Gessika Thomas and Brian Ellsworth

PORT-AUPRINCE (Reuters] -Haiti streets were quiet Tuesday. Gasoline stations remained empty as gangs blockaded ports to fuel depots. The country’s chief gang boss demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Haitians are now stuck with no transportation options for several days, and some of their businesses have had to close due to prolonged fuel shortages. Due to the constant blackouts, hospitals that rely on diesel generators may also be shut down.

The situation has put further pressure on a population already struggling under a weakening economy and a wave of gang kidnappings https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/kidnapping-haiti-shines-spotlight-gangs-risk-experts-say-2021-10-19, which include the abduction earlier this month of a group of Canadian and American missionaries.

Jimmy “Barbecue”, the leader of “G9”, a coalition of gangs from the metro area of Port-au-Prince said Monday night in a radio interview, that he would ensure the safe passage of fuel trucks in Henry’s absence.

Cherizier stated that the G9 areas are being blocked because of one thing only: Ariel Henry must resign. Cherizier made the comments in an interview with Haiti’s Radio Mega.

“If Ariel Henry quits at 8 AM, we will clear the road at 8:05 A.M. and all trucks will be allowed to pass to obtain fuel.”

Henry’s office spokesperson didn’t respond to my request for comment. Reuters couldn’t reach Cherizier.

These statements reveal how gangs took on a more political role after the assassination in July of President Jovenel Moise. Cherizier has said Henry should “answer questions” linking him https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haiti-official-resigns-over-pms-links-suspect-presidents-slaying-2021-09-15 to Moise’s murder. Henry denied being involved.

Although elections were originally scheduled to take place in November, they were postponed last month after Henry fired the organization council responsible for organizing them. Critics had claimed that it was biased towards Moise. Henry said he will appoint non-partisan members to help set a new date.

The news has been dominated by kidnappings as Haitians, from all walks of life, are being abducted by increasingly powerful gangs.

Missionaries on a Christian Aid Ministries-organized trip to Ohio were kidnapped by 400 Mawozo. They are looking for $1,000,000 each from the gang.

Christian Aid Ministries asked that people make a statement on Tuesday, reminding them to think of both those being held hostage and those still reeling from kidnapping.

Last week, the State Department stated that the U.S. government sent a “smaller team” to aid in the efforts to find and rescue the missionaries.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, stated Tuesday that the United States has sent “a substantial number of law enforcement and hostage recovery experts” to Haiti.

The WORST I’ve SEEN

Haiti’s Foreign Aid Bureau, BMPAD which supervises fuel procurement tweeted a video stating that the country has 150,000 barrels and 50,000 of gasoline. A further 50,000 barrels are expected to arrive by Wednesday.

Marc Andre Deriphonse of ANAPROSS (the country’s owners of service stations) said that Haiti could use 100,000 barrels of gasoline or diesel to fuel its needs.

Companies have been warning them that their operations may be halted due to lack of fuel. According to telecom firms, some cell towers have been removed from service.

One motorcycle taxi driver, waiting for passengers to be picked up outside Port-au-Prince by his vehicle, said “This is what I see.” He was responding when asked about fuel shortages. When asked about the fuel shortages, he declined to name his employer.

Motorcyclists attach one-gallon cans to their bikes with the intention of selling them fuel on the black marketplace. A gallon (or more) of gasoline sold on the street is now worth $20, which compares to $2 at a typical filling station.

Leaders in the transportation industry have called for strikes against kidnapping waves that have disproportionately affected truck drivers, public transport workers and other road users.

United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said on Sunday https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/unicef-warns-haiti-fuel-shortages-put-hospitalised-women-children-risk-2021-10-24 it had negotiated fuel deliveries to Haitian hospitals but that the provider later refused to make the deliveries, citing security conditions.

According to one official from the police, two police officers were unable to travel to Port-au-Prince because of fuel shortages. He asked to remain anonymous as he was not allowed to talk to reporters.

He stated that “most of our vehicles only have about one quarter of a fuel tank.”