Protests erupted in several major cities across Haiti on Monday, resulting in widespread disruptions as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement and called for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Reports from local media indicated a significant shutdown of essential services, including banks, schools, and government agencies, particularly in the northern and southern regions of the country, as per Fox News.
Haiti Protests Halt Transit
TOPSHOT - A man runs past a pile of burning tires as protesters demand the release of Haitian journalist Robest Dimanche, who was detained while covering a protest, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 30, 2022.
Through placing burning tires in the way of traffic, protesters successfully stopped public transit on major thoroughfares. Protesters in Hinche, in the center of Haiti, welcomed the presence of heavily armed state environmental agents under Commander Joseph Jean Baptiste.
With calls for Henry's resignation becoming stronger by the day, Baptiste took a risk and said he thought the PM should take the fallout on his own. "I want Ariel to stand in front of my bullets, so they go through him," he said, inspiring applause from the people.
"We're the ones who have the support of the population," Baptiste underlined, claiming that the public was behind their cause.
These agents, who are members of the Security Brigade for Protected Areas, were involved in a situation that attracted notice, especially after they had battled with the police in northern Haiti.
At the same time, smaller-scale protests took place in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, where a large number of demonstrators gathered outside Henry's office. Police had to use tear gas to scatter the throng, which made tensions worse, according to Independent.
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Ex-PM Claude Joseph Joins Haiti Protests
Prominent among the protestors was former prime minister and presidential candidate Claude Joseph, who was seen on video wiping his face amid the mayhem as supporters reinforced their resolve with cries of "We are not stopping!"
It is expected that the disturbances will intensify for the following three days, reaching a peak on Wednesday. The seventh of February is a critical day. This importance is rooted in historical context: on February 7, 1986, former tyrant Jean-Claude Duvalier escaped into exile in France, and on February 7, 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president, took office.
Massive protests are a reflection of the public's deep dissatisfaction with Henry's leadership as well as the general political upheaval in Haiti, where calls for responsibility and change are generally acknowledged.
The massive demonstrations reflect the populace's strong discontent with Henry's leadership as well as the country's overall political unrest in Haiti, where demands for accountability and reform are widely accepted, Aol reported.
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