Elections, Creole-Style

With the first Tuesday in November approaching in the United States, our thoughts turn to elections and the constant drone of candidates vying for the opportunity to make the world a little better. The election cycle is in full swing in Haiti as well. Presidential and legislative elections are scheduled on Sunday, November 28. President Rene Preval has served two five-year terms and is constitutionally barred from re-election. There is a menagerie of others seeking his job: One candidate, Mirlande Manigat, is the wife of a former Haitian president (á la Hillary Clinton). Another candidate, Jacque Edouarde Alexis, Preval’s former prime minister (á la Al Gore, George Bush Sr., etc.) who was sacked in the food riots of 2008. The most interesting candidate is “Sweet Mickey Martelly,” a Haitian singer known for cross-dressing and cigarette advertising (he doesn’t stand a chance in a socially-conservative country like Haiti). Another entertainer, Wyclef Jean, the popular Haitian-American hip-hop artist, was barred from running as president by the Haitian government for reasons not yet completely known. Beginning in August, gangs of roving graffiti-artists/vandals have roamed the streets at night spray-painting their favorite politicians’ names on everything (including walls, doors, signs and parked cars) and plastering every available surface with campaign posters (see photo above). But campaigning in Haiti has a dark side. Often less scrupulous political parties will resort to drug-trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion to fund their campaigns. Election Day and the result-publication of day (usually 5-7 days after) are especially anxiety-provoking, as incredulous political operatives burn tires, throw rocks, and generally misbehave in protest of the publicized result. What is most important is that the man or woman God has chosen to lead Haiti is elected. Paul says that there “is no authority except that which God has established” (Rom. 13:1). Pray that God’s will will be done in the Haitian elections Nov. 28