[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
8990: USAID on May elections (fwd)
From: kevin pina <kpinbox@hotmail.com>
In searching through USAID statements on their Haiti programs, I came across
these two descriptions of the May 2000 parliamentary elections:
Here's the first one which interestingly enough contains the qualifier "
despite a voting process that was judged by international observers as
largely free and fair." It is an introduction to USAID/Haiti written by
Lewis Lucke, USAID/Haiti Mission Director at the beginning of FY 2001.
FULL TEXT: http://www.usaid.gov/ht/welcome.html
The past year has been a challenging one for our democracy and justice
programs. The disputed ballot counting process of the 2000 parliamentary
elections ¾ despite a voting process that was judged by international
observers as largely free and fair ¾ underscored that Haiti continues to
struggle with its democratic transition. The USAID justice reform program
remains closed, and support to the Haitian National Police, Haiti's first
civilian police force, also ended in the summer of 2000.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This second version offers no such qualifier and appears to reflect the
shift in policy and information we have been experiencing of late. It was
posted August 17, 2001.
FULL TEXT: http://www.usaid.gov/country/lac/ht/
The flawed parliamentary elections in May 2000, followed by a boycotted
Presidential election, discouraged Haitians and outsiders alike who had
hoped that the thwarted hopes of the past would be succeeded by a
democratically elected government and economic revival. Instead, rising
political tension, common crime, growing insecurity, economic stagnation,
and a lack of serious government engagement in meaningful economic reform
continue to be the norm. The Aristide Government was installed in February
2001 with promises of reconciliation and economic progress. Those promises
will be hard to honor until the current political impasse is resolved and
support from the international community is re-established.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp