It Keeps Going and Going and Going

Despite political instability, the Haitian flag flies proudly over the newly-dedicated Earthquake Memorial.

The theatre that is Haitian politics continues to trouble the country.  During the fall of 2015, Haiti should have elected a new legislature, president and local representatives.  The elections, bankrolled by foreign counties, were to have three rounds.  Two rounds happened last fall, but the third (the run-off presidential election) never occurred because of protests and accusations of fraud.  Without a new president, the outgoing president installed an interim president, who was charged with holding the final round of elections within three months.  During this time a verification committee was appointed to study the first two elections.  That committee audited 25% of the election results and found  nearly 700,000 untraceable votes.  The committee recommended the annulment of the 2015 elections, to which the interim government agreed.  New elections are to be held in October 2016 and January 2017.  What does this mean?  More political instability hindering Haiti’s development in 2016-17.  Recently, Haiti's parliament has been unable to vote to extend the mandate of the Interim President Privert whose term began in February and expired several weeks ago.  Privert will continue serving until his mandate is renewed or another interim president is chosen. Pray that wisdom and honesty will prevail in the Haitian government’s planning of new elections.