Haiti rolls out austerity measures amid oil price spike from Iran war

As the war in Iran cuts off important oil supplies and raises prices around the world, Haiti’s government announced fresh austerity measures.

Officials in the beleaguered Caribbean country have banned the purchase of any new vehicles, will cut gasoline costs for state institutions, and said that only necessary missions approved by the prime minister would be allowed to travel abroad.

Also, security escorts will only be able to use one car in a country where gangs control over 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and a lot of rural areas.

A statement from Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said that the steps will help the government “to anticipate serious repercussions on the already fragile macroeconomic balance and public finances in particular.”

“The government has no choice but to cut state spending even more,” the statement read.

Poverty in Haiti has been worse after the killing of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, when gangs took over more land.

As the conflict continues, countries around the world have taken further steps, such as shortening the workweek to four days.