ARTICLE - HAITI IS STUCK IN LIMBO

HAITI IS STUCK IN LIMBO
(Toronto Star) -

Haitians deserve better than the political circus that has been playing out in Port-au-Prince, draining energy from digging the nation out from under the earthquake. Clearing rubble, fighting cholera, building housing and setting up businesses and schools are the priority.

Instead, Haitians have been squabbling over a shoddy election, and arguing about two exiled, polarizing figures from the past: Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier, the former despot whose murderous thugs killed and pillaged at will. And Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the firebrand populist who was the country’s first elected president.

Duvalier threw Haiti into turmoil when he abruptly returned from France “to help.” Citizens and the state soon charged him — rightly — with crimes against humanity, corruption and embezzlement. But not before Aristide, too, said he hopes to return from South Africa “to serve.”

The last thing Haiti needs is this duo squaring off in the ruins.

And certainly not now, as President René Préval approaches a decision on how to salvage the disputed Nov. 28 election, which was marred by ballot-stuffing, multiple voting and other fraud.

Law professor Mirlande Manigat came out ahead, though not with the majority required to be declared president (and only after Aristide’s popular Fanmi Lavalas party was excluded).

That left Préval’s protégé Jude Célestin and popular singer Michel (Sweet Micky) Martelly each claiming the second-place spot that will allow them to contest a runoff. By next Monday, Préval’s discredited electoral officials have to sort out these conflicting claims.

Given all this, staging a fresh election open to all Haitians would be the ideal remedy. But Préval faces pressure from the United States, Canada and others to abandon Célestin for a Manigat/Martelly runoff, as experts from the Organization of American States propose.

Meanwhile, unhappy Haiti is stuck in political and reconstruction limbo. Donors who have pledged $10 billion are waiting to see what comes next, leaving 10 million Haitians with scant resources to rebuild shattered lives. Barely $1 billion has been delivered.

Worse, Haitians are hard-pressed to see an outcome that will satisfy them that democracy has been done. Dark shadows haunt Préval’s successor, whoever is chosen.