Haiti gang leader lifts weeks-long fuel blockade 

One of Haiti’s most powerful gang leaders announced on Sunday the lifting of a blockade on one of the country’s most important fuel terminals in Port-au-Prince. 

The announcement comes after almost two weeks of negotiations with Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizer, according to Haitian politician Dr. Harrison Ernest, who met with the gang leader and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry many times during this period. 

Cherizer, known as “Barbecue,” is the leader of the gang G9, which oversees more than a dozen branches in Port-au-Prince.  

“I talked to Barbeque and told them to leave the terminal because the kids need to go back to school. And we urged the government to do their part to make sure there is fuel and the fuel needed to reach the customer,” said Ernest, a Haitian doctor and politician from the country’s Konstwi Lavi party.

In mid-September, the coalition of G9 gangs dug trenches and put up barricades preventing access to the Varreux fuel terminal, leading to nationwide fuel shortages. 

Additionally, the fuel shortages created by the blockade exacerbated a humanitarian crisis, after they halted most economic activity, forced hospitals to cut back on critical services, and left Haitians struggling to find water and other goods. 

“Once again, the drivers and employees of the Varreux terminal can come down without fear," Cherizier said in a video circulating online. "We've decided among us ... to allow for the gas to be released."

Haiti’s government has denied that it negotiated with G9 to reopen the fuel terminal, however, government sources did confirm that Prime Minister Henry did meet with Ernest. 

“We don’t deal with gangs and we don’t negotiate with gangs, we want schools to reopen and to revive the economic activities as soon as possible. The Prime Minister met with (Ernest) but they did not engage in any negotiations with gangs on our behalf,” said special advisor Jean Junior Joseph.