The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin, present in Haiti this weekend, has issued an appeal to the Haitian electorate and to Presidential and Legislative candidates to maintain an atmosphere conducive to peace and democracy during Sunday's elections.

The high-ranking OAS official, said that a peaceful elections will depend largely on the attitude and behavior of candidates. "It would not be beneficial to anyone to act in haste, behave irresponsibly or incite violence. The democratic process must be allowed to take place" has declared the Secretary General.

Albert Ramdin, also declared that the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) "has informed us that they have implemented many of the recommendations made in the OAS expert report following the first round. We are hopeful this means there will be better safeguards in place. These elections are ultimately in the hands of the Haitian authorities."

Haitian National Police and the United Nation's Peacekeeping Mission, MINUSTAH, will be on the ground on Sunday as Haitians go to the polls. Assistant Secretary General Ramdin is encouraging citizens to go out and exercise their right to vote. "Haiti needs political stability to move ahead with development efforts. Democracy and good governance are necessary to take any nation forward, but given Haiti's recent and long standing problems, the elected leaders will have a major responsibility to their countrymen" has concluded the Secretary General.

HL/ HaitiLibre