<i>By: Yves Pierre-Louis - Haiti Liberte
</i><p></p>

Since the weekend of April 10, there has been a severe gas shortage in Haiti. Tap tap and taxi drivers have great difficulty finding an open gas pump. Even if they do, they rarely can buy for more than 1000 gourdes (about $25).
<p></p>
Drivers might spend a whole day in a gas line where there is lots of yelling and fighting. Public transportation drivers take one day to find gas, and another day to work. During the day they work, they double fares: a five gourdes ride (12 cents) is now 10 gourdes (24 cents), a 10 gourdes ride is now 20 gourdes (48 cents), a 25 gourdes fare (62 cents) is now 50 gourdes ($1.24), and so on.
<p></p>
Also, drivers now ask for their money before they pull out with a passenger. There are no regulations so drivers can do what they want. Some drivers even take off without giving passengers change.
<p></p>
With the shortage, a gallon of gas now costs 300 to 400 gourdes ($7.50 - $10) in the street. Gallons are sold out of plastic jugs in front of the pumps, right under the noses of the authorities. Again, there are no regulations and distributors do as they wish.
<p></p>
Drivers say that the more expensive gas forces them to raise fares.
<p></p>
This gas shortage has practically paralyzed all activity in the capital. Many people have to walk to work or school though streets that are still filled with rubble.
<p></p>
It is mainly the poor - workers, small merchants, students - who have to walk many kilometers under the blazing sun. With traffic much lighter, the rich in new air-conditioned cars speed down largely open streets, sending dust from rubble onto pedestrians.
<p></p>
Economy and Finance Minister Ronald Beaudin has claimed that the shortage is caused by the late arrival of a gas tanker. He said the boat would arrive in Port-au-Prince by Sunday, April 18 and that others are on the way.
<p></p>
However, at press time on Tuesday, April 20, gas pumps around the capital are still closed. Black market hawkers are still selling what appears to be gas out of plastic jugs, but some drivers have reported that the liquid, whatever it contains, has wrecked their engines.
<p></p>
Many people don't buy Beaudin's explanation. Haitians know that Venezuela signed an accord to deliver the equivalent of 114 barrels of gas each day to Haiti. Has the Préval/Bellerive government not respected that accord? Could the shortage signal a problem between the Haitian and Venezuelan governments?
<p></p>
All articles copyrighted Haiti Liberte. REPRINTS ENCOURAGED.
Please credit Haiti Liberte.