May 24, 2010
Intervention during the discussion
Ambassador Preeg noted that the Haiti Democracy Project had sent four electoral-observation missions to Haiti. Many if not the majority of their membership was Haitian-American. They were keen-sighted observers, knowing the country and enjoying high regard by the Haitians. As the United States prepares for the next elections in Haiti, it would do well to include Haitian-Americans on observer missions.
Haiti, Ambassador Preeg continued, had surprised everyone in 2006 by holding free and open elections with a balanced, independent electoral commission. The commission had strong management under Jacques Bernard, the Haitian industrialist who was put in charge.
Now, by contrast, there exists a commission handpicked by the executive branch, with relatively weak management. In these circumstances, one could spend many months of preparation.