(Haitian Foreign Ministry employee Jean-Daniel Lafontant at Mevs Wharf) It is a Mexican military ship that is carrying 1,005 pallets of election materials.
(Presenter Garry Pierre-Paul Charles) What kind of materials are there?
(Lafontant) Well, we will let the CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) members talk about that because our role is just a coordinating role, a facilitating role. I do not really have a role that would consist of providing information. We will let the CEP members talk about that by themselves.
(Charles) For the time being, the CEP members have not yet arrived?
(Lafontant) Yes, a CEP member was here. He is now talking to the captain. (Pierre-Richard) Duchemin will arrive in a few minutes. When he arrives, we will contact you so he can give you further information.
(Charles) What is the Foreign Ministry’s role in the unloading of these materials?
(Lafontant) Well, you know whenever a foreign delegation arrives, the role of the Foreign Ministry is first to receive them and then direct them to the relevant authorities. So our role here – given that it is a Mexican ship that has come with a Mexican delegation that has carried the election materials – our role was first to receive them and to make things easier for them in their tasks, including unloading and their relations with MINUSTAH (UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti).
(Charles) On the security level, will these materials have any problems?
(Lafontant) These materials (should not have) any problems, because there is a very strong contingent of MINUSTAH members who are here and who will guarantee the security of these materials until the CEP (pauses) until the Haitian Government (pauses) the CEP and the Haitian Government accept these materials tomorrow during the official ceremony.
(Charles) How many pallets did you say there are? How many have arrived?
(Lafontant) There are 1,005 pallets.
(Charles) But (pauses)
(Lafontant, interrupting) One, zero, zero, five.
(Charles) Can you not tell us what is in them?
(Lafontant) I will be honest with you: I cannot give you this information. I would expect the CEP to give it to you, given that this is not the role of the Foreign Ministry.
(Charles) Well, will?
(Lafontant) When the CEP member (pauses) Duchemin is due to arrive in a few minutes, (words indistinct) will call you, and he will tell you exactly what these materials are.
(Charles) Is that already a good sign for – I would say – the setting in motion of the electoral process?
(Lafontant) Well, we are not here to answer such questions. But I am certain that the presence of so many MINUSTAH contingents and a very strong government delegation is an indication that there is good news.
(Charles) All right. Can you give me the composition of this delegation, the governmental delegation?
(Unidentified speaker) Members of the Prime Minister’s Office are here, and a delegation of nearly five persons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Charles) Very well. Thank you very much.
(Lafontant) In addition, I must tell you that there are many MINUSTAH members. Many MINUSTAH members are present here, especially to ensure security.
(Charles) Thank you very much, Jean-Daniel Lafontant.
(Lafontant) Thanks a lot, Signal. Keep up the good work.
(Charles) Thanks a lot. We are waiting to call Duchemin so we can provide more information. But in the meantime, we made it a duty to inform you that election materials have arrived at the Mevs Wharf. As you heard, there are delegations, members from the government, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Foreign Ministry. The CEP members will arrive soon. An official ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow.
Will the elections definitely be launched? Even though the campaign has been inaugurated, as of right now nobody has the exact date of the elections.
Isn’t this ironic?