PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, met with high-ranking political and electoral officials in Haiti this week, as preparations continue for the second round of presidential and legislative elections, scheduled to take place in the OAS Member State in less than a month.
During a two-day visit, Ramdin met with current Haitian President René Préval and presidential candidates Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly. The high-ranking OAS official also met with Provisional Electoral Council Director General Pierre Louis Opont on the state of implementation of the recommendations to improve and strengthen electoral systems for the runoff elections scheduled for March 20.
Meetings were also held with the Haitian Private Sector Forum, which has committed itself to working with electoral officials to lend private sector assistance to the communication systems being used to share polling station information ahead of the polls.
Assistant Secretary General Ramdin also met with several country ambassadors resident in Haiti, and held meetings with United Nations Special Representative to Haiti Edmund Mulet on security systems in place for the elections.
According to Ambassador Ramdin, “In terms of logistics, we are hoping that the local electoral authorities can effectively implement the expert recommendations in a timely manner to avoid the problems experienced in the first round. They appear optimistic. The candidates meanwhile have a major responsibility to contribute to an atmosphere of peace before and during the elections. There is a long road ahead to recovery after the elections, and all players must be able to work together to meet the expectations of the Haitian people for a better life.”
