Last summer, a fuel riot erupted in Haiti after the government announced a reduction in fuel subsidies which would result in major increases in the price of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. The announcement led to protests and civil unrest throughout the country for days on end. On the second anniversary of current President, Jovenel Moise’s, election […]
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Last summer, a fuel riot erupted in Haiti after the government announced a reduction in fuel subsidies which would result in major increases in the price of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. The announcement led to protests and civil unrest throughout the country for days on end. On the second anniversary of current President, Jovenel Moise’s, election (February 7) protests broke out again in Haiti, this time calling for the resignation of President Moise.
The people of Haiti are suffering, they are hungry, they are tired, and they are angry. Since being in office, Moise has promised his people “food on every plate and money in every pocket,” and earmarked some $2 billion to develop hospitals, schools and roads, and get the people of Haiti back to living like people again. Yet, Haiti remains the poorest country of the Americas with close to 60% of the population surviving on less than $2.00 per day. And the money that was promised by Moise has virtually gone missing, being funneled into other projects rather than the projects to address the social good of the country, where it was originally planned to go.
Without access to basic human needs, including clean water, sufficient food, and sanitation, the people of Haiti no longer want to live in misery – they want change, they need change. It is in times of crisis that PMC must assess the risk and reward for all staff members and our audiences. In Haiti, our local team has continued working through these difficulties, dedicated to the importance of their work and our mission.
Currently, PMC is broadcasting Zoukoutap 3 in Haiti, a 156-episode radio show that celebrates the beautiful people of Haiti – while working to impact some of the hidden, challenging human rights concerns within Haitian culture. While the broadcast was interrupted in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, for a short period due to the recent protest and civil unrest, other broadcasts continue. The shows that have previously aired in Haiti have done so much to positively impact the health and well-being of the people of Haiti that local staff is committed to continuing.
We are proud to be working in Haiti, to be one tiny piece in the push for progress and human rights.
The post Throughout Hard Times, We Must Persevere appeared first on Population Media Center.