People have taken to the streets in several cities across Haiti after the government announced its plans to possibly double the price of gas.
Protesters blocked roads throughout the capital Port-au-Prince, closing off usually busy areas of the city to traffic. Schools and businesses closed as streets were blocked with rocks, vehicles, and burning tires. The demonstrations are the latest to rock the Caribbean nation, which has been grappling with rising inflation as well as an escalation in gang-related violence.
The government, which controls the price of gas, did not say when the new prices would come into effect but tweeted that “prices in Haiti are significantly lower than those on the international market”. The government has justified the price increase by saying that it is no longer able to subsidize fuel as much as it used to.
