It is no longer news that four of the seven council members with voting rights have chosen Fritz Belizaire as the country’s Prime Minister. The declaration and unexpected political alliance took many Haitians aback.
It appears the selection of the new prime minister is now yielding results.
Negative ones at that!
This is because gangs have resumed their attacks on the capital.
The Guardian reports that residents have started fleeing as gunmen have started burning homes and exchanging gunfire with the police.
“The gangs started burning everything in sight. I was hiding in a corner all night,” a man called Nene said. Neighborhoods are becoming deserted and a heavy silence blanketed the area except for the occasional bleating from a lone goat.
Police trucks were patrolling the streets, going past charred vehicles and cinderblock walls.
People whose homes were spared in the attacks grabbed the little they could as they fled. Others walked away empty-handed as they’ve lost everything.
“There were gunshots left and right,” said Paul Pierre who was walking away with his partner in search of shelter after their house was burned down. They couldn’t save anything.
Children were separated from their parents and husbands from their wives as everyone was trying to salvage their dear life.
Martineda, a woman said, Gunfire, gunfire, gunfire everywhere! No one slept. Everyone was running.”
New leaders are taking charge of the country amid squabbling. Haitians are demanding that they should prioritize their safety as gangs are more powerful and better armed than the country’s national police.
