Jack Guy Lafontant, Haiti’s embattled prime minister, has announced his resignation following days of violent protests sparked by a now-abandoned plan to raise fuel prices.
“I submitted my resignation to the president of the republic”, who has “accepted my resignation”, Lafontant said on Saturday in the lower house of Haiti’s legislature.
Haiti’s parliament was debating a vote of no-confidence against Lafontant.
The unrest started after the government unveiled a proposal to remove fuel subsidies which in turn would have hiked fuel prices: 38 percent for gasoline, 47 percent for diesel and 51 percent for kerosene.
The announcement sparked mass protests, with streets in the capital Port-au-Prince and other cities blocked with barricades of debris and burning tires.
At least seven people were killed and dozens of businesses were looted or destroyed during three days of demonstrations.
Lafontant, who took office in February 2017, later announced the plan would not go ahead, but protesters still demanded his resignation.
Agencies Report
