Haiti elections: depressing news so far

We’re still stuck inside our house.  The office is still closed because it’s still too dangerous for Save the Children staff to move around Port-au-Prince.  We have hibernated, just like the bears do in winter.

Three of my new colleagues were supposed to fly home several days ago, but the airport is still closed, so nobody is getting in or out of the country (except Sarah Palin who was in Haiti for 48 hours) .

Yesterday’s news was depressing. Colleagues in the centre of Port-au-Prince told us that more angry people were congregating in the streets. There have been clashes between the supporters of two of the presidential candidates.  And a handful of buildings have been set on fire.

On the bright side, we also get reports that the markets are opening up and people are walking around on the streets again. However, other areas still remain blocked.

Before bed time yesterday, we could see two very bright flashes in the city centre – almost like lightening – followed by big bangs. And I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of more explosions and car sirens, while the dogs were barking like crazy (some of them probably are!).

Haiti’s Electoral Council announced that they will review the results for the top three candidates – the former first lady Mirlande Manigat, who got 31 percent of the vote, the government’s candidate Jude Celstin, and the popular pop singer Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly, who got only 6,800 votes less than Celstin. This caused more anger.

“Not good enough, many people were not able to vote, the result they have now was forged, the voice of the people has still not been heard,  the whole election should be annulled,” says Nadege M. Moiwe in a comment on BèlPolitik.com.

“All I have to stay is that they better stop with all of this. They are giving the people a reason to reinvent guerilla warfare,” comments K.P. on the same webpage.