Tension in Haiti as gas price hike sparks protests

Thousands of Haitians took to the streets of Port-Au Prince for the second day to protest yet another hike in gas prices announced by the government. No injuries or deaths were reported during the day's incidents. Government officials agreed to reduce subsidies for fuel in February as part of an assistance package with the International Monetary Fund. The agreement also included increased spending on social services and infrastructure and improved tax collection in an effort to modernize the economy of one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. Gas stations are all closed, and gasoline is currently being sold at $18.00 US dollars a gallon on the black market.