Riots in Haiti Leave Americans Stranded

On Saturday, July 7^th, U.S. and Canadian officials ordered embassy personnel and missionaries to shelter in place and avoid violent demonstrations taking place in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The protests erupted Friday after the Haitian government announced steep price increases on gas, diesel, and kerosene in order to boost revenue for the government. Hours after the announcement of the tax hikes, Haiti’s Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant scrapped the plans and appealed for peaceful demonstration. Despite his pleas, riots continued over the weekend.

At least seven people have been killed so far, including a security guard who was beaten after firing his weapon into the air. The State Department emphasized that no Americans have been killed or injured. Other than the security guard, authorities haven’t revealed the causes or identities of those who were killed.

Many Haitians used the protest as an opportunity to loot supermarkets and banks. Some looters were detained, but many areas had no law enforcement present. Other protesters targeted hotels and businesses, including a hotel housing over 100 American citizens. Security guards are stationed outside the hotel, but protesters attempted to surge past them and light the hotel on fire. After pelting the main entrance and windows with rocks, security guards turned the protesters away, so they continued to another hotel.

Armed protesters have also set up impromptu road blocks on the way to the airport and demanded fees from travelers in exchange for safe passage. Residents say they are not police or military road blocks. One group of American missionaries was turned away and forced to return to their host village. Other groups from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina are still stranded.

Residents say the biggest issue isn’t the tax on gas; the biggest issue is the rising cost of goods and transportation and the lowering of wages. For decades, the International Money Fund and other international groups have been loaning money to Haiti to rebuild its economy, but efforts to do so have been hindered by corruption, inflation, and food and medicine shortages. These issues were exacerbated by a devastating earthquake in 2010 that killed or displaced hundreds of thousands.

Generally, attempts by the Haitian government to increase revenue to fund social services have been met by resistance from the population. More than half of the population lives under the poverty line, so tax increases strain an already impoverished society. Haiti’s government must make internal reforms to effectively utilize international loans, investments, and tourism. The current government is filled with corruption and instability, a circumstance that has deteriorated the relationship between the government and its citizens.

The ongoing riots in Haiti will result in further instability in the country as potential tourists and investors will be deterred by the threat of violence. The protests could spark an immigration crisis if the government is unable to adequately address the protesters. The number of Haitian immigrants requesting asylum will likely increase as they seek better economic opportunities, although many will go to other Latin American countries instead of to the United States. After the 2010 earthquake, Haitians were given temporary protected status that allowed them to live in the U.S. Last November, the Trump administration announced plans to terminate the program by July 2019 because conditions in Haiti had improved enough for Haitians to return and begin rebuilding.

Meanwhile, protests continued on Monday with no signs of ending. The U.S. State Department has extended its order to shelter in place and warned personnel of roadblocks and disruptions on main paths to the airport. The situation has not degraded enough for the U.S. to prepare evacuations, but the situation is worth monitoring. Some flights are still arriving in Port-au-Prince, but flights out of Haiti are overbooked or delayed, so U.S. citizens are stranded in Haiti for the time being.