Haiti Elections Forward

Independent Films, Politics, Web Series

Michel Martelly, a popular singer/performer, and Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady, have been finally designated as the winners of last year's first round for Haiti's Presidency. March 20th is set for the runoff. The stand-off was causing not only delays but tensions and riots as many Haitian citizens claimed that the ruling elite of the current President had rigged the preliminary results so that there favored hand-picked successor, Jude Celestin, would prevail.
Ironically, while Wyclef Jean had been eliminated from contending due to residency requirement in a very roughly played out process another musician, Mr. Martelly now stands a good chance of becoming Haiti's new President.

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced the final results of the first round of presidential and legislative elections in Haiti.

The CEP announced that former first lady Mirlande Manigat and popular singer Michel Martelly will face off in the presidential runoff election set for 20 March. Jude Celetin, a ruling party candidate is now out of the race.

At a press conference in Port-au-Prince, Martelly said “justice has been done” adding that “we have won this battle, this is the Haitian people’s battle and this is just a beginning.”

Results of the March 20 second-round run-off are due to be announced in April and the winner will replace the outgoing president Rene Preval.

Haitians expressed relieve that results were finally announced saying that if not “there would be a lot problems on the streets.”

After a year marked by the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010 and the ongoing cholera epidemic, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement, said it was of paramount importance for Haiti to have a new democratically elected Government to continue to tackle the pressing issues of recovery, reconstruction and the fight against cholera.

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced the final results of the first round of presidential and legislative elections in Haiti.

The CEP announced that former first lady Mirlande Manigat and popular singer Michel Martelly will face off in the presidential runoff election set for 20 March. Jude Celetin, a ruling party candidate is now out of the race.

At a press conference in Port-au-Prince, Martelly said “justice has been done” adding that “we have won this battle, this is the Haitian people’s battle and this is just a beginning.”

Results of the March 20 second-round run-off are due to be announced in April and the winner will replace the outgoing president Rene Preval.

Haitians expressed relieve that results were finally announced saying that if not “there would be a lot problems on the streets.”

After a year marked by the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010 and the ongoing cholera epidemic, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement, said it was of paramount importance for Haiti to have a new democratically elected Government to continue to tackle the pressing issues of recovery, reconstruction and the fight against cholera.

Tags

• haiti
• elections
• Wyclef Jean
• Michel Martelly

Directors:

• Muhamed Sacirbey, UNTV

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey