Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Lafontant was accused of mishandling the fuel reforms

The Prime Minister of Haiti, Jack Guy Lafontant, has resigned after days of violent protests against fuel price rises.

In a speech in the lower house of Congress in the capital, Port-au-Prince, he said President Jovenel Moïse, had accepted his resignation.

There had been calls for a vote of no-confidence in Mr Lafontant in Congress during the riots.

At least four people were killed with shops and buildings burnt and looted.

The unrest started after the government unveiled a proposal to remove fuel subsidies.

Haiti protests in pictures

This would have increased the price of petrol by 38% diesel by 47% and kerosene by 51%.

The capital, Port-au-Prince, was immobilized and dozens of shops and businesses attacked.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Demonstrators marched through the streets of Port-au-Prince to protest against the government

Image copyright AFP Image caption Thousands of Haitians took to the streets to protest for three days

The government responded by suspending the reforms.

In February, the country signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to carry out structural reforms to promote growth.

The IMF argued getting rid of the fuel subsidies would free up cash for other things like education, health and job creation.

But many of the protestors accused the government of being out of touch with their economic difficulties in one of the world's poorest countries.

A government spokesman said the suspension of the fuel price rises was temporary while the political crisis was tackled.

But opposition MPs in Congress warned that if the price increases were reinstated there would be more violence and protests on the streets.

The IMF suggested on Thursday "a more gradual approach" to ending fuel subsidies which were expected to generate around $300m (£226m).

There were also fuel protests in 2015 where demonstrators demanded a reduction in prices.</s>(PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti) — Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned Saturday amid widespread unrest following his failed attempt to increase fuel prices.

Lafontant told Haiti’s Chamber of Deputies that he had sent President Jovenel Moise his resignation letter.

The deputies had called on the prime minister to answer questions after riots erupted from July 6-8 to protest the government’s attempt to raise fuel prices by up to 51 percent as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. At least seven people died and dozens of businesses were looted or destroyed.

Small protests were held in different parts of Haiti’s capital on Saturday to demand that government leaders step down.

Lafontant (LA-FAH-TON) suspended the fuel prices increases after protests erupted last week but the disturbances continued and calls for the prime minister to resign grew, including from the opposition and some business groups.

A group of senators had called Saturday’s meeting for Lafontant to address the legislature and he took the opportunity to resign.

Lafontant, a 57-year-old doctor who took office in March 2017, had said the price hikes of 38 percent to 51 percent for gasoline, diesel and kerosene were needed for Haiti to balance its budget.

Government officials agreed to reduce subsidies for fuel in February as part of an assistance package with the IMF. The agreement also included increased spending on social services and infrastructure and improved tax collection in an effort to modernize the economy of one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere.</s>President Jovenel Moise said on Twitter that Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant had offered his resignation and that he had accepted it.

Lafontant's resignation came as he faced losing office through a vote of no confidence in the country's lower house of parliament.

Earlier this month, at least seven people were killed in violent protests over a plan to increase the price of fuel by up to 50 per cent.

Demonstrators burned tyres, looted shops and set cars on fire in the capital, Port-au-Prince, to protest the plan which Lafontant later abandoned. Protests also took place in other parts of the country.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and relies heavily on aid contributions from abroad.

Corruption and violence are commonplace in the Caribbean country, and anti-government protests often descend into riots.</s>PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned Saturday amid calls for him to step down over his handling of a failed plan to raise fuel prices that set off a wave of deadly protests.

Lafontant told Haiti’s Chamber of Deputies that he sent President Jovenel Moise his resignation letter and the president had accepted it. Moise has not yet commented publicly.

The prime minister’s abrupt resignation came ahead of a vote on a motion of censure Lafontant, a first step toward asking that Moise name a new prime minister to form a Cabinet to handle the crisis. The prime minister is the second highest official in Haiti after the president.

Lafontant was to answer questions about the July 6-8 riots that followed the government’s attempt to raise fuel prices by up to 51 % as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. At least seven people were killed and dozens of businesses were looted during the unrest.

Instead, Lafontant used the opportunity to announce his resignation, while in various parts of Haiti’s small protests were held demanding the head of state step down.

As the session began, chamber president Gary Bodaeu wrote on his Twitter account that the legislature “is at a crossroads in history; it must assume its responsibilities.” He had earlier called the price hikes “untimely” and “inoperative.”

Lafontant suspended the fuel prices increases after protests erupted last week but the disturbances continued and calls for the prime minister to resign grew, including from the opposition and some business groups.

Lafontant, a 57-year-old doctor who took office in March 2017, had said the price hikes of 38% to 51% for gasoline, diesel and kerosene were needed for Haiti to balance its budget.

Government officials agreed to reduce subsidies for fuel in February as part of an assistance package with the IMF. The agreement also included increased spending on social services and infrastructure and improved tax collection in an effort to modernize the economy of one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere.

Lafontant’s replacement will be nominated by Moise and confirmed by the Senate.</s>Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned on Saturday during a session in the lower house of Parliament in which he was to have faced a no-confidence vote.

The session was held after violent protests erupted last weekend over fuel-price hikes, which the government later scrapped.

Once the prime minister's resignation was announced, the speaker of the lower house, Gary Bodeau, posted a message on Twitter asking President Jovenel Moise "to choose a prime minister by general consent, bearing in mind the hopes of all sectors of national life."

Saturday morning, before the session got underway, Bodeau had already expressed in a statement to EFE his wish that Lafontant would resign "for the good of the country."

Because of the parliamentary session, which has sparked great expectations, and following the disturbances last weekend, the authorities deployed a strong police presence around the Haitian capital, especially outside Parliament, the target of another protest called by the opposition.

The prime minister's performance has been questioned for some time, and a few days before the violence broke out he was called by legislators to discuss where he was taking his government. He never showed up for that session.

Following the riots, sectors of the opposition, the local business class and even the ruling party demanded Lafontant's resignation.

Last July 6, the government announced an increase of between 37 and 50 percent on the price of fuel in this impoverished country, where over half the population lives on less than $2.00 a day.

The price hike of fuel including kerosene, widely used to light the homes of Haitians with little purchasing power, sparked violent protests in the streets, in which several people were killed.

The situation forced the government to drop the price increase the very next day. It had been the result of an accord signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which this week proposed the gradual elimination of the subsidies on these products, since such aid basically benefits the wealthy.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has condemned the violence unleashed over the past few days in Haiti and called on all parties to remain calm and practice restraint.</s>Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned Saturday after widespread protests thwarted his attempts to increase the nation’s fuel prices.

Lafontant was asked by Haiti’s Chamber of Deputies to answer questions regarding the violent protests that took place July 6-8, leaving at least seven people dead and dozens of businesses destroyed or looted.

Instead, he handed in his letter of resignation to President Jovenel Moise.

Earlier this month, the Commerce Ministry and Economic Ministry issued a joint statement announcing an increase of 38 percent to 51 percent for gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Protests erupted in the capital, Port-au-Prince, last week.

Lafontant, a 57-year-old doctor who took office in March 2017, had said the price hikes were needed for Haiti to balance its budget.

Demonstrators continued to protest in the capital on Saturday, demanding government leadership step down.

Amid the protests, the U.S. Embassy last week advised American citizens to remain inside.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>People run after cars were set on fire near the Best Western hotel during protests over a fuel price increase in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday, July 7, 2018. On Friday, the government announced that it would raise the prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene from 38 percent to 51 percent beginning Saturday, but cancelled the plan after protests around the country. less

People run after cars were set on fire near the Best Western hotel during protests over a fuel price increase in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday, July 7, 2018. On Friday, the government announced that it ... more

FILE - In this March 21, 2017 file photo, Haiti's Prime Minister Dr. Jack Guy Lafontant stands on stage during his confirmation ceremony at the National Palace, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Lafontant resigned Saturday, July 14, 2018, amid criticism for his failed attempt to increase fuel prices. less

FILE - In this March 21, 2017 file photo, Haiti's Prime Minister Dr. Jack Guy Lafontant stands on stage during his confirmation ceremony at the National Palace, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Lafontant resigned ... more

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned Saturday amid calls for him to step down over his handling of a failed plan to raise fuel prices that set off a wave of deadly protests.

Lafontant told Haiti's Chamber of Deputies that he sent President Jovenel Moise his resignation letter. Moise confirmed via Twitter that he had accepted Lafontant's resignation along with those of other Cabinet members.

The prime minister's abrupt resignation came ahead of a vote on a motion of censure Lafontant, a first step toward asking that Moise name a new prime minister to form a Cabinet to handle the crisis. The prime minister is the second highest official in Haiti after the president.

Lafontant was to answer questions about the July 6-8 riots that followed the government's attempt to raise fuel prices by up to 51 percent as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. At least seven people were killed and dozens of businesses were looted during the unrest.

Instead, Lafontant (LA-FAH-TON) used the opportunity to announce his resignation, while in various parts of Haiti's small protests were held demanding the head of state step down.

As the session began, chamber president Gary Bodaeu wrote on his Twitter account that the legislature "is at a crossroads in history; it must assume its responsibilities." He had earlier called the price hikes "untimely" and "inoperative."

Lafontant (LA-FAH-TON) suspended the fuel prices increases after protests erupted last week but the disturbances continued and calls for the prime minister to resign grew, including from the opposition and some business groups.

Lafontant, a 57-year-old doctor who took office in March 2017, had said the price hikes of 38 percent to 51 percent for gasoline, diesel and kerosene were needed for Haiti to balance its budget.

Government officials agreed to reduce subsidies for fuel in February as part of an assistance package with the IMF. The agreement also included increased spending on social services and infrastructure and improved tax collection in an effort to modernize the economy of one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere.

Lafontant's replacement will be nominated by Moise and confirmed by the Senate.</s>According to NPR, Haiti’s Prime Minister, Jack Guy Lafontant, resigned Saturday amid the nation’s protests over the recent oil price hike.

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse tweeted his acceptance of Lafontant’s resignation, adding that he will begin searching for a new prime minister. “I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Lafontant,” Moise tweeted, “and the members of the cabinet for the services rendered to the nation.”

Lafontant, who served as prime minister for only a year, was going to be voted out of office through a no-confidence vote anyway.

After the Haitian government announced their plan to raise oil prices on July 6, protests and riots broke out, causing chaos and destruction. Over the past week, major roads have been blocked off, shops have been vandalized, and protestors have set fire to numerous tires.

Oil prices, however, did increase dramatically, going up “by 38 percent for gasoline, 47 percent for diesel and 51 percent for kerosene.”

These price increases were a requirement of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, “which often requires countries to implement economic reforms in exchange for access to funds.” A little earlier in the year, Haiti signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund in order to receive $96,000,000 in grants.

Over the last week of riots and protests, Lafontant reportedly “refused calls to step down from business and opposition groups, which accused the government of mishandling the double-digit fuel increase that its ministers announced with little notice.”

The Haitian government subsidizes the cost of their fuel, spending around 2% of their GDP on subsidies. According to the World Bank, in 2017 “the richest 20 percent of Haitians were receiving 93 percent of the subsidies.”

A relatively poor nation already, Haiti’s recent oil price hikes proved to be detrimental to Haitian citizens. The World Bank reported that 59% of Haitians “make less than the equivalent of $2.41 per day.”

On Thursday, the International Monetary Fund claimed that it would still support removing subsidies in order to provide the Haitian government with funding for social service programs, but added that they would want such a process to happen gradually.

Because of the riots and protests over oil prices, the U.S. State Department issued a warning on Monday to U.S. citizens, urging them not to travel due to Haiti’s current “widespread civil unrest and violent demonstrations” which included “protests, tire burning, and road blockages.”

Due to the unreliability of varying reports, anywhere from 2 to 7 people have been killed amid the riots so far.</s>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 eliminate 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.

Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from Port-au-Prince, said the parliament had been debating whether to give or not Lafontant a vote of confidence for more than three hours.

In his speech to parliament, the prime minister defended his government but then said he had sent President Jovenel Moise his resignation letter, added our correspondent.

"Essentially right now," added Elizondo, "the country of Haiti now has no current functioning government ... The next step will be that the president as well as the two heads of parliament will decide the next prime minister of Haiti."</s>PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant has resigned amid widespread unrest following his failed attempt to increase fuel prices.

Lafontant (LA-FAH-TON) told Haiti's Chamber of Deputies on Saturday that he sent President Jovenel Moise his resignation letter.

The deputies had called on the prime minister to answer questions after violent riots took place between July 6 and 8 in protest of the government's attempt to raise fuel prices by up to 51 percent.

At least seven people were killed and dozens of businesses were looted or destroyed during three days of demonstrations.
Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigns after deadly protests against fuel price rises.