Sunday, April 19, 2009

http://www.topix.com/world/haiti/2009/04/blocked-candidates-could-tarnish-haiti-vote-haiti-caribbean

upshot: Preval will likely win in elections. Lavalas threatens to shut down country until he leaves if Preval tries to treat the election as valid.

it is very quiet today.......too quiet! (I always wanted to do that!) vehicle traffice is banned today and with the exception of about 3 motorcycles and about 2 cars I have not seen any. They say it inhibits drive by shootings and intimidation at polling places. I've never been through a coup before, it may be fun. Maybe I can take notes for when the US does it in the next few years. :( seriously, people are tense, it seems these things just regularly turn out badly so they expect the worst. Lavalas is the largest political party in the country and they are banned for various reasons, most of their own making. Granted it appears that the banishment is pretty much opportunistic on the part of the election commission, but Lavalas caused much of their own problem. Unfortunately, that probably won't matter. Unless they get violent, the UN won't intervene, I am told. So it could be loud and messy, but hopefully not as violent as in past elections. BTW, have I said recently that it's getting warm here in Haiti?

Djebenis tout moun
Bondye benis ou