Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Prime Minister Ariel Henry has expressed concern and condemned the rising gang violence and abductions in the Caribbean island, stating that “Gangs are our enemies”. He also provided assurance to the general public that the country was not facing a fuel shortage.
In his televised prerecorded address, PM Henry asserted, “If they do not stop their wrongdoing, the law will apply to them. The only option for bandits & all their sponsors is ‘imprisonment or death’ if they do not want to change professions”.
This is the first time that Prime Minister addressed the general public after the US and Canadian missionaries were abducted by the Haitian gang earlier this month only.
He further noted that the ships are waiting to unload fuel and that the Caribbean island, which shares – the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, will not run out of fuel, noting that he has established a crisis unit with top officials from the departments of – finance, justice, police, public works, trade and several others in order to find a “quick solution” to the fuel distribution problem.
Fuel shortage in the island has risked the lives of hundreds of patients, including pregnant women, children and COVID-19 patients. He then appreciated the efforts of a man who drove through dangerous areas to transport fuel & oxygen to a hospital whoch saved the lives of 60 patients.
Following the statement, he cited, “To all those who have “legitimate demands”, who have declared they are fed up with inflation, poverty & insecurity, I guarantee that their voice is heard by the government. No real solution to the nations’ problems will emerge if we do not arm ourselves with the courage to fight and eliminate this scourge”.
PM Henry assured the Haitians that his administration is looking after the several issues which the Caribbean island is battling with.
