AMERICA/HAITI - For Sunday's elections, the Bishops suggest to “choose leaders who will work for all the population”

Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) – “On Sunday the 28 elections will go ahead,” said the current President of Haiti, René Preval. On the eve of the presidential and legislative elections, the population of Haiti is exasperated by cholera, while some candidates are concerned about difficulties in the organizing of consultation. Even the UN Special Envoy for Haiti, Edmund Mulet, has confirmed that presidential and parliamentary elections in Haiti will take place as planned. The next elections are “a priority for MINUSTAH,” Mulet said, hailing the determination of the Haitian government and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) for organizing the elections in an atmosphere of serenity and mutual respect among supporters of different candidates. “The vast majority of the Haitian population and its politicians claim to see the elections of 28 November as a further opportunity to strengthen democracy in this country that so desperately needs it,” Mulet said yesterday at a press conference.
The death toll from the cholera epidemic published 22 November, speaks of 1,344 deaths in Haiti since the beginning of the epidemic in mid-October and more than 23,377 people in recovery. Artibonite (in the north), where the epidemic broke out, is the most affected, with half of the deaths throughout the country (701) and almost 13,000 hospital admissions. In the capital Port-au-Prince, the death toll rose to 77.
Last weekend four of the 19 presidential candidates (Josette Bijou, Gérard Blot, Garaudy Laguerre and Wilson Jeudy), had requested the postponement of the elections because of the cholera epidemic, meanwhile the United Nations rejected the request for withdrawal of Nepalese peace forces, accused by some Haitians for the outbreak of the epidemic, sparking violent protests which have caused two deaths. Another candidate, Jacques-Edouard Alexis, former Prime Minister, insisted to President Rene Preval, that elections need to be held as planned, but acknowledged that “Haiti can not hold elections under normal conditions.”
The Episcopal Conference of Haiti made a call on Sunday to “choose leaders who will work for the whole population” and not to participate in acts of violence. The situation in the country it is not tranquil. Different political groups have reported incidents of intimidation against voters. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2010)