ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER?
(Haiti Libre) -
The Haitian Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, said that the municipal and senatorial elections will be held before the end of this year. A Joint Commission is already working to assess the feasibility of the next elections. In order to avoid the holiday season, the upcoming elections could take place in November 2012.
The Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe explained that steps have been taken to facilitate the work of the Electoral Council. It will be a Permanent Electoral Council, since according to him, the amendment of the Constitution should [in theory] be published shortly; while recalling that this decision is a prerogative of the Head of State...
He also informed that consultations have been held with key contributors and ambassadors from various countries, who have contributed financially to the 2010 elections. The budget for the upcoming elections is estimated at nearly $25 million. Consultations for an experimentation of electronic voting, have also been made with members of the Brazilian government.
Showing posts with label Articles - Elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Articles - Elections. Show all posts
Friday, June 1, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
ARTICLE - 2ND CEP COUNSELOR INTERCEPTED
SECOND ELECTORAL COUNSELOR INTERCEPTED AT AIRPORT
(Defend Haiti) -
PORT-AU-PRINCE – Ribel Pierre, a former member of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) was preparing to leave Haiti Saturday, December 31, 2011 when he was intercepted at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport. After Gaillot Dorsinvil, this is the second counselor stopped while trying to leave Haiti.
The passport of the former counselor Ribel Pierre was confiscated at the airport by an immigration officer when he was about to enter the departure room, said his lawyer, Osner Fevry.
According to Mr. Fevry, the court had not taken action to place a ban against the counselor, but someone decided that he should not leave.
Friday, former president of the Electoral Council Gaillot Dorsinvil was forced to get off a plane on the way to take off, and his passport was also confiscated.
President Martelly dissolved last Thursday, the Provisional Electoral Council and asked members of the institution to deliver the assets in their possession.
(Defend Haiti) -
PORT-AU-PRINCE – Ribel Pierre, a former member of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) was preparing to leave Haiti Saturday, December 31, 2011 when he was intercepted at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport. After Gaillot Dorsinvil, this is the second counselor stopped while trying to leave Haiti.
The passport of the former counselor Ribel Pierre was confiscated at the airport by an immigration officer when he was about to enter the departure room, said his lawyer, Osner Fevry.
According to Mr. Fevry, the court had not taken action to place a ban against the counselor, but someone decided that he should not leave.
Friday, former president of the Electoral Council Gaillot Dorsinvil was forced to get off a plane on the way to take off, and his passport was also confiscated.
President Martelly dissolved last Thursday, the Provisional Electoral Council and asked members of the institution to deliver the assets in their possession.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
ARTICLE - 4 MILLION HAITIAN DIASPORA
4 MILLION-STRONG HAITIAN DIASPORA FINALLY ALLOWED TO VOTE
(Montreal Gazette) - AFP
Haitian lawmakers have voted to do away with a law banning dual nationality, in a move allowing members of Haiti's vast diaspora to vote for the first time.
While the measure approved Monday recognizes dual or multiple nationalities, members of the Haitian diaspora will not be able to campaign for elected office or to serve in government posts without first giving up foreign nationalities.
Edwin Paraison, Haiti's minister of Haitians living abroad, said the new measure had a mixed impact, pointing out that a law approved in 2002 had allowed Haitians with another nationality to serve in ministerial posts.
"Despite the restrictions, however, a positive step has been taken," said Paraison in welcoming the fact that the Haitian global diaspora - estimated at 4 million people - can now vote.
The decision could also make headway in mending often tense ties between the diaspora, which has long contributed significant funds to the poorest nation in the Americas but without having a voice in national political life, and the homeland, where people often consider the diaspora as arrogant.
(Montreal Gazette) - AFP
Haitian lawmakers have voted to do away with a law banning dual nationality, in a move allowing members of Haiti's vast diaspora to vote for the first time.
While the measure approved Monday recognizes dual or multiple nationalities, members of the Haitian diaspora will not be able to campaign for elected office or to serve in government posts without first giving up foreign nationalities.
Edwin Paraison, Haiti's minister of Haitians living abroad, said the new measure had a mixed impact, pointing out that a law approved in 2002 had allowed Haitians with another nationality to serve in ministerial posts.
"Despite the restrictions, however, a positive step has been taken," said Paraison in welcoming the fact that the Haitian global diaspora - estimated at 4 million people - can now vote.
The decision could also make headway in mending often tense ties between the diaspora, which has long contributed significant funds to the poorest nation in the Americas but without having a voice in national political life, and the homeland, where people often consider the diaspora as arrogant.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
ARTICLE - 3 MEN KILLED PUTTING UP ELECTION POSTERS
THREE MEN FOUND DEAD IN HAITI AFTER PUTTING UP ELECTION POSTERS
(AFP)
Three men who were putting up posters in support of Haitian presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat have been found dead, their families announced yesterday after finding their mutilated bodies.
"My husband and two friends were taken away by police while they were putting up pictures of Mrs. Manigat not far from the presidential palace Saturday," Missindy Guillou, the wife of one of the victims, told AFP.
"We found their bodies in the morgue of the general hospital," she said.
A Haitian police official declined to comment on the allegations.
It was unclear if the victims were Manigat activists or simply getting paid to put up posters.
Manigat, who won the first round vote in November, will stand against popular singer Michel Martelly in the runoff of Haiti's deeply divisive presidential elections due on March 20.
The results to show who will replace President René Préval will not be known until April.
The first round was marred by unrest, which left five dead across the impoverished Caribbean nation, and plagued by allegations of vote-rigging.
(AFP)
Three men who were putting up posters in support of Haitian presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat have been found dead, their families announced yesterday after finding their mutilated bodies.
"My husband and two friends were taken away by police while they were putting up pictures of Mrs. Manigat not far from the presidential palace Saturday," Missindy Guillou, the wife of one of the victims, told AFP.
"We found their bodies in the morgue of the general hospital," she said.
A Haitian police official declined to comment on the allegations.
It was unclear if the victims were Manigat activists or simply getting paid to put up posters.
Manigat, who won the first round vote in November, will stand against popular singer Michel Martelly in the runoff of Haiti's deeply divisive presidential elections due on March 20.
The results to show who will replace President René Préval will not be known until April.
The first round was marred by unrest, which left five dead across the impoverished Caribbean nation, and plagued by allegations of vote-rigging.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
ARTICLE - 200 OBSERVERS FOR ELECTION
200 OBSERVERS FOR HAITI'S ELECTION
(GO Jamaica) -
The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, says more than 200 persons will observe Haiti’s second round of balloting on March 20.
The runoff comes as Haitians move to elect a new president to replace outgoing head of state Rene Preval.
Ramdin says it was his hope that the irregularities and logistical problems experienced in the first round on November 28 last year will be mitigated in the upcoming elections.
The Joint Electoral Observation Mission will again be led by the Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM, Colin Granderson.
Ramdin said that the problems affecting the presidential and legislative council elections could be lessened depending on the resources available to the Provisional Electoral Council to conduct the polls.
(GO Jamaica) -
The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, says more than 200 persons will observe Haiti’s second round of balloting on March 20.
The runoff comes as Haitians move to elect a new president to replace outgoing head of state Rene Preval.
Ramdin says it was his hope that the irregularities and logistical problems experienced in the first round on November 28 last year will be mitigated in the upcoming elections.
The Joint Electoral Observation Mission will again be led by the Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM, Colin Granderson.
Ramdin said that the problems affecting the presidential and legislative council elections could be lessened depending on the resources available to the Provisional Electoral Council to conduct the polls.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
ARTICLE - ELECTION - FEAR, ANGER
LORIN MALLORIE IN HAITI: WIDESPREAD FEAR, ANGER OVER ELECTION RESULTS
(Mountain Xpress) - By Lorin Mallorie
As an American, I’ve experienced heated emotions during election time.
But, I have never experienced fear. Certainly not fear.
This week, however, Port-au-Prince did — as I have never seen. All the gas stations closed at 8 p.m. the night before Election Day, and a citywide vehicle ban remained in effect until the day after, Monday morning.
All for fear of tire- and building-burning, drive-by shootings, ballot tampering and general electoral corruption.
All of which happened, nonetheless, and I found myself once again fleeing Petionville, just ahead of angry protestors.
Protests broke out just hours into voting, with accusations of ballot tampering by the current government and their favored candidate, Jude Celestine and his party.
Deceased earthquake victims remained on registration lists, and voters who had lost their voter cards in the quake were not permitted to vote, despite being listed.
Twelve of the 18 presidential candidates renounced the elections as corrupt, requesting their annulment (Jude Celestine was not one of them), and accused the current government of tampering with the vote to favor Celestine.
Fifty-six polling stations reported corruption. The BBC reported that Mark Weisbrot — co-director of the Center for Economic Policy and Research, which sent observers to Haiti’s election — called it “a farce.”
In Haiti, of this there is no doubt.
Despite all this, Haiti’s electoral council and current government have held that Sunday’s votes will stand. However, a run-off election will be held between the top two presidential candidates if no one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
As we await the results, the country is “hot.” If Celestine is proclaimed victor, it will surely explode.
People are afraid. Genuinely afraid – of each other.
The short democratic history of Haiti is marred with violence, fraud, government overthrows and often-unwelcome international intervention. This year, just having elections so quickly after the earthquake caused uproar from those living under tarps, the jobless and the sick — who are in no condition to follow politics.
People are afraid because “the mass” is angry.
All month, it’s seemed, “the mass” — the boiling underbelly of the social structure — has threatened to rise at any moment, likely creating a schism by the majority of the country’s poorest.
The days wear on, the “etrangers” (foreigners) remain, and nothing changes. The cholera creeps in – no work, no home, no hope. For most, nothing changes.
It’s humiliating, dehumanizing and quite honestly, sickening to witness.
“The mass.” There is no other name for it when the people of Haiti come together: One great, breathing body of struggle, resistance and strength.
At an election rally Thursday for Jude Celestine, “the mass” came to bear witness. The previous weeks were marked with cholera protests and election shootings, yet Carrefour Airport road was absolutely alive with the crowd.
“Are you American?” said the guy next to me in English, as I filmed from atop a cement barricade.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
Every few minutes someone would start running, a break in the crowd and tens of others would follow. There was an edge of fear and excitement, like at any moment a shot could sound and panic would envelop the streets.
But as the live music came to a close and Celestine finally spoke, his support seemed lacking. People left, or just watched without response — far less than half the crowd seemed to rally at his words.
It’s inconceivable that the people of Haiti will accept Jude Celestine as democratically elected.
But whoever it is, the next president will need a lot more than the most votes to run this broken nation.
As we wait for news of the victor, perhaps more than ever in this moment in Haiti, only tomorrow knows what it will bring.
(Mountain Xpress) - By Lorin Mallorie
As an American, I’ve experienced heated emotions during election time.
But, I have never experienced fear. Certainly not fear.
This week, however, Port-au-Prince did — as I have never seen. All the gas stations closed at 8 p.m. the night before Election Day, and a citywide vehicle ban remained in effect until the day after, Monday morning.
All for fear of tire- and building-burning, drive-by shootings, ballot tampering and general electoral corruption.
All of which happened, nonetheless, and I found myself once again fleeing Petionville, just ahead of angry protestors.
Protests broke out just hours into voting, with accusations of ballot tampering by the current government and their favored candidate, Jude Celestine and his party.
Deceased earthquake victims remained on registration lists, and voters who had lost their voter cards in the quake were not permitted to vote, despite being listed.
Twelve of the 18 presidential candidates renounced the elections as corrupt, requesting their annulment (Jude Celestine was not one of them), and accused the current government of tampering with the vote to favor Celestine.
Fifty-six polling stations reported corruption. The BBC reported that Mark Weisbrot — co-director of the Center for Economic Policy and Research, which sent observers to Haiti’s election — called it “a farce.”
In Haiti, of this there is no doubt.
Despite all this, Haiti’s electoral council and current government have held that Sunday’s votes will stand. However, a run-off election will be held between the top two presidential candidates if no one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
As we await the results, the country is “hot.” If Celestine is proclaimed victor, it will surely explode.
People are afraid. Genuinely afraid – of each other.
The short democratic history of Haiti is marred with violence, fraud, government overthrows and often-unwelcome international intervention. This year, just having elections so quickly after the earthquake caused uproar from those living under tarps, the jobless and the sick — who are in no condition to follow politics.
People are afraid because “the mass” is angry.
All month, it’s seemed, “the mass” — the boiling underbelly of the social structure — has threatened to rise at any moment, likely creating a schism by the majority of the country’s poorest.
The days wear on, the “etrangers” (foreigners) remain, and nothing changes. The cholera creeps in – no work, no home, no hope. For most, nothing changes.
It’s humiliating, dehumanizing and quite honestly, sickening to witness.
“The mass.” There is no other name for it when the people of Haiti come together: One great, breathing body of struggle, resistance and strength.
At an election rally Thursday for Jude Celestine, “the mass” came to bear witness. The previous weeks were marked with cholera protests and election shootings, yet Carrefour Airport road was absolutely alive with the crowd.
“Are you American?” said the guy next to me in English, as I filmed from atop a cement barricade.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
Every few minutes someone would start running, a break in the crowd and tens of others would follow. There was an edge of fear and excitement, like at any moment a shot could sound and panic would envelop the streets.
But as the live music came to a close and Celestine finally spoke, his support seemed lacking. People left, or just watched without response — far less than half the crowd seemed to rally at his words.
It’s inconceivable that the people of Haiti will accept Jude Celestine as democratically elected.
But whoever it is, the next president will need a lot more than the most votes to run this broken nation.
As we wait for news of the victor, perhaps more than ever in this moment in Haiti, only tomorrow knows what it will bring.
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