Haiti Brief on Political Situation: March 1, 2012

By Melinda Miles, Let Haiti Live, a project of TransAfrica

1. Dr. Garry Conille, Prime Minister for only four months, resigned on Friday, February 24, 2012. According to Conille he quit because he was not receiving any support (see New York Times article here). Some points of contention between Conille and President Martelly included the passing of Constitutional amendments, which Conille supported and Martelly has been stalling, and also Conille’s efforts to create an audit commission to look at contracts signed by former Prime Minister Bellerive while acting as head of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC). It’s worth noting that Bellerive is President Martelly’s cousin and a close advisor. Some of the contracts Conille wanted to investigate were signed during the final weeks of Bellerive’s tenure as Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the IHRC and it has been alleged in the press and through word of mouth that Martelly has received financial benefits from these contracts.

With the resignation of the Prime Minister, the ministries will likely cease to function other than critical business (however that determination is made) and therefore people will say that Haiti is once again without a government. Many believe (including the Miami Herald editorial board) that President Martelly does not want to share power in any democratic way and would prefer to control everything. It is also notable that the majority of the ministers in Conille’s cabinet were actually the individuals Martelly chose for those positions, despite the Constitution stating that the Prime Minister shall appoint all ministers.

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Haiti: Just When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse

By: Beverly Bell, Other Worlds, originally posted here.

We may soon look back on this period in Haiti with greater appreciation. Amidst the world-historic levels of death and suffering from last January’s earthquake, citizens have at least been spared the scale of government violence that has marked much of their nation’s past (not-with-standing attacks against internally displaced persons during forced evictions, and occasionally against street protesters.)

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What Kind of Change Will Sweet Micky Bring to Haiti?

Since the beginning of the electoral campaign up until the present day, Mr. Martelly has proclaimed change. Change is a word that means many things to the Haitians who are hearing it, because change is what the country needs.

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Elections Without Voters: Further Erosion of Haiti’s Democracy & Self-Determination 15 Months after the Earthquake

For immediate release: April 4, 2011

Washington, DC: As Haitians along with the international community brace for the preliminary results of the second round in Haiti’s presidential and parliamentary elections, reports are minimizing the massive disenfranchisement, fraud and low voter turn-out in both the first and second rounds.

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Low Participation and Obstacles for the March 20th Election in Haiti

Midday Progress Report: Low Participation and Obstacles for the March 20th Election in Haiti

Compiled by Let Haiti Live, a project of TransAfrica Forum. Observer teams include representatives from: Let Haiti Live, Bri Kouri Nouvèl Gaye, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and International Action Ties

The morning started off quietly  and was marked by low voter turn out in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on this second round election day. Teams visited polling places throughout downtown Port-au-Prince, Cite Soleil, Petionville, Delmas, Carrefour, and the camps for internally displaced people (homeless earthquake survivors) at Corail and Kanaran.

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