Haiti Gangs Burn Sugarcane Fields, Hit Rum Industry

Haiti’s renowned rum has become the newest victim of violent gangs vying to control a growing number of businesses and territory in the troubled Caribbean nation, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

The number of acres burned would cover more than four soccer fields, but Barbancourt officials stressed the lost fields would not affect production. I Photo: Rhum Barbancourt - Page officielle Facebook

At least eight hectares (19.8 acres) of sugarcane fields were torched in recent days as rival gangs fought near the Rhum Barbancourt distillery in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, the company said in a statement Sunday.

Rum is derived from sugarcane.

The number of acres burned would cover more than four soccer fields, but Barbancourt officials stressed the lost fields would not affect production.

The company’s foundation, however, said it would temporarily stop distributing free potable water, providing medical care, and offering the use of football fields and basketball courts to protect the safety of its employees.

Haiti’s rum is considered one of the country’s most popular exports.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has noted that more than 800 people were killed, injured, or kidnapped across Haiti in January, more than three times the number compared with the same month in 2023.

Another estimated 300 gang members also were killed or injured last month, he said.

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