WASHINGTON, DC, USA (CMC) – Three United States legislators have called on the Obama Administration to” identify and punish the ‘spoilers’ who routinely undermine and disrupt the electoral process” in Haiti.

In their April 15 letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry, the legislators – David A Perdue, Marco Rubio and Johnny Isakson – said they wanted the State Department to “use every tool to ensure that Haitian authorities conduct elections by the agreed upon deadline”.

“This would require working closely with Interim President (Jocelerme) Privert and the new CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) to keep the election scheduled on track and to avoid any pretext for another postponement.”

Under the agreement reached allowing for Privert to head an interim Administration, the third round of presidential elections must be held on April 24 with the new head of State installed on May 14.

But there is widespread speculation that the polls will not be held. CEP spokesman Richardson Dumel said earlier this week that the body would not create “a new crisis” in Haiti by rushing ahead to stage the elections.

“There is no electoral environment favourable in Haiti at this time and for the third time, the second round is postponed indefinitely,” said Dumel.

On Monday, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Haiti and head of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the country (MINUSTAH), Sandra Honoré, urged all stakeholders, including the CEP to ensure the success of the April 24 elections.

The two main candidates who are expected to contest the presidential elections have not signed a document outlining the terms of reference of the Independent Commission of Electoral Evaluation and Verification.

Jovenel Moïse and Jude Célestin were not among representatives of political parties that signed and approved the terms of reference late last week.

No reasons have been given for their absence but Celestin has in the past expressed deep concerns about vote-rigging and a lack of transparency by the CEP and is leading an opposition alliance alleging widespread fraud in favour of Moise, who has been viewed as the chosen successor to former president Michel Martelly.

Martelly left office on February 7 without a successor being elected.

In their letter, the three US legislators said they also wanted the “(State) Department to identify and punish the ‘spoilers’ who take to the street to engage in violence and those who urge or pay others to do so, as well as those who bankroll chaos, promote violence and undermine Haiti’s stability. They said those persons should not be able to travel freely to the United States to escape the mess they create back home”.

“We are confident you share with us the desire to see that the Haitian people have a Government of their choosing and that is responsive to their needs, so that the country can enjoy the stability and prosperity the people deserve,” they wrote.