HAITIANS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDE SECOND ROUND OF

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000721

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KDEM HA
SUBJECT: HAITIANS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDE SECOND ROUND OF
ELECTIONS

REF: PAUP 720 AND PREVIOUS


1. The vote for Haiti's parliament concluded in an orderly
fashion at 1600 on April 21, and Embassy teams reported a
quick conclusion of vote tallying at the voting centers they
observed. MINUSTAH officials at the vote tabulation center
in Port-au-Prince informed the Ambassador on the morning of
April 22 that elections authorities had already tallied 20%
and hoped to tally 50% by the end of the day. CEP DG Jacques
Bernard has not yet decided what partial results the CEP will
post on its website (cep-ht.org). MINUSTAH officials
indicated the CEP may wait to post complete Departmental
results in order to avoid preemptive demonstrations before
the completion of the tally in any individual race.
Observers continue to estimate the overall turnout at roughly
15-20%, with wide variations in some localities. However,
Bernard told the Ambassador he thought that the figure might
be closer to 30%, due to a pickup in rural voting in the
afternoon.


2. The security situation remained calm during the election
period, with Port-au-Prince reporting no election-related
incidents. MINUSTAH reported one confirmed elections-related
fatality in the city of Grand Saline in the Artibonite
Department -- reftel mistakenly reported the incident having
occurred in St. Marc -- and other smaller disturbances in the
Artibonite. MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police
cooperated well to provide polling security at the polling
stations and elsewhere around the country. Apart from a few
other minor incidents, MINUSTAH and Embassy observers
reported free and fair voting and a peaceful atmosphere
throughout the rest of the country.


3. Comment. Aside from the low turnout and the prevailing
calm throughout the country, the noteworthy aspect of the
second round was the improved performance of electoral
workers. While the smaller numbers of voters certainly
alleviated some pressure, workers at polling centers were by
all accounts remarkably better prepared and organized for the
second round. In a conversation with Polcouns days before
the election, CEP DG Jacques Bernard pointed with pride to
the progress he had made in building up the CEP
administration nationally, and stressed that the Preval
administration and the international community should
concentrate on preserving this institutional knowledge. Post
will report further the specifics of his recommendations
septel.
SANDERSON