UN chief urges Haiti to hold election without delay

By Senabri Silvestre

SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep.

The head of the United Nation on Monday has expressed "deep concern" for the inability of Haiti to hold a second round of presidential elections and urged the country to complete the process without further delay.

Ban Ki-moon reiterated Monday his strong support for the completion of elections that have been pending since last year but stressed the need to conclude the process with the required urgency.

"The secretary-general calls on all Haitian actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order as the country can ill afford a period of prolonged transitional governance while facing major socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges," according to a spokesman for the UN chief.

Ban reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to extend its full support to the Haitian people in the fulfillment of their democratic aspirations and noted the intended establishment of a commission to evaluate and verify the first ballot held in 2015.

Various international organizations have also expressed concerns about Haiti's failure to choose a president.

Luis Almagro, the head of the regional bloc Organization of American States, recently discussed with the Haiti's provisional President Jocelerme Privert and others the steps needed to conclude the vote that has been postponed indefinitely.

The second round of presidential elections were scheduled for April 24 under a political agreement signed in February by former president Michel Martelly and the leader of the parliament.

But earlier this month the chief of the electoral commission, Léopol Berlanger, made it clear that the deadline would not be met, citing political and financial issues.

Berlanger said the commission is focusing on organizing a "good electoral process" but because of the amount of work required, the group needed more time.

The accord signed last February includes the inauguration of the new head of the state on May 14, but Berlanger said the committee would not have an elections timetable until the end of next month.