Lack of Security Major Factor in Haiti Elections (Charles Henri Baker)

Port-au-Prince, February 7, 2006. Inadequate security is a major factor contributing to the disorganization of Haiti's national elections. Senior campaign advisors said that they were disappointed in the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers throughout the country, and especially in Port-au-Prince. "The United Nations argued for a smaller number of polling stations nationwide, so that they would be able to provide the security necessary for a fair vote," said a Baker official. "The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is not doing the job that we expected. A strong UN presence at the polling stations would discourage the type of voter intimidation and voting irregularities that we have been hearing about all day. This is a serious matter and we are very concerned."