ARTICLE - HAITI PREPARES FOR ELECTION RESULTS

HAITI PREPARES FOR MONDAY'S ELECTION RESULTS
(Miami Herald) - By Jacqueline Charles

After spending more than two weeks scrutinizing ballots for fraud, officials will announce Monday the winner of the elections.

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- United Nations peacekeeping forces have stepped up security across a quake-battered Haiti including at political party headquarters in anticipation of Monday’s preliminary announcement about the winners of the country’s presidential and legislative runoff elections.

The presidential runoff pitted former first lady and longtime opposition leader Mirlande Manigat, 70, against Michel Martelly, a well-known singer known as “Sweet Micky.’’ Each is vying to replace President Rene Preval, who is scheduled to end his second presidential term on May 14.

U.N. police and military could be seen patrolling major cities such as Cap-Haitien in the north, Les Cayes in the south and the capital of Port-au-Prince where an armored U.N. vehicle was parked outside of the Provisional Electoral Council headquarters in Petionville and the home of council president, Gaillot Dorsinvil. Fearful that the announcement could trigger violence, residents spent the week stocking up on groceries and some business owners spent Sunday boarding up.

“We are reinforcing our presence in specific areas, including all of the political party headquarters,’’ said Jean-Francois Vezina, spokesman for the U.N. police, which is supporting the Haitian National police.

Elections officials are scheduled to announce the preliminary results Monday after a four-day delay. The final decision, following appeals by losing candidates, is due April. 16.

Colin Granderson, the assistant secretary general for the Caribbean Community who is leading a joint elections observer mission with the Organization of American States, said unlike the chaotic Nov. 28 first round, a lot more tally sheets were scrutinized for fraud and irregularity this time under OAS-issued recommendations.

“The criteria being used are a lot more time consuming despite the fact the number of lawyers at the vote tabulation center have increased from six to 16,’’ he said.

Some 60 percent of 25,000-plus tally sheets in the presidential elections were set aside for scrutiny by lawyers. Of them, 1,528 – between 15 to 18 percent of the vote – were set aside from the final results. On Sunday, lawyers were expected to do one last examination to make sure the work was done properly and whether additional sheets would be removed from or added to the preliminary count.

Monday’s announcement comes as about 150 U.S. servicemen arrive for humanitarian work. They are not here to help stabilize the country in anticipation of trouble, U.S. Embassy spokesman Jon Piechowski said.

“This was well planned out in advance,’’ he said.