The presidential elections in Haiti caused much disruption and 'lock-down.' For four days we stayed in the Maison, not even allowed to go for a jog or a walk up and down the hill!
For months election fever spread throughout the country with campaign posters strewn on all empty walls, poles, fences, fallen houses too! The run up to the 28th November saw more and more poster flying up in the sky, covering opposition posters even one candidate decided to have a different image and re-did his poster!
So we had 34 people running for president here in Haiti, everyone wants a piece of the pie as they will manage millions of aid money pledge by various countries and NGO's.
From the 34, 15 candidates were deemed ineligibile, one of whom was Haitian-American hip-hop star Wyclef Jean. So this Sunday saw 18 candidates vying for the role of the President of Haiti.
Results of the election will be announced on December 7th. Everyone is just waiting to see what the outcome is going to be!
Jude Celestin, 48-year-old protege of the current president Rene Preval is an engineer by profession. Strongly backed by Preval's INITE (Unity) party, but not favour in the eyes of the Haitian people, due to the lack of response of the current president to the earthquake and the cholera epidemic.
'Anti-U.N. protesters in the capital last week burned Celestin's election posters in the yellow and green INITE colors.' (Pascal Fletcher)
Leslie Voltaire a former minister of Haiti is an urban planner. He has been very active in planning the post-earthquake recovery. He is a graduated of Cornell University.
Charles Henri-Baker, the only 'blanc' guy running for president is a very well-known businessman, and Haitian politician. He ran for presidency in 2006 and came third, again at aged 50 he is running again as a leader of the Association of Haitian Industries and is widely seen as a voice of the private
sector.
Mirlande Manigat, aged 70, was a former first lady to ex president Leslie Manigat, who lasted only four months in office in 1988. An educated lady, who is a university professor, educated at the Sorbonne and a formidable oppsition leader to Preval's presidency.
'Sweet Micky,' 'Tete Kale' (Bald Head) is 49 year old popular musician and entertainer, Michel Martelly. A local Haiti Kompa artiste who is famous for his satirical lyrics. Backed by Wyclef Jean, polls reveal that his is the people's favourite, despite his lack of political experience. The dark horse that could be Haiti's next president.