The de facto President of the Republic, Jocelerme Privert, on Tuesday had a meeting at the National Palace, with the members of Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), as well as representatives of public institutions around the rehabilitation of electoral infrastructure in the various areas affected by Hurricane Matthew, at the approach of elections on 20 November.

The meeting took place in particular with the Ministers of Economy and Finance (MEF), Yves Romain Bastien, and Public Works (TPTC), Mr. Jacques Evelt Eveillard, the Secretary General of the Primature, Mrs Maridès Ménager Alexandre, of representatives of Fund of Economic and Social Assistance (FAES), of the Office of Monetization of Development Aid Programs (BMPAD), of the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes (CSCCA), of Ministry of National Education (MENFP) , of the public Procurement Commission (CMP) and the Housing and Public Buildings Construction Unit (UCLBP).

Privert has emphasized on the urgent need to rehabilitate the voting centres in order they are functional at least 8 days prior to the election of 20 November. Informing that these works will at the same time allow schools and other damaged facilities, about 270, to not only continue to be used as voting centres, but also to become functional for the students by the end of the electoral process.

The rehabilitation work will also concern the roads that will allow both to deliver aid to affected families in difficult access areas, and bring materials to the voting centres in the different affected departments, including the North West, the South, the South East, Nippes and Grand'Anse.

The de facto President nevertheless points out the importance and sensitivity of these operations that will often affect schools still serving as temporary shelters for affected families today. The Government must therefore be very concerned about the rehabilitation of these families and their resettlement, in order, respect and dignity.

More than a million voters are concerned by the ravages of Hurricane Matthew, in the above-mentioned departments. Elections will never be truly inclusive if they do not take into account the situation of these voters. The Head of State encourages institutions involved to achieve quality work so that everything is restored by, at the latest on 13 November.

HL/ HaitiLibre