Haiti: Protests in Front of US Embassy – Left Disapproves New Government Formation – Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond

Haitian citizens were violently dispersed with tear gas by police in riot gear on Sunday when their annual anti-US occupation march moved towards the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Every year, on the anniversary of the July 28, 1915 start of the U.S. occupation of Haiti, Haitians gather by the thousands to demonstrate with the goal of reaching the U.S. Embassy. But, as is the case every year, the Haitian National Police (PNH), which is wholly funded and trained by the U.S. government, did not allow it.

The newly appointed Government of Haiti today generated controversy and several progressive and member sectors of the opposition point out that the measure supports President Jovenel Moise in power.

Last week the president appointed Fritz William Michel as the new prime minister, after the ratification of Jean Michel Lapin’s cabinet was stalled in the Senate.

However, for certain sectors, the news is a strategy that does respond to the country’s situation.

In conversation with Prensa Latina, Frank Saint Jean, member of the leftist party Rasin Kan Pep la, said that the president has lost legitimacy and all relationship he had with the people.

“All sectors of the country demand his withdrawal from power, even the dominant sectors of the economy ask that he be made available to justice,” he said.

At the end of May, an investigation by the Court of Auditors on embezzlement of public funds directly involved the agent through the company he was running, and is accused of double contracting for the construction of a highway, which was not concluded.

Moise has already denied in several international media his relationship with this case and indicated that his company only charged 30 percent of the contract while performing 85 percent of the work.

However, according to Saint Jean, the head of state continues to lose credibility, which adds to the worsening of the country’s situation, marked by galloping inflation, lack of investments in national production and increasing poverty.

“He is in power for the vote against Venezuela, he made a political gesture in favor of imperialism, in favor of the leaders of extreme rightwing countries in the region against Venezuela,” said the militant.

Since the aggravation of the socio-political crisis in Haiti, there are few who warn about American interference in the internal affairs of the Caribbean nation.

The last visit last June was carried out by Julie Chung, deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the State Department, who met with the president, and other political and social actors with the alleged purpose of discussing the importance of a serious dialogue to move forward.

[These included] the United States ambassador to the Organization of American States, Carlos Trujillo; the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, David Hale; and ultra-right senator Marco Rubio.

For the most progressive wing of the opposition, the country’s solution must begin with a radical change of the system, and the adoption of concrete measures to address the nation’s urgent needs.

The Government, for its part, is committed to the validation of a cabinet that will unlock the budget, as well as the millions of dollars in international funds to support the Haitian people, according to the president.

Source: Prensa Latina and Sentinel

Translated by JRE/EF