HAITI IS IN TROUBLE TOO! :-(

[KristiD]

For those who didn't know since it's not covered much in the U.S.......

 

Haiti has violent protests across the country that continue to demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moise.  In October, 2017, it was discovered that between 2008 and 2016, almost $4 billion in government funds earmarked for social and development projects was missappropirated or embezzled by government officials and their cronies.  The protests had been ongoing for months, but when the government announced a substantial tax increase on gasoline and diesel, the protests escalated into violence on February 7th, when citizens started attacking luxury vehicles belonging to wealthy Haitians.  At least 7 deaths have been reported, 78 inmates were able to escape while police were busy with the protestors, and blocked roads have stranded a group of missionarieas well as foreign aid workers and even travelers.  With the country in disarray, last Thursday, the United States government ordered non-essential U.S. personnel to leave Haiti and issued a Do Not Travel advisory to Haiti for all U.S. citizens, joining Canada and several other countries that had already issued travel advisories for Haiti.  On Saturday, things quieted down as residents took the day to gather food, water and fuel as they waited for an expected announcement from the Prime Minister.