PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The producers of Haiti’s oldest brand of rum, Barbancourt, say they have been forced to suspend all of the company’s services to the communities surrounding its facilities until further notice.
In a statement, the Société du Rhum Barbancourt S.A. said it was forced to decide “violent altercations between rival gang members outside the premises of the Barbancourt distillery,” resulting in eight hectares of cane fields being destroyed.
However, the company said that “production operations remain at total capacity.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Barbancourt Foundation has been forced to suspend all of the services it provides to the communities surrounding its facilities until further notice, including free water delivery to residents and the use of playgrounds, soccer, and basketball fields, as well as access to the free healthcare center.”
The Foundation said it “will continue to assess the security situation daily to determine when it will be safe to resume the community services.
” Our concern continues to be with the safety and security of our employees, their families, and the communities surrounding the Barbancourt distillery,” it added.
Haiti has been rocked with security problems highlighted by the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Rival criminal gangs have been seeking to control areas of the capital.
A Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, approved by the United Nations Security Council last October to assist the government of Haiti in restoring law and order, is yet to be fully deployed in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Kenya will lead it and will coordinate with the Haitian National Police.
and then 