In a press release dated January 22, 2016, and signed by Pierre-Louis Opont, President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), it is written that face a deteriorating security environment the CEP decided to postpone the electoral process that should lead to January 24, 2016, although the President Martelly Thursday evening confirmed the date in his message to the Nation https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16384-haiti-elections-there-will-be-elections-this-january-24-dixit-michel-martelly.html

"Face a deteriorating security environment and threats to the electoral process, the CEP decided to postpone the electoral process that should lead to January 24, 2016, day scheduled for the vote.

The situation is as follows :

In the North Department : burning of BEC of Limbé, dof the residence of the President of BEC of Pignon, Plaine du Nord, Limonade, Quartier Morin, Pilate and of St Raphaël

In the Centre : burning of BEC of Lascahobas, attempt to set fire in Thomonde. Heavy fire towards the voting center of Claire Heureuse de Savanette.

In the South : attempt to set fire to the Lycée Fabre Geffrard

in the West : attempt to set fire to the BECs II and III of Port-au-Prince, of Léogâne and of Grand Goâve. In fonds Parisien, armed individuals took away sensitive material stored at the National School.

In order to protect the lives of voters, the CEP staff, the institution's assets, particularly schools made available to the CEP. The Council took this decision.

Provisional Electoral Council

Pierre-Louis OPONT

President"

UPDATE 7h10 PM

The Government of the Republic has the advantage to inform the population that it has taken note of the decision of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to temporarily suspend the electoral process, thereby deferring to a later date the holding of the second round of presidential and partial legislative previously set to Sunday, January 24, 2016.

It took the occasion to announce the holding of a council of ministers to the extraordinary, to take the necessary measures to guarantee public order, security of lives and property and to adopt face this new conjuncture the measures thereto pertaining.

HL/ HaitiLibre