ARTICLE - ELECTION RESULTS - WEDNESDAY

HAITI TO RELEASE ELECTION RESULTS WEDNESDAY, 2ND ROUND SET FOR MARCH
(VOA) -

Haiti's election commission says it will announce definitive results from the first round of a disputed November vote on Wednesday and has scheduled a second round for March 20.

The commission said Friday campaigning for the second round will run from February 17 until March 18.

The election news comes ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to Haiti on Sunday, where she will meet with officials about the ongoing election crisis.

Haiti's ruling party says it asked its candidate in the election, Jude Celestin to withdraw from the second round election. The U.S. had been pressuring Haiti to accept the Organization of American States recommendation to pull Celestin out of the contest.

But Celestin has not confirmed his withdrawal.

According to official results, Celestin placed second behind former first lady, Mirlande Manigat, in the polling. Popular singer Michel Martelly was third. Martelly has threatened to bring protesters out into the streets if his name is not on the ballot in a runoff.

The U.S. has revoked the visas of about a dozen Haitian officials held responsible for abuses related to the November election.

Political tensions in Haiti have also been heightened by the surprise return earlier this month of ousted dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier after 25 years in exile. Haitian officials have charged him with corruption and embezzlement of public funds.

Several Haitians have filed lawsuits accusing Duvalier of human rights violations during his 15-year rule that ended in 1986.

Haiti is struggling to recover from last year's deadly earthquake that left more than 200,000 people dead and 1 million others homeless. The country also is also battling a deadly cholera outbreak.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

VISITORS!

It's been a busy time here. My sister was here with Holly and Morgan and just left. Now another team is coming to help out starting Tuesday. I'll post photos of Tanya's group next. Things have been busy here and they helped out a lot. Below is a newspaper article about Marlene's group that will be arriving here on Tuesday.

HEADING INTO THE UNKNOWN
(Tillsonburg News) - By Jeff Tribe

The Angels For Haiti are carrying heartfelt handmade contributions from all over the world to children in a particularly disadvantaged part of the world.

" There's tons of kids in need, tons," said Marlene Magashazi, one of Woodingford Lodge's Angels For Haiti on the verge of a Monday departure south.

Magashazi, her daughter Teresa, Elizabeth Pais, Teresa Cisek and Angela Sutherland are scheduled to arrive in Port Au Prince, Haiti early next week in support of the Coram Deo mission under the direction of Karen Bultje. The quintet will be figuratively taking a baton passed from Bultje's sister Tanya, who also works at Woodingford. Tanya led a week-and-a-half mission which began last week, and was scheduled to return home prior to the second's depature.

The first mission's focus was handing out baby packages including clothes, vitamins and medicine in a supportive effort to encourage young mothers in particular to retain babies. Apart from crushing poverty, the fact a number of the babies are the result of sexual assault is a further complicating factor.

" That's more or less what we're going to do too, as well as whatever else needs to be done," Marlene Magashazi said.

Apart from the practical necessities, Magashazi will also be carrying a large bag of an estimated 150 to 200 stuffed toys. They were collected from knitting clubs around the world after former Woodingford nurse Patricia Jordan created a Facebook page with an open invitation to knitting clubs.

" They're from all over the world," Magashazi said. " They are so soft and cuddly, the kids are going to love them."

Some have names knitted right onto them, others will be named by the recipients, including Magashazi's personal favourite, whose base is a sock with a British flag on it.

" I think it's a monkey," she said. " It is so cool."

The situation on the ground in Haiti would be a ways from 'cool' at the moment, given ongoing challenges with cholera, the recent, and still hotly contested, election, not to mention the arrival of a former dictator or two.

" We're not sure what we're walking into," Magashazi said, allowing the Angels may be delayed for an indeterminate time at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. " We're very determined.

" Karen ( Bultje) says we're veterans, we know what to do, and she'll keep us safe too."

Their families are concerned, but supportive says Magashazi, who has faith things will work out.

" I'm just really anxious to get packed and get going," she said. " It is in our hearts, it's like a second home for all of us, we feel we have to go and help these people and support Karen."

photos - cite soleil clinic - part 1

I am not a person who likes to lounge at a resort or beach. Much better to try and help people in Cite Soleil! Dr. Ed came with a medical team to hold a clinic and I brought my father along to help.

Willy of Action Chretienne Pour le Developpement opened the clinic in prayer and also explained to the people the clinic procedure.

It is faith that helps the people living in difficult circumstances within Cite Soleil.

The team set up and started treating the patients who were seated in the church pews.

Mackenson used to be a teacher here at Coram Deo and at Adoration Christian School. He is fluent in english and helps out at clinics with translating. He helped out as the translator at the registration table. It is good to continue to see him active helping people.

photos - cite soleil clinic - part 2

This was the second clinic for Cite Soleil for some members of this team.

People hear about the bad things that happen sometimes here in Haiti but the people are appreciative to those who come and help out.

One tough haitian guy in Cite Soleil stopped traffic on Rte Nationale so we could make a left turn and said "our health" and held his hand in his fist in the air as we passed. Even the tough guys in Cite Soleil enjoy seeing help coming to the Haitian people and they will protect those who are there to help.

The medical providers faced a constant stream of patients throughout the day.

They worked hard and treated around 250 people that day.

photos - cite soleil clinic - part 3

Dr. Ed kept busy pulling teeth. What is even more lacking in Haiti is dental care. People put up with teeth rotting in their mouth because they can't pay to get their cavities fixed.

The team brought a lot of medicine with them to treat the variety of medical problems that people came with.

It is good to see Haitians and foreigners working together to help in a medical clinic.

The elderly especially lack medical care here in Haiti.

There is a lot of untreated blood pressure in Haitian society.

photos - cite soleil clinic - part 4

Young children can get sick very quickly. And with medicine they can get better quickly too!

Mothers challenge their babies to walk at an early age. Here in Haiti some babies are standing and making efforts to walk at 7 and 8 months of age. I guess the earlier they get off the dirty ground the better.

This grandmother lovingly is holding her new grandson. The mother stands behind. He is only 1 week old.

Mothers can be very young here in Haiti.

Mothers want their children to be in good health. It must be frustrating to see a child sick and not having money to buy medicine.

photos - cite soleil clinic - part 5

This man has a large cyst growing on his head.

It is good to see a smile on a child's face!

Amos and Johnny assisted with security. It was a good day with no problems.

People entered the church and left under the watchful gaze of the guys controlling access at the door.

It was nice to enjoy some cooler days at the end of December and early January. Winter in Haiti!