PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — President Jovenel Moise says 2019 must result in Haiti achieving “credible, honest, democratic and transparent elections” and that his administration will provide the necessary resources to accomplish that feat.

Addressing the opening of a new Parliament session, Moise, whose victory in January 2017 ended a drawn-out and difficult election process that stretched on for 14 months, said that the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is going through a “decisive period” as this is the fourth and last year of the 50th legislature.

“I have the opportunity to reiterate my personal attachment as head of State, to democracy, to institutional continuity and Republican, as well as our loyalty to the founding principles of the Republic of Haiti that are liberty, equality and fraternity”.

The bicameral National Assembly of Haiti consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies has 99 members, who are elected by popular vote for a four-year term, while the 30 members of the Senate are elected to serve six-year terms, with one third elected every two years.

Moise told legislators that the year 2018 had been characterised by economic, political and social challenges and this year “should allow us to be more concerned about the respect of the constitutional prescriptions, to strive, in the patriotic spirit, to overcome crises that threaten the survival of the nation”.

“2019 is the year of major Republican meetings. It’s a historic year. We must achieve credible, honest, democratic and transparent elections. To carry out the latter, my administration and the government will make all necessary arrangements. It is a constitutional and republican requirement,” he said, noting that to respond to the demands of the people, the government must intensify its actions with the required sense of urgency and determination.

But he told legislators that at the same time, this year his government intends to strengthen its structural recovery programme.

“We will continue to work to make the State more efficient and effective in meeting the population’s expectations for road infrastructure, reliable electricity, water and sanitation. The need for educational infrastructure, vocational training and health care is staggering. We must pursue institutional reforms to improve the functioning of the state.

“2019 is also the year when Parliament will have to decide on the principle of amending the Constitution.”

Moise said that the political turbulence has had a negative impact on the local economy, leading to unemployment that is likely to continue.