Violence erupts as Haitians vent fury over tax hikes
- 7 years ago
For the second successive day, thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets to protest against a tax rise on every day goods.
Violence flared after attacks on businesses in the capital Port-au-Prince and demonstrators clashed with riot police, who fired tear gas and warning shots in the air.
Lawmakers last weekend approved an unpopular budget that raises taxes on products including cigarettes, alcohol and passports. At the same time, foreign aid to Haiti is slowing. The country is one of the poorest in the Americas and suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010 and the worst of hurricane Matthew last year.
Dame Hurricane matthew, now Hurricane Irma spared Haiti but farmers still impacted | Miami Heraldhttps://t.co/x9wYwE7DRo pic.twitter.com/FgULsNO6ym— MJulien’s Comedy (@MJulienComedy) September 14, 2017
It comes as Haiti struggles to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma last week which unleashed rains that flooded farms and affected some 18,000 people in the worst-hit areas.
Violence flared after attacks on businesses in the capital Port-au-Prince and demonstrators clashed with riot police, who fired tear gas and warning shots in the air.
Lawmakers last weekend approved an unpopular budget that raises taxes on products including cigarettes, alcohol and passports. At the same time, foreign aid to Haiti is slowing. The country is one of the poorest in the Americas and suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010 and the worst of hurricane Matthew last year.
Dame Hurricane matthew, now Hurricane Irma spared Haiti but farmers still impacted | Miami Heraldhttps://t.co/x9wYwE7DRo pic.twitter.com/FgULsNO6ym— MJulien’s Comedy (@MJulienComedy) September 14, 2017
It comes as Haiti struggles to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma last week which unleashed rains that flooded farms and affected some 18,000 people in the worst-hit areas.