New problems as Haiti gears for November 20 poll
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has hinted at the possibility of a postponement of the November 20 presidential and legislative elections, if the authorities are not able to repair the nearly 300 polling centres damaged by Hurricane Matthew last month.
The CEP is also urging the government to ensure that voters have access to the roads leading to the polling centres.
In an October, 27 letter sent to Interim President Jocelerme Privert, CEP president Léopold Berlanger has given the government 10 days in order to get the 280 voting centres repaired and make accessible the roads to another 161 centres.
The CEP also wants the authorities to provide voting card s to persons who lost their CIN after the hurricane.
“Convinced that only the expedited execution of these provisions will allow to respect the indispensable deadline of 20 November for the elections, the CEP remains mobilized to collaborate with the executive to accomplish this goal,” Berlanger wrote.
Meanwhile, the United States is providing support to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to ensure a timely and transparent election process.
“We are encouraged by the many improvements in the electoral process made by the Provisional Electoral Council and urge all actors to participate fully and peacefully in the democratic process.
“The United States reiterates its support for the completion of fair, transparent, and peaceful elections as scheduled on November 20 and January 29,” Washington noted.
Last month, following the passage of the hurricane that killed hundreds of people and caused widespread destruction, the Cep announced that the second round of elections will be held on January 29.
Haiti’s elections had been scheduled for October 9. The country’s previous elections, in 2015, were cancelled because of violence and fraud, leaving Haiti in political limbo.
Since President Michel Martelly demitted office in February, parliament elected Privert as interim president, but his 120-day mandate expired in June.
Haiti was forced to postpone the scheduled second round of elections in January this year amid protests after the frontrunner Jude Celestin said he would not campaign until government officials addressed fraud allegations resulting from the October 25 poll last year.
The four main challengers for the post of president are Jean-Henri Céant, Jovenel Moise, Moïse Jean-Charles and Celestin.
