Haiti-chaos and killer cholera provide election backdrop

The shattered presidential palace in Cholera hit, earthquake ravaged Haiti.

It is against this backdrop that Haitians prepare to go to the polls in Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

Tens of thousands no longer have ID cards, essential to be eligible to vote, or even know where the local polling station is.

Colin Ganderson is an election observer:

“ It is quite clear there is a lot of frustration in Port-au-Prince, especially in the camps. At the same time, most of the candidates are depending on that frustration for those people to come out and vote against the ruling party.”

Despite the chaos, 70-year-old former first lady Mirlande Manigat and Jude Celestin, a protege of outgoing president Rene Pavel, look set to make the run-off on January 16.

A force of around 12,000 UN troops will back local forces to protect the vote as the threat of political violence is palpable.

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