Dancers are practicing for Haiti's annual Carnival celebrations, but some say they should be cancelled amid a wave of kidnappings and gang violence. AFP/CHANDAN KHANNAPORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti is gearing up for its annual Carnival celebration, but the Mardi Gras festivities are controversial in a country struggling with gang violence, kidnappings and political unrest.
Since the start of the year, Haiti has seen an uptick in kidnappings for ransom, against the backdrop of constant gang violence in poor urban areas. Dressed in civilian clothes, but carrying his service weapon and wearing a mask, the officer said he had not been able to pay his daughter's school fees for five months.Despite the destruction of the parade stands and several vehicles, and amid calls for Carnival to be cancelled for the second year in a row, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Lapin said the festivities would go ahead on schedule - and along the usual route.
"This is also business - many people depend on Carnival every year to pay their rent and their children's school fees," he said.Haiti's tailors and seamstresses are super busy making costumes during Carnival season. AFP/CHANDAN KHANNA The upheaval prompted the government to cancel Carnival - a bitter pill to swallow for all of the professionals who depend on the festivities to make ends meet.