Protest against the high price of petrol: Ten unions protest against the increase in the price of fuel, and warn President Préval of new hunger riots
Le Nouvelliste - 3 July 2008
The leaders of 10 unions, including those representing workers at Service Plus, the National Press and Archives, Téléco, ED'H, ONA, the state hospital (HUEH), and the OAVCT, and the teachers' union, UNNOH, have protested against the rising price of fuel, which according to them, will have serious consequences for the Haitian people. "We are living in a country where poverty and hunger reign supreme. The decision (to end some, reduce other subsidies) will only worsen the situation of Haitian families", said Josué Mérilien, the coordinatator of the group at a press conference on Wednesday at the ED'H centre.
"Numerous employees have already been dismissed by companies who do not want to experience losses because of fuel costs," said Mérilien, who fears that the list of unemployed will only lengthen. According to Jean Mabou of the Téléco union, the state must reduce its profit margins from 48 to 38%. Otherwise, he warned, "we can expect riots, as was the case in April."
The union representatives also revealed that they were not invited to the meeting the president René Préval had with the National Association of Distributors of Petroleum Products (ANADIPP) and other union organisations to discuss the rising price of petroleum products. The officials also denied "the approval" accordingh to which all unions endorsed the decision of the executive to increase fuel prices. "We have in no way given our approval. We are not like other unions present at the National Palace during these discussions," they added, calling for a new meeting between the head of state and the entire union sector.
The representatives of these ten unions took the opportunity to ask President Preval and the government to intervene on behalf of public sector unions in difficulty. The functioning of trade unions is recognised by the Constitution, they argued, also calling for the release of chairman of the union of the state hospital workers, Felix Levy, who has been imprisoned following an assault on the Director General of the hospital, Dr. Jean Ronald Cornely.
NB: The end or reduction of the fuel subsidy applied following the riots at the beginning of April means that the price of a gallon of lower grade petrol went up by 10% and a gallon of diesel by 13%. The AP reported: Port-au-Prince's public taxis, or "tap-taps," raised fares to cope with fuel costs, prompting arguments with passengers. "The passengers don't want to pay. We have to fight with them," said 46-year-old Molier Benoit, whose syndicate doubled its fares to 12 gourdes (31 US cents) per ride.
Translated from French by Charles Arthur for the Haiti Support Group
Forwarded as a service of the Haiti Support Group - solidarity with the Haitian people's struggle for human rights, participatory democracy and equitable development - since 1992.
Web site: www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org