ACERCA DE HAITI – 1 YEAR 10 MO. 9 DAYS

Here’s a little something to add to your (what I hope is a stockpile of) Haitian news received over the past 24 hours in light of yesterday’s anniversary of the quake.

It discusses the U.S. role in the Haitians elections that ‘happened’ in November. The country still awaits run-offs this month? or not? Nothing has really been decided yet. This article touches that issue on as well as a suggested solution for a fairer electoral process,

Our failure to refrain from causing foreseeable harm obligates us to undertake remedial efforts. The United States, along with the other underwriters of the elections, should finance a do-over that includes all political parties and voters, headed by a new, credible Provisional Electoral Council. While $30 million for new elections may seem costly, the Haitian government must have a democratic mandate to manage issues like public health and the investment of billions of dollars of aid. Furthermore, this price tag amounts to less than two weeks of the U.N. security force’s proposed budget for 2011.

Only new, fair elections can lead to a just outcome. Let’s insist that our government take responsibility for its moral failure and offer logistical and financial support to carry out inclusive elections in Haiti.

The article was written by a former Peace Corps Dominican Republic Volunteer.