Haiti Gets Ready for November Elections

Port au Prince: Aug 23. -With the release of the official list of presidential candidates, Haiti gets ready for the start in October of an intense campaign for the first poll after last January devastating earthquake.

The campaign will start on October 27 for the November 28 elections.

However there are still doubts over the authorities capacity to hold the polls as scheduled because of difficulties prompted by the powerful 7.2 degree earthquake that killed 250,000 people.

The Electoral Provincial Council (CEP) announced on Friday the list of candidates from which were excluded the internationally renowned hip hop singer Wyclef Jean and 14 other hopefuls.

Although exclusion of the star musician was rejected by most of the younger Haitians, Jean did not fulfil his fiscal obligations and the requirement of residing in the country during the last five years.

Among confirmed candidates there is Celestin Jude, from the Governmental Unity Party, and who was the Director of the National Equipping Center (CNE), an agency created by President Rene Preval to develop the main public works of his administration.

Also in the list are former prime ministers Jacques Edouard Alexis, two time Head of Government under Preval, and Ivon Neptuno who served during the second term of former leader Jean Bertrand Aristide, among others.

The CEP also confirmed the candidacies of Social Affairs Minister Yves Christalin, of Senator Jean Hector Anacacis, and Delmas' Mayor Wilson Jeudy.

Former ministers of Health Josette Bijoux, and of Tourism Leslie Voltaire also make up the list of candidates. (Prensa Latina)