REGIONAL: Journalist killed in Haiti during protest action by textile workers for higher minimum wages

SOURCE:CMC – Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry has ‘deplored” the death of journalist, Maxihen Lazzare, who was killed on Wednesday as he covered a protest demonstration by textile workers calling for a higher minimum wage than what had been announced by the government earlier this week.

Lazzare, a photojournalist with the online media RDI, was shot and killed instantly during the demonstration, while three other journalists were injured, two of them by bullets.

The injured journalists have been identified as Sony Laurore of Laurore News TV, Yves Moise of RCH 2000 and Alvarez Destined from Lakay TV.

“While committing to guarantee the freedom to demonstrate, in compliance with the law and republican values, the government recalls the responsibility of public authorities to ensure order and security with a view to restoring peace.

“I deplore the death of journalist Lazard Maximilien, which occurred during workers’ demonstrations on Wednesday. I also condemn the violence that has caused injuries. I offer my condolences to the family of the deceased, as well as to the other victims of these brutal acts,” Henry said in a statement.

On Monday, Haiti announced an increase in the minimum wages less than a week after police used teargas to disperse textile workers who had taken to the streets to demand an increase in their minimum wages.

The workers were demanding a 300 per cent increase in the minimum wage, which is now 500 Gourdes (One Gourde=US$0.009 cents) per eight -hour working day in addition to other social benefits, such as transport and food subsidies..”

The Council of Ministers met last Sunday and agreed to increase the minimum wages for different categories of workers ranging from 440 to 770 Gourdes.

The textile workers have refused to accept the minimum wage of 685 Gourdes demanding a minimum daily wage of 1,500 Gourdes.

Media reports said that heavily armed men in a vehicle opened fire on the demonstrators. There were also reports that several people were injured by gunfire from individuals wearing police uniforms and traveling in a vehicle without number plates.

Before the shooting, police had used tear gas to try and push back protesters who were throwing stones.

Wednesday’s protest was the third consecutive day that the textile workers had taken to the streets barricading the main roads with piles of burning tyres.

Last week, Senate President, Joseph Lambert, called for an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to police officers using teargas to break up a demonstration by textile workers who had been seeking an increase in wages.

In a letter sent to Frantz Elbé, the Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Lambert said he was dismayed at the strong manner in which the police had intervened to break up the demonstration by the textile workers, who had been demonstrating peacefully.’

Lambert called on Elbé to launch an investigation into the matter and “take the corresponding” actions as a result of the findings.

Secretary General of the Autonomous Center of Haitian Workers (CATH), Fignolé Saint Cyr, said that the minimum wage in Haiti had not been readjusted since November 1, 2019.

Economist Joseph Harold Pierre said while he believes the daily minimum wage should be between 900 and 1,700 Gourdes, he acknowledges also that the state cannot meet such an increase.