Blackout in Port-au-Prince Marks News Week in Haiti

A blackout affecting all sectors of the capital marks the news week in Haiti, where authorities remain unresolved by a population that accuses them of complicity with bandits.

Port-au-Prince has been shut down since June 17, and although E-Power, a private company, intends to replace the state-owned company, Electricité d’Haïti, it is not enough to solve the energy dilemma, which today reaches its nineteenth day.

In this context, the occupants of a hydroelectric plant maintain their position. waiting for the government to engage in a dialogue and respond to their demands.

Since June 17, residents of Mirebalais have been staging a protest at the Péligre plant.

Previously, from May 12 to 25 of this year, citizens has paralyzed the facility.

On that occasion, the government agreed to talks and promised the rebels that they would help put an end to the banditry in that area.

The residents accepted, but warned that if they failed to keep their promises, they would return to the camp, leaving the capital in darkness once again.

The authorities violated the agreement, and since June 17, Port-au-Prince has been living in darkness, as a large crowd invaded the Péligre hydroelectric plant, forcing employees to shut down the facility.

This time, to show they were serious, they damaged a pole supporting the cables that supply electricity to Port-au-Prince, and then two more towers were damaged.

The population accuses state authorities of being complicit with the gangs, and this argument fueled popular anger.