Haiti's prime minister calls for calm in violent protests demanding his ouster – Winnipeg Free Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called for calm in a public address Thursday after three days of violent protests across the country demanding his resignation.

The brief speech calmed thousands of people angry and frustrated by relentless gang violence, deepening poverty and the invisibility of a general election.

“I think it's time for all of us to put our heads together and work in a different way in our country to save Haiti,” Henry said, without offering specifics.

He urged Haitians not to view the government or the Haitian National Police as adversaries. Those who choose violence, extermination and killing to gain power “are not working in the interest of the Haitian people,” he said.

His comments came as thousands of Haitians rallied in the country's cities and towns every day this week to demand Henry's resignation and say they would continue to protest until he does.

Haiti's legislature is currently vacant after the last 10 senators' terms expire in January 2023. The country failed to hold scheduled elections in 2019 and 2023, and Henry came to power in July 2021 with the support of the international community after the assassination of President Jovenel. Moses.

Police killed five armed environmental protection agents in the capital Port-au-Prince on Wednesday in a shootout that sparked fears the Haitian crisis could worsen.

Lionel Lazarre, head of the police union known as Sinapoha, told The Associated Press that the shootout between agents of the Haitian Security Brigade for Protected Areas and police took place in the community of Laboule. He said the environmental agents opened fire after the officers asked them to put down their weapons, prompting the officers to fire.

The environmental department has recently come under scrutiny after its agents clashed with police in northern Haiti.

Henry said Haitians need peace, security, jobs and the ability to move freely in the country.

“The Haitian people must let their children go to school without fear, because it guarantees their future,” he said.

Henry again pledged to hold general elections once Haiti's security issues are resolved, and said he will continue to reach out and work with all those who want the country to move forward, “to make decisions together that will help us get out of the impasse. crisis”.

He also congratulated the police for their efforts to fight gangs and promised to push for the UN-backed deployment of the Kenyan police, currently blocked by a court order.

“I want to assure everyone that the government will do everything possible to ensure that the mission is achieved as quickly as possible,” he said.

Henry also expressed his condolences to all those who lost their lives in the violent protests this week.

“I assure you that the Haitian people will develop together in peace and prosperity,” Henry said without elaborating. “We will change our fate from one side and one sleeve.”

Haitians have said they want Henry out of office by February 7. The day also has deep historical significance in Haiti: in 1986, former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier fled to France, and in 1991, Haiti's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was sworn in.

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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.