Haiti's Largest Oil Terminal Reopens for First Time Since September After Gangs Took Over

After nearly two months, Haiti's largest and most important oil depot, the Varreux fuel terminal, where 70 percent of the country's fuel is stored, is operational again.

One of Haiti's most powerful gangs, the G9 and Family, blocked the entrance of the fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince in mid-September, causing a fuel crisis and bringing chaos to the country.

According to CNN, the leader of G9, a federation of more than a dozen Haitian gangs based in Port-au-Prince, is led by former cop Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, who announced that his group was lifting the blockade after talks with the government.

The negotiation took two weeks, but it led to Cherizier giving up control of the Varreux fuel terminal. Haitian doctor and politician Dr. Harrison Ernest said he spoke a few times with Cherizier and Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry during the negotiating process.

"I talked to Barbeque and told them to leave the terminal because the kids need to go back to school. And we urged the government to do their part to make sure there is fuel and the fuel need to reach the customer," said Ernest, who is part of the Konstwi Lavi party.

Ernest noted that the party worked as a mediator between the government and the G9 gang confederation, with an adviser to the prime minister telling CNN that Henry had indeed spoken to Ernest.

Fuel Trucks Under Heavy Police Guard After Varreux Fuel Terminal in Haiti Reopens

The oil depot opened on Tuesday, with dozens of trucks lining up to fill up their tanks. A heavily armed police convoy protected the truck drivers two days after Jimmy Cherizier announced lifting the blockade.

The government noted that gas stations closed since mid-September would be resupplied from Wednesday to Friday and will open to customers on Saturday.

Truck driver Gabriel Salny told the Associated Press that they can now breathe since they can work and earn money again, adding that hunger almost killed him. He noted that the fuel blockade "had an impact on the country, on all Haitians."

Fuel Blockade Caused Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti

In a speech posted on social media Sunday, Jimmy Cherizier announced lifting the fuel blockade. He said the gang decided to release gas to the public as the situation in the country has worsened.

Since then, police have retaken control of the oil depot, though heavy shooting around the area was reported on Saturday. A spokesperson for Ariel Henry declined to comment on Cherizier's statement but said: "Our government is working hard on getting our citizens back to everyday activities."

According to Reuters, the blockade created a humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean country. It was so severe that the United Nations discussed sending a strike force to take back the Varreux terminal.

Because of the fuel shortage, much of Haiti's economic activity was halted. Hospitals and businesses were forced to scale back operations or simply shut their doors. It happened as the cholera outbreak spread throughout Haiti.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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