By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Haiti, November 15, 2022 – Excitements were reported being echoed through the streets of Port-au-Prince on Saturday, November 12, as gas stations across Haiti opened for the first time in two months after a powerful gang lifted a fuel blockade at one of the country’s main terminals.

“There’s gas now! There’s gas now!”

“Thank you, Jesus.”

“I would call this the day that life begins again.”

These were just a few of the responses reported by the Associated Press as the news agency documented one of the most promising days yet for Haitians that had brought joy to many people living in the embattled republic.

Reports are that operations across Haiti were brought to a standstill in mid-September when the G9 gang took control of the area surrounding a key fuel terminal, preventing anyone from gaining access to fuel and leaving tens of thousands of people across the country jobless temporarily.

The move, which was aimed at trying to force Ariel Henry, Prime Minister out of office after he announced a rise in gas prices, caused a major cut on several operations throughout the country as gas stations, hospitals and several businesses were severely impacted, with some even closing their doors.

The country’s cholera outbreak also worsened during that period as companies were unable to distribute potable water.

The free movement of fuel throughout Haiti comes a week after the leader of the G9 gang and former police officer, Jimmy Cherizier, announced that he was lifting the blockade at the terminal just days after police tried to gain control of the area.

While this might be the “day that life begins again” for some Haitians, others are concerned about the high gas prices and the effect it might have on their already depressed economy.

One individual, Arnel Fildor, told the AP, “I don’t know how long it’s going to last.”

“Not everyone is equal. We don’t have the same ability to survive. We’re all dying slowly here,” Fildor said.

Another individual, a tap tap driver (bus driver) Marc André,  told the Associated Press, “they raised the gas at the wrong time when the economy is not functioning.”

“It’s going to be pretty hard on the people who don’t have anything.  The gasoline looks like a saviour, but at the same time, it’s going to bring hardship for a lot of people,” André said.

In September, Haiti’s prime minister announced that his government could no longer afford to subsidize fuel for the country amidst the escalating oil prices globally, exacerbated by the Russia -Ukraine conflict.

“A gallon of gasoline increased from 250 gourdes ($2) to 570 gourdes ($4.78), diesel from 353 gourdes ($3) to 670 gourdes ($5.60) and kerosene from 352 gourdes ($3) to 665 gourdes ($5.57) in a country where about 60% of the population earns less than $2 a day,” according to the Associated Press.