Caribbean News
Three dead in Haiti fuel-price hike riots, Govt suspends increase amidst international pressures
#Haiti, Saturday July 7, 2018 – Police stations set on fire, hotels ambushed and three people reported dead so far; all stemming from Friday’s reaction to a major fuel price hike announced by the Haitian government.
Radical protests are capturing world headlines and have led to international flight cancellations to the impoverished nation, whose government is met with the deadly revolt after the Prime Minister reportedly refused to back down from the planned increases. 
Gasoline prices were announced to rise by 38 percent, diesel by 47 percent and kerosene by 51 percent starting this weekend. 
Prime Minister of Haiti, Jack Guy Lafontant has doubled-back on the increase, at least for now. Prime Minister Lafontant had explained to the Haitian people the increase was necessary in order for the administration to move forward with major infrastructural development.
A Friday night press conference featured the Finance Minister of Haiti, reported the Miami Herald. The Minister explained that, Haiti is losing nearly 800 million in revenues due to the low gas prices and that only 25 percent of the population was benefitting from the government’s subsidization of fuel stations.
From the Miami Herald: Haiti’s Finance Minister Jude Alix Patrick Solomon said Friday at a press conference about the fuel hikes. “It’s difficult for you to be asking your international partners to give you budgetary assistance or support and at the same time you have revenue that you are not capturing.”
Up to $96 million in budgetary support is at risk if Haiti does not make fiscal changes as agree to with the International Monetary Fund, IMF. The IMF is demanding public administration reforms and compliance with a 1995 law, which requires fuel prices to be altered with each shipment. 
The Police Force was overwhelmed and out-manned by the rock-throwing melee.
Officials were reportedly beckoning to Haitians to stop the rioting. Reminding the protesters in Cap Haitien and Port Au Prince that the outbreak of violence and damage to businesses is only costing the Haitian people, exacerbating the problem and not helping.
American Airlines, Jet Blue and Spirit Airlines have cancelled flights to Haiti. The U.S. Embassy has also issued an advisory, asking Americans to stay away from riot zones.
Air France has also suspended flights to the embattled cities.
Government of Haiti is now under serious pressure to cool down the rioting in their major cities after countries issue travel warnings and alerts, while aiming to appease international agencies and donors who are demanding immediate reforms.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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