HAITI, Sept. 7—The last several weeks have seen mass demonstrations throughout Haiti and the Haitian diaspora (e.g., in Brooklyn, NY during the massive Labor Day Carnival) against massive corruption in the PetroCaribe program. Workers have denounced the local bosses and their politicians, demanding an account of reports that between 1.7 to 3.8 billion dollars was stolen by previous regimes from funds destined for the development of the country. The actions follow up mass uprising in early July (Challenge 7/25).
Through the PetroCaribe contract signed in 2006, Venezuela sells gasoline and diesel fuel to Haiti and other countries in the region; 60% of the cost of the oil is due within 90 days and the balance is to be paid over 25 years at 1 percent interest. As of 2016, Haiti owes Venezuela over $80 billion (Haïti Liberté, 1/2). The money saved is supposed to be used for development projects. In Haiti, that turned it was misused by the bosses politicians. Examples of this corruption include a 10-mile road that was only 6.5 miles and unfinished housing for workers, etc., while bankers and politicians lined their own pockets (Miami Herald, 8/23).
Hundreds protest Petrocaribe theft
But, in a small town here today, there was more than a simple demand for accountability as hundreds of demonstrators marched through the streets under the leadership of Progresive Labor Party (PLP). What was on view was the class character of mass hatred of corrupt politicians.Messages on handwritten signs carried by marchers were clear: “The ruling class and their state and politicians are always reactionary and against the interests of the masses” and “theft of Petrocaribe funds part of bosses’ plan against the workers.”The slogans pointed the finger not only towards the particular thieves in the Petrocaribe scandal, but also to the real victims of the crime—workers and their children. Other, more threatening, messages called workers to class struggle: “It’s the masses who will judge the guilty!”
Mobilizing workers under red leadership
In order to transform this march into a mass demonstration, Party comrades went through the streets of the town, to the market and neighborhoods, explaining why the residents should participate — it is in their class interest to fight back against the bosses in an organized way under revolutionary communist leadership.
Friends of the Party did their part: an artist made a stencil to write our demands on walls and a young videographer made a short video to raise the class consciousness of the people. Others advertised the action on social media networks. All of this helped people understand the true nature of the theft from Petrocaribe—a direct attack on the working class. Through this struggle many individuals gained a greater awareness of the class nature of events that are shaping their lives.
At the beginning, we were just a few members and friends of the Party, but we were very motivated. Despite our weak numbers, we began chanting and started marching through town. As we marched down a single street, people began joining us: first the young, children and adolescents, then the adults joined us, all members of the working class. Pots and pans in hand, they animated the chants. One worker commented that “money in the pockets of the bosses comes from the misery in the stomachs of the workers!
”We crisscrossed the streets of our small town, stopping in front of the tax collection office and the courthouse, where we chanted our demands for justice against the criminals and for the demands of workers for a better life. One of our comrades called for the construction of a mass force to put an end, once and for all, to the reign of the capitalist class, their state and politicians.
The struggle to demand an accounting of the stolen Petrocaribe funds and punishment of the criminals is also a struggle against the corruption of the capitalist system. We in PLP are committed to developing class consciousness and class struggle here—and everywhere—enlarging the base of the Party and organizing the working class into a revolutionary force.
Our Party is becoming stronger as the struggle continues. Fight for communism! Power to the working class!