Less than twenty-four hours after the truce announcement of the G-9 gang leader, activities resumed at the Varreux oil terminal. The roads were freed from the barricades and the bandits stopped shooting.
On social networks on Thursday, Jimmy Chérizier, aka Barbecue, the leader of the gang federation called G-9, which controls much of downtown Port-au-Prince and Cité Soleil, announced a truce. Less than twenty-four hours later, the various roads leading to the Varreux oil terminal were unblocked and members of his armed group stopped terrorizing the population and thus allowed the resumption of activities at the crossing.
For Friday, September 10, 160 trucks filled with petroleum products of all kinds of different capacities representing an outlet of 550,000 gallons of diesel and 650,000 gallons of gasoline left the terminal to supply the market/gas stations throughout the country, Georges Lebrun, director of Wineso, the company that manages fuel storage in Varreux, told Nouvelliste.
“We will work this Saturday and Sunday to supply the market. If we continue to operate without interruption, by Monday to Tuesday next week, the metropolitan area will be refueled. We have products in stock to do so and the BMPAD has announced the arrival of two new cargoes soon, “explained Georges Lebrun.
For about a week, the vast majority of gas stations in the metropolitan area have been closed because of the inability of oil companies to supply them as a result of the armed gang movement in the Varreux area. Varreux’ storage capacity represents about 70% of the country’s total petroleum product storage capacity.
The Association of Petroleum Professionals (APPE), in a letter dated September 7, drew the attention of Justice and Public Safety Minister Rockefeller Vincent, “to the situation of insecurity that compromises the loading of trucks into oil terminals”.
“The Martissant terminal has been closed since July 5, since gangsters fired at the propane ship while unloading its cargo. The Thor terminal is out of fuel shortage repeatedly because all customers come to load their trucks there, when they can no longer access the Varreux terminal or when the queues are too long (which is the case when a ship unloads its cargo after a period of out of stock). The Varreux crossing has been inaccessible since September 1, because gangsters are blocking road access, “reads this APPE letter to the Minister of Justice.
More than the authorities in charge of the country, armed gangs are making headlines by enthroning themselves as the only masters of lives and property in the city. Since the beginning of this week, as they announced, these bandits have taken up residence in downtown where they have paralyzed almost all commercial activities. Without facing any obstacles.
The national police, responsible for the safety of life and property, shone by his absence. Merchants, retailers and wholesalers, buyers, drivers have become prey to these attackers.
The few private companies that still remain at the bottom of the city brave danger every day. They are subject to the law of armed groups that have become more powerful since the police left their field open.
This part of the Haitian capital, which once housed almost all department stores, car showrooms, the largest public markets, is only a garbage museum that attracts only flies, stray dogs and thugs.
What’s worse, it’s not only at the bottom of the city that this situation of insecurity and unsanitary conditions are rife. In Cité Soleil, Croix-des-Bouquets, Tabarre, Delmas, to name just a few municipalities, small traders and business leaders must comply with the laws of armed gangs.
In addition, several entrepreneurs undertook exploration visits to the Dominican Republic. They think they can run their business better there. In our country, decision-makers are not concerned. They do not try anything to create a business climate conducive to those who want to start or develop their business. An enabling business climate is not just about providing a minimum of security for businesses.
Today, the Haitian economy is experiencing a large number of job losses due to the political unrest that persists in the country. Companies are suffering repeated shocks related to the political, health and security crisis. More than ever Haiti is not open for business.
