(Port-au-Prince) The leader of one of the gangs that control Haiti’s main oil terminal on Friday announced a truce of a few days, to allow the supply of fuel to hospitals, schools and businesses, whose activities have since been hampered. several weeks by the shortage.
“Starting today, tankers have to come and refuel without fear,” gang leader Jimmy Cherizier said in a video message posted to social media on Friday.
In exchange for this truce scheduled until November 18, he calls for the withdrawal of the armored tanks, which the Haitian police have placed in the zone controlled by the gangs, and also demands the resignation of the Haitian prime minister.
“If Ariel Henry does not resign and the problems continue, we will lift the truce and it will be the last round of the battle against him,” threatened Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbecue”.
In recent months, armed gangs have drastically increased their hold over Port-au-Prince, controlling the roads leading to the country’s three oil terminals.
More than a dozen fuel transport vehicles were hijacked by gangs who demanded heavy ransoms for the drivers’ release.
Since October, the telecommunications networks and the media have drastically reduced their activities across the country, for lack of being able to find fuel for the thermal generators which supply the antennas with electricity.
This energy crisis also handicaps the functioning of the few hospital structures across the country.
In this chaotic context, the United States and Canada have recommended their nationals living in Haiti to plan their departure from the country. Ottawa also announced Friday the temporary withdrawal of all non-essential employees from its embassy in Port-au-Prince.
Former police officer, Jimmy Cherizier is said to be involved in several murders and fires perpetrated since November 2017 in poor neighborhoods of the capital.
While it has been the subject of a search notice from the Haitian police since February 2019, “Barbecue” publishes, a heavy weapon still slung over the shoulder, videos and photos on social networks, and has regularly made statements to a few journalists since the neighborhood it controls.