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WORLD NEWSWednesday 27 January 2016
Haiti leaders seek potential solutions to political crisis
DAVID McFADDEN A demonstrator chants: “Down with Martelly!” during a protest against President Michel Martelly’s cuss the negotiations.
Associated Press government in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. There’s growing concern
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) in some quarters that an
— Haitian President Michel (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) inability to forge a deal
Martelly would step down might roll back a decade
on schedule in two weeks, electoral council canceled 7. For now, a number of pro- held as soon as possible of relative political stabil-
an interim government it, for a second time, amid posals are being discussed so a newly elected leader ity and scare off foreign
would take over and a protests and suspicion that in negotiations being held could take office, perhaps investment in the hemi-
runoff vote would be held the first round was marred in Haiti’s National Palace this spring. sphere’s poorest nation.
within months. These are by massive fraud favoring and elsewhere. Privert said Others with knowledge of “This situation is very wor-
the contours of a potential Martelly’s chosen candi- that Martelly has told him the discussions agreed with rying because reaching
solution to Haiti’s political date, Jovenel Moise. in several recent meetings his description of the cur- consensus is not going to
crisis that was beginning to The second-place presi- that that he would step rent proposals. One Mar- be easy, knowing Haiti’s
emerge early Tuesday, ac- dential candidate, Jude down on schedule early telly ally with knowledge of political actors,” said Rosny
cording to officials taking Celestin, rejected the first- next month. the talks said the president Desroches, a member of a
part in the discussions. The round results as a “farce” The Senate president cau- wants the interim govern- special electoral commis-
crisis follows the indefinite and alleged vote-rigging tioned that negotiations ment to hold power for the sion that had unsuccess-
postponement of elections, by Haiti’s Provisional Elec- were far from settled. But minimum time necessary, fully pushed for a political
which has generated fears toral Council. Martelly, who he said consensus could be just long enough to orga- dialogue to ease electoral
of backsliding into instabil- cannot run for a second building for a plan that calls nize a new election. He tensions. While Martelly
ity. Haitian political leaders consecutive term, is re- for an interim government spoke on condition of ano- meets with legislative lead-
and others with influence quired under the Constitu- to take power on Feb. 7. nymity because he wasn’t ers, the “Group of Eight”
have been meeting be- tion to leave office by Feb. New elections would be authorized to publicly dis- opposition alliance, led by
hind closed doors to discuss Celestin, asserts that Haiti’s
a way out of the impasse. new Parliament was in-
There were no official an- stalled illegally and can’t
nouncements, but officials provide solutions. Political
said they were working to- compromise is a rare thing
ward a mediated solution in Haiti, where elections
following a surge of violent and power transitions are
protests and a looming often accompanied by
constitutional crisis. violence and disorder. In
“We know we have to work a report on Haiti last year,
fast because we have a the World Bank said many
very short time to resolve observers agree that “Hai-
this crisis,” said Senate Presi- tians perceive political
dent Jocelerme Privert, an and economic disputes as
opposition lawmaker who is a zero sum game with only
a central figure in the talks. winners and losers, each
“If Haiti needs anything it is with very long memories.”
political stability.” Oposition-stoked protests
Haiti had been scheduled have steadily ramped up
to hold the runoff vote the tension in Haiti’s capi-
Sunday. But on Friday, the tal with window-smashing
and burning street bar-
Cruise line restarts Haiti port calls after recent protest ricades. Some opposition
militants and pro-govern-
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti boats. There were con- any significant impact” on beaches and one of the ment figures are fanning
flicting reports about the passengers. longest zip lines in the world. the flames. Senate candi-
(AP) — Royal Caribbean reasons for the recent pro- The massive Allure of the Tourism Minister Stephanie date Guy Phillippe, an ex-
test in the bay. Cruise ship Seas ship arrived Tuesday Villedrouin tweeted Tues- paramilitary who helped
Cruises Ltd. on Tuesday re- passengers don’t leave and tourism ministry officials day that the government lead an uprising against
the fenced-in area, long a said more visits are sched- has been working “collab- then-President Jean-Ber-
established port calls to its source of frustration to area uled this week. oratively with local people trand Aristide in 2004 and
residents. Royal Caribbean has pro- on sustainable projects.” A campaigned with ruling
fenced-in site and beach Spokeswoman Cynthia vided the largest source of ministry spokesman did not party presidential Moise
Martinez says the company Haiti’s tourism revenue for immediately respond to an this election cycle, called
attraction in northern Haiti has been in close commu- decades. The visitors are email seeking clarity about on supporters in his remote
nication with Haitian offi- prohibited from leaving the recent protest, saying a enclave in southwestern
after suspending visits just cials and is now “comfort- the cruise line’s property, full explanation would be Haiti to “defend” against
able that there will not be which features white-sand provided shortly.q opposition “anarchists.”q
over a week ago.
The Miami-based compa-
ny suspended cruise ship
stops to the Labadee port
on Jan. 19 when one of its
ships encountered people
staging a protest in small
