- Title: HAITI-STRIKE/FUEL Haitians take to the streets for cheaper fuel prices
- Date: 6th February 2015
- Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FEBRUARY 05, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ON STREETS DEMONSTRATING AGAINST HIGH FUEL PRICES VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SETTING TIRES ON FIRE VARIOUS OF FIREMEN PUTTING OUT FIRE SECURITY FORCES ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTEST AGAINST HAITIAN PRESIDENT MICHEL MARTELLY (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) PROTESTER, ANDRE FARO, SAYING: "I am satisfied, again today there were thousands of people on the streets of Port-au-Prince protesting for Martelly to leave office. And we also want gas prices to be cut in half from what it is today to ease the cost of living for the general population." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS NEAR THE GOVERNMENT PALACE
- Embargoed: 21st February 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABXWFBDTNNC3QNT6VHRYV4J6RH
- Story Text: Scores of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Port-au-Prince in Haiti on Thursday (February 05) to protest against high fuel prices in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Demonstrators also used the opportunity to call for President Michel Martelly to leave office.
Thursday's protest were the latest in a series of marches against the high cost of fuel in Haiti. As oil prices tumble across the world Haitians say cheaper costs are not being passed onto them.
Haiti's parliament was dissolved last month after the failure to elect new members, leaving Martelly running the country by decree. He has named a new cabinet, but opposition leaders have said he has broken a promise to create a consensus government.
"I am satisfied, again today there were thousands of people on the streets of Port-au-Prince protesting for Martelly to leave office. And we also want gas prices to be cut in half from what it is today to ease the cost of living for the general population," said protester, Andre Faro.
In an effort to avoid tensions, the government announced last month lower fuel prices with gasoline dropping to 200 gourdes ($4.30) per gallon from 215 ($4.62), and diesel down to 167 ($3.59) from 177 ($3.80) gourdes.
Cash is badly needed to pay off Haiti's mounting fuel debt of more than $1.5 billion with Venezuela's preferential PetroCaribe programme, which allows countries to receive oil while deferring payment over 25 years at an interest rate as low as 1 percent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
