- Title: Haitian presidential candidate calls for new elections 'as soon as possible'
- Date: 8th October 2016
- Summary: LES CAYES, HAITI (OCTOBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) SEAT DRAPED WITH HAITIAN FLAG POSTERS PROMOTING VOTING ELECTION OFFICIAL IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) HAITIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, JOVENEL MOISE, SAYING: "It'd be normal to postpone the elections, but it would be for eight or 15 days, because the relevant sensitive materials weren't distributed throughout the country. They have to organise the voting centres. If in some area, there are voting centres that are destroyed, it's necessary to build the necessary provisional systems at these sites so the election can take place. I am not here to say what I would have liked to hear, but we are speaking about the reality as it is, because the people are in the streets. We see what's happening. Postponing the elections was a good decision, however, the elections must take place as soon as possible." CROSS IN PLAZA CARS AND TRUCKS PASSING THROUGH STREETS VARIOUS OF LOCALS IN CITY STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) HAITIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, JOVENEL MOISE, SAYING: "I am saying to the non-governmental organisations (NGO's), they should work with the state structures to identify what exactly the problems are and avoid duplicating their efforts, so the the useful necessary help can succeed with the affected people." TREE FALLEN OVER IN FRONT OF GAS STATION PEOPLE PLAYING SOCCER IN STREETS VARIOUS OF CARS PASSING THROUGH STREETS AT SUNRISE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH AT SUNRISE CAR PASSING TELEVISION ON SIDE OF ROAD WOMAN WASHING BOWL STREET AFTER SUNRISE (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) HAITIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, JOVENEL MOISE, SAYING: "On that ship there's everything that's needed for the area. There are six important things: bedding, nails, wood, other building supplies, food and water are needed. The ship is full of these items." WOMAN WALKING BY WITH BASKET OF ITEMS ON HEAD VARIOUS OF CARS ON CITY STREETS IN PLAZA MAN WHEELING CART ON STREET
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2016 18:23
- Keywords: Jovenel Moise Les Cayes Matthew
- Location: LES CAYES, HAITI
- City: LES CAYES, HAITI
- Country: Haiti
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0015359JK7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hurricane Matthew has left almost 900 people dead in Haiti and left tens of thousand homeless. It also forced the postponement of an already-delayed presidential election.
The favourites in the race are conservative Jovenel Moise and centre-left Jude Celestin, who lead a field of 27 candidates. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent in the first round, a runoff will be held in January. And in an interview Reuters Saturday (October 8), Moise said the elections should be rescheduled as soon as possible.
"It'd be normal to postpone the elections, but it would be for eight or 15 days, because the relevant sensitive materials weren't distributed throughout the country. They have to organise the voting centres. If in some area, there are voting centres that are destroyed, it's necessary to build a necessary provisional systems at these sites. So the election can take place. I am not here to say what I would have liked to hear, but we are speaking about the reality as it is. Because the people are in the streets. We see what's happening. Postponing the elections is a good decision, however, the elections must take place as soon as necessary," he said.
Matthew smashed through Haiti's western peninsula on Tuesday with 145 mph (233 kph) winds and torrential rain. Some 61,500 people were in shelters, officials said, after the storm pushed the sea into fragile coastal villages, some of which were only now being contacted.
At least three towns reported dozens of people killed in the hills and coast of Haiti's fertile western tip. The Haitian Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services delivered much needed supplies to some of the 750 people sheltered at the Liceo Claudy Muzu in the hard-hit Les Cayes commune.
Historians say Les Cayes was destroyed by hurricanes twice in the 18th century, but it bounced back to become an important port exporting coffee and vetiver, an ingredient in perfumes. It is a gateway to nearby Ile-a-Vache, a palm-fringed island Haiti's government wants to develop for international tourism.
Low-lying Ile-a-Vache was in the path of the storm and authorities have not yet been able to communicate with the island to assess the extent of the damage.
Most houses in Les Cayes were left roofless, with many completely inhabitable.
"I am saying to the non-governmental organisations (NGO's), to work with the state structures to identify what exactly the problems are and avoid duplicating them. So the useful, necessary help can succeed with the affected people," Moise added.
With cellphone networks down and roads flooded by sea and river water, aid has been slow to reach hard-hit areas in Haiti. Food was scarce, and at least seven people died of cholera, likely because of flood water mixing with sewage.
The USS Mesa Verde, a U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship, was heading for Haiti to support relief efforts. A Navy spokesman said the ship would take heavy-lift helicopters, bulldozers and fresh water delivery vehicles. The ship has a surgical team and two operating rooms on board.
Moise said basic needs must be met.
"On that ship there's everything that's needed for the area. There are six important things. Sheets, nails, wood, food and water are needed. The ship is full of these items," he said.
Matthew skirted Florida on Friday with winds of up to 120 miles per hour (195 kph), but did not make landfall. The U.S. National Hurricane Center's hurricane warning extended up the Atlantic coast from central Florida through Georgia and South Carolina and into North Carolina.
With winds diminishing on Saturday as it headed towards the Carolinas to 75 miles per hour (120 kph), it became a a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale of 1 to 5. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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