Haitian leader booted over high food prices
The Haitian Parliament voted out its prime minister after days of violence in the country over rising food prices. In the session Saturday, members agreed 16-11 to get rid of Jacques Edouard Alexis, reports CNN. Alexis was nominated prime minister in 2006, and in February survived a no-confidence vote. But the rising costs are taking a toll on the nation, and accountability fell partly on him. Many in the nation, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, are suffering from sharp increases in the price of food, especially rice. All over the world the price of food has risen 40 percent since the middle of last year. But with most of the population attempting to live on less than $2 a day and, with the country being forced to import nearly all of its food due to damaged farmland, the situation in Haiti is dire, leading to violent protests and confrontations with U.N. peacekeepers. In fact, not long after Alexis was voted out, a Nigerian U.N. peacekeeper was shot and killed while going to buy food. In total, the violence has left five people dead, reports CNN. But a U.N. commander insists that Haiti is becoming more peaceful, with more citizens returning to work as normal and public transportation resuming. “It is important for the people to have a peaceful life in Haiti,” he said. And, also on Saturday, Haitian President René Préval announced a reduction in the price of rice by 15 percent, reports CNN. International aid money and help from private companies would assist with subsidizing the prices. He did not say when the price change would go into effect, though.

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