Protests in Haiti leave one dead, five injured, and a burned plane

Haiti’s protests against insecurity on Tuesday turned violent after people burned a small plane at Les Cayes airport and at least one person was killed.

National Police inspector Gedeon Chery said that at least one protester died and five other individuals were injured after authorities confronted protesters at the Les Cayes airport. Four of those injured were police officers, reported The Associated Press.

According to Chery, protesters were able to access the airport’s tarmac, and proceeded to set the plane of fire. The reason for setting the plane on fire is still unknown.

The airplane belonged to Agape Flights, a U.S. Christian ministry that delivers supplies to missionaries in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.

Prime Minister Henry responded to the Les Cayes’ incident with a tweet. “I strongly condemn the violence by demonstrators which resulted in the burning of a plane at Les Cayes airport. I have instructed the public authorities to put public action in motion against the perpetrators of these subversive acts so that they are severely punished,” he posted.

Je condamne, énergiquement, les violences de manifestants ayant abouti à l'incendie d'un avion, à l'aéroport des Cayes. J'ai instruit les pouvoirs publics de mettre l'action publique en mouvement contre les auteurs de ces actes subversifs afin qu'ils soient sévèrement sanctionnés

— Dr Ariel Henry (@DrArielHenry) March 29, 2022

Another small plane was set on fire at the airport of Jacmel, however, it remains unclear whether the incident is related to the protests, said National Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers.

Over the last few weeks, Haiti has seen protests over the country’s rise of insecurity, spike in gang-related kidnappings, and Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s inability to deal with these problems. The protests also come as Haiti celebrates the 35th anniversary of its 1987 Constitution.

Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince also saw protests on Tuesday, during which demonstrators demanded that Henry be held accountable for the country’s problems. While the protests were largely peaceful, group of protesters in the capital burned tires.

In 2021, Haiti saw an 180% increase in kidnappings, of which only 655 were reported to the police. Authorities claim that the actual number of kidnappings is higher.