Haiti’s Prime Minister Jacques Alexis Fired!

Haiti is searching for a new Prime Minister. That’s because the previous one was fired on Saturday. Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, was fired on Saturday in a vote by 16 opposition senators who said he had not done enough to ramp up food production and reduce the cost of living.

The latest upheaval follows a week of rioting by Haitians enraged at the soaring cost of rice, beans, cooking oil and other staples. The rioters went so far as banging on the presidental palace’ gates before UN peacekeepers fired rubber bullets and teargas to dispere them. Haiti’s government has become the first casualty in the Caricom Community to fall as a direct result of rising food prices which have led to protests and riots in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Yvonne Tsikata, the World Bank’s country director for the Caribbean, said in a statement that the World Bank still planned to provide $10 million in grant handouts to Haiti for school lunches and work programs and other measures to mitigate food price increases.

The development agency also said it planned to help Haiti develop a medium-term strategy to improve food security.

As for Barbados, Prime Minister David Thompson is to address the nation tonight on the issue of rising food prices and other related matters.

See prvious articles – High Foods Prices Causing Social Unrest Worldwide

World On The Brink Of Food Shortage!!! – 10 More Years Of Expensive Food: Says UN

Millions Starve As Tons Of Food Rots In Haitians Ports

Afica And India Team Up To Ensure Food Security

In other related news

Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank said the international community has “to put our money where our mouth is” and act now to help hungry people. “It is as stark as that.”

He called on governments to rapidly carry out commitments to provide the U.N. World Food Program with $500 million in emergency aid it needs by May 1.

“It is critical that governments confirm their commitments as soon as possible and others begin to commit,” Zoellick said.

Zoellick said that international finance meetings are “often about talk,” but he noted a “greater sense of intensity and focus” among ministers. Now, he said, they have to “translate it into greater action.”

Intensity. Focus. Translate ….. into greater action. We awaitttttttttttttttttttttt with abated breathe.

 

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