Haiti president emerges, appeals for calm after deadly protests

After deadly weekend protests calling for his resignation, followed by a general strike, Haitian President Jovenel Moise emerged late Wednesday to reaffirm his legitimacy and appeal for calm in a televised address.

The strike shut down most of Haiti on Wednesday as tension and uncertainty gripped the Caribbean country following the protests and Moise's unexplained absence from public view.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and is still battling to overcome a years-old cholera epidemic and the aftermath of a major earthquake, alongside political turmoil.

"During my five-year presidency no one, I emphasise no one, whatever the pretext, can threaten the interests of the country or put the nation in danger," said Moise, in power since February 2017.

Making his first public comments since the weekend protests, Moise said dialogue must include all levels of society, and democracy "asks that the rules of the game be respected, according to the constitution."
"We can no longer live like this, frustrated, because we know how people live in other countries," said Haitian resident Jean Junior, 30, complaining that the people lack "potable water, hospitals, housing" while the president only makes "promises that he doesn't keep."
The statement said their meeting had three objectives: "that the executive pursue dialogue with all sectors of national life, resolve problems linked to insecurity, and intensify programs of social relief."