Haiti Responds to PetroCaribe Scandal
Haitian President Jovenel Moise announced the removal of two top government officials on October 22 in the aftermath of violent protests the previous week. The protests were a response to corruption allegations against the government’s recently announced 51 percent increase in oil prices.
A report by a special Senate commission in 2017 revealed that former government officials embezzled over $2 billion in oil loans. These loans came from PetroCaribe, the Venezuelan-led oil alliance that provides preferential payment plans to Caribbean countries. These misappropriated funds were intended to help the country recover from the disastrous earthquake in 2010. Government officials signed off on numerous public works projects in the aftermath of the earthquake, but the money never arrived. The report suggested that charges be filed against two former prime ministers and several ex-ministers. Former-Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant and his cabinet resigned last year as a result of the scandal.
Haitians have expressed growing outrage over the missing funds, particularly on social media platforms like Twitter and Whatsapp. The viral campaign #petrocaribechallenge has raised awareness and stoked activism throughout the country. The unrest came to a head on October 17 as thousands of Haitians took to the streets to protest the higher oil prices and the lack of progress in the investigation into the PetroCaribe scandal. The protest became violent as government forces killed at least two protesters, and dozens were injured.
Moise fired the cabinet chief, the secretary general of the presidency, and fifteen other government officials for their response to the protests. Activists are still calling for Moise’s resignation and an international audit of Haiti’s accounts. In response, Moise asked for the patience of Haitians, claiming that progress cannot be achieved overnight. Moise attempted to dissuade protesters by arguing that violence and anarchy are not the correct way to achieve change. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jean-Henry Céant announced that an independent commission would be formed to investigate the PetroCaribe scandal.