Avoiding the Eventual Political Impasse of November 2010 in Haiti

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Six months after the horrific earthquake, the worst ever registered in the Americas, the republic of Haiti is bound for another challenge; to organize free and fair elections and retain its political stability that the world started to wonder whether it would last past November 2010. This time around, for Haiti to retain its political stability in this post earthquake era, Haitians have to be proactively calling on our politicians, especially the president to assume their responsibilities to the nation and respect their oath of office.

The mere notion of boycotting and dismissing so many political parties from participating in the next elections without any legal reasoning is mindboggling and troublesome.

For too long, 206 years in counting, Haitians have failed and continue to fail to understand that Haiti's overall troubles or bien-être, for that matter, rests upon us Haitians.

We are the victims of Haiti's misery and are sure to be the beneficiaries of its Bonheur.

So why is it so hard for our political "leaders" to understand that boycotting or dismissing so many political parties from participating in the next elections is an invitation to political confrontation?

Furthermore, it is also in direct contrast with the 1987 constitution that calls for free and fair elections where every Haitian's right to vote is protected and guaranteed.

Unfortunately in Haiti if it is on paper (constitution) it is bound for violation.

The question is whether or not there could be free and fair elections under the leadership of René Préval?

Looking at his political record, president Préval fails to convince the world that he is able to organize any elections free of controversial; and because of his failure to organize free and fair elections, Haitians are now calling for his resignation and the dismissal of the current CEP in order to participate in the next elections.

Conclusion, nou nan ka, (we are doomed).

What is stunning and surprising about calling for Préval's head is Fanmi Lavalas joining the opposition calling for his resignation.

If overthrowing Aristide was wrong then, calling for the resignation or overthrowing of Préval is no difference.

We have to stay on principle in Haiti; no more should we allow ourselves to be guided by emotions or the politics of personalities.

We need to avoid the eventual Political Impasse of November 2010 by hook or by crook.

Already, Haitians and friends of Haiti have started to question the ability of the CEP to organize free and fair elections.

Should we be sitting crossed-handed and let these elections go forward and deal with a political clash in November 2010?

These elections are necessary and must take place but not at this conjuncture.

President Préval needs to act quickly and name a new President of the CEP, someone that would be trusted by all political sectors, only if there is such a person in Haiti, in order to avoid the eventual boycott of these elections.

Perhaps, the easiest and most important political action that the president can take to facilitate these elections to go forward smoothly is to not designate a presidential candidate of his party to these elections.

In the absence of an INITE candidate to the presidency, most people would come out and applaud him and that would therefore encourage full participation of everyone to these elections.

No more, should we be involved in political gambling.

The political risk of replacing the then Prime Minister Pierre Louis was too much of a political gamble though God has once again saved Haiti from going through another political nightmare.

Are we now ready to enter another phase by allowing these elections to go forward with so many doubts rumbling around?

Haitians, as proud sons and daughters of the world's oldest black republic, let's stand up and once again heroically defend our beloved Haiti.

Allowing these elections to go forward as planned would be disastrous and; if we find the courage and the wisdom to do otherwise, we would avoid the dying of a country that deserves way better than what the world shamelessly refers to as the poorest in the western hemisphere.

By: Edrys Erisnor
Political Scientist
Ee171 at columbia.edu

Edrys Erisnor, July 23 2010, 12:46 PM

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