,
after decades of U.S. imperialist exploitation. It was made even worse
by the social calamity caused by a 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew
in 2016. Above, Nov. 18 protest in Port-au-Prince.
Massive protests, initiated by leaders of capitalist opposition parties,
had swept the country a month earlier, after well-known filmmaker
Gilbert Mirambeau Jr. and musician K-Lib sent out tweets demanding to
know, “Where is the PetroCaribe money?” They were referring oil
subsidies given to Haiti by the Venezuelan government. Many protesters
call for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise.
The Haitian Senate carried out an investigation and charged that some
$3.8 billion of the subsidies were stolen.
In July protests raged across the country after the government raised
fuel prices by up to 51 percent, under pressure from the International
Monetary Fund. The government announced the hikes during a soccer match
between Brazil and Belgium, hoping that a victory for Brazil, which most
Haitians favored, would distract attention. Brazil lost.
Within hours, Moise was forced to rescind the price hikes. A week later
he replaced Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant.
“The government does not understand the level of indignation of working
people,” Camille Chalmers, executive director of the Haitian Platform to
Advocate Alternative Development, told the Militant in a phone interview
from Port-au-Prince Nov. 26.
Chalmers said working people have been demanding an increase of the
minimum wage from 335 gourdes ($4.50) to 1,000 gourdes per day as
they’re wracked by spiraling inflation. A liter of milk costs $3, out of
the reach of most workers. The price of sugar and corn has gone up 30
percent since 2014.
“And in the ‘free trade zone,’ some of the companies don’t pay even
minimum wage,” Chalmers said.
In This Issue
Front Page Articles •Join workers in struggle, break with bosses’ parties
•Workers seek road forward out of crisis of capitalism
•SF, Hawaii hotel strikers: ‘One job should be enough!’
•Big response to win in fight for ex-prisoners’ right to vote
•California Camp Fire catastrophe caused by dog-eat-dog capitalism
•‘UK out now!’ Brexit is best terrain for the workers to fight
Feature Articles •Join May Day brigade, learn about Cuban Revolution
Also In This Issue •U.S. rulers push back against Beijing’s expanding
challenge
•‘Yellow vests’ in France protest against ‘president of the rich’
•Protests hit widespread gov’t corruption, misrule in Haiti
•Fall Campaign to sell Militant subscriptions and books (Week 7)
•Socialist Workers Party Fund Drive (Week 7)
On the Picket Line •Bus drivers in New Zealand beat back lockout, pay
raise agreed to
•Lorain, Ohio, nurses fight bosses attack on health benefits
Books of the Month •‘Socialism is next inevitable stage of social evolution’
25, 50 and 75 years ago
Letters
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