Gang Violence Endangers Haiti’s Rum Industry After Nearly 20 Acres of Sugarcane Fields Are Scorched
Sugar cane, an ingredient essential to rum production, becomes a target in recent gang-related crime in Haiti. (Photo: Kindel Media/Pexels)
Haiti’s rum industry has fallen victim to escalating violence as gangs vie for control over businesses and territories, ABC News reported on Monday. The Rhum Barbancourt distillery, located in Port-au-Prince, disclosed the recent destruction of approximately 19.8 acres of sugarcane fields amid clashes between rival gangs, potentially affecting one of the nation’s leading exports.
Barbancourt officials assured that the extensive damage would not impede rum production. However, in response to the heightened security concerns, the company’s foundation has temporarily suspended the distribution of potable water, medical care and access to sports facilities to safeguard the well-being of its personnel, per ABC News.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, the surge in violent incidents has resulted in over 800 casualties in January alone, marking a threefold increase from the corresponding period in 2023. Türk’s disclosure, as outlined in the ABC News coverage, emphasized the alarming possibility of certain gangs acquiring new ammunition.
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented sugarcane juice or molasses, which is a byproduct of sugar production. The process of making rum involves the fermentation of sugarcane byproducts, followed by distillation to concentrate the alcohol content. The spirit is then aged in barrels, often made of oak, which impart distinct flavors and characteristics to the final product. Rum has a long history and is associated with the Caribbean, where sugarcane cultivation and rum production remain significant industries.
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