VERSION FRANCAISE: lire plus bas (cliquer le texte et faites le défiler avec votre souris) As it is a country known for its political instability, social inequality, gang-warfare, corrupt governance, murders, kidnappings, widespread poverty and frequent coups, few had high hopes for the Haitian Elections this February. Originally scheduled for October 2005 the elections were postponed four times before being realized. Contrary to popular speculation everything went forward with no major violence or disruption despite some initial setbacks in regards to the polling stations opening in the morning. The candidate most of the population expects to win uncontested, René Garcia Preval, is the only person ever to have completed a Presidential term in the Republic of Haiti. His likely victory carries hope to many Haitians of a more stable future. TEXTE FR/ Pays marqué par une grande instabilité politique et de nombreux coups d'état, par les inégalités sociales, les guerres de gangs, la corruption, les meurtres et les enlèvements, l'espoir d'élections justes et pacifiques en Haïti était des plus ténu. Prévu pour octobre 2005 le scrutin a été ajourné à 4 reprises pour se tenir finalement le 7 février 2006. Une semaine plus tard, malgré une participation massive et la victoire annoncée de René Garcia Preval, la tension et l'incertitude ne sont toujours pas retombées.
Pro-Preval demonstration outside the closest voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections in Port-Au-Prince.
SPD0051498 © David Sperry
Preval supporter outside the closest voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections in Port-Au-Prince.
SPD0051499 © David Sperry
Haitian boy selling snacks outside the voting station closest to Cite Soleil on the day of the elections. The United Nations could not gaurntee security for polling stations in the slums so hundreds of thousands of the poorest Haitians had to venture out to find a place to cast their vote, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 7th 2006.
SPD0051501x © David Sperry
UN patrol driving past Haitians waiting in line to vote on election day.
SPD0051500x © David Sperry
Although they were supposed to open at 6:00 AM, many of the voting stations in Port-Au-Prince did not open until after 10:00. The people up the hill generally waited in line quietly. Those at the bottom, mostly residents of the slums of Cite Solei and Bel Air, prefered to sing, dance and chant, waving their voter ID cards in the air and publically supporting their favored canditate.
SPD0051502x © David Sperry
MINUSTAH Peace Keeper watching over the crowd of would-be voters outside the closest voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections. The United Nations could not gaurntee security for polling stations in the slums so hundreds of thousands of the poorest Haitians had to venture out to find a place to cast their vote.
SPD0051504x © David Sperry
Waiting to vote outside the closest voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections.
SPD0051505 © David Sperry
MINUSTAH Peace Keeper threatening Haitian man with a gas canister outside the closest voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections. With the polls opening over four hours later than scheduled, some of the locals became restless and pushy.
SPD0051506 © David Sperry
MINUSTAH Peace Keepers outside the voting station closest to Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 7th 2006.
SPD0051507x © David Sperry
The inside of the closet voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections. The United Nations could not guarantee security for polling stations in the slums so hundreds of thousands of the poorest Haitians had to venture out to find a place to cast their vote.
SPD0051508 © David Sperry
Haitian woman choosing her candidate inside of the closet voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections. Even with the many millions of dollars in aid the Haitian government received to execute these elections the best they could manage for voter privacy were folded pieces of cardboard on top of picnic tables, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 7th 2006.
SPD0051509x © David Sperry
Haitian woman placing the sheets of paper containing the chosen candidates inside of the ballot boxes at closet voting station to Cite Solei on the day of the elections.
SPD0051510x © David Sperry
Haitian man playing a home made drum during a pro-Preval demonstration coming from Cite Solei on the day of the elections. After waiting over four hours for the voting stations to open up the residents of Cite Solei, Bel Air and other areas nearby took to the streets, marching thousands strong, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, February 7th 2006.
SPD0051511x © David Sperry
Haitian woman holding up cards with her favored politicians pictured on the front, Preval and Aristide, during the day of the elections.
SPD0051512 © David Sperry
Haitian boy holding up a Preval flyer during a pro-Preval demonstration on the day of the election in Port-Au-Prince.
SPD0051513x © David Sperry
Pro-Preval demonstration in Bel Air on the day of the elections in Port-Au-Prince.
SPD0051514 © David Sperry
Haitian men playing home-made horns and drums during a pro-Preval demonstration in Bel Air on the day of the elections in Port-Au-Prince.
SPD0051515 © David Sperry
Pro-Preval demonstration in Bel Air on the day of the elections in Port-Au-Prince, February 7th 2006.
SPD0051516x © David Sperry
Haitian man chanting during a pro-Preval demonstration in Bel Air on the day of the elections in Port-Au-Prince.
SPD0051517x © David Sperry
Although more than half of the Haitians registered to vote cast their ballot on February 7th 2006, many feared that the situation would be unsafe and decided to stay at home.
SPD0051518x © David Sperry
Man handcuffed in the back of a pick-up truck being guarded by masked Haitian police outside a voting station on Delmas in Port-Au-Prince on the day of the elections, February 7th 2006.
SPD0051519x © David Sperry