While the Haitians await the announcement of election results of March 20, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, wishes, in a report released Thursday that the future government in Haiti, strengthening the rule of law in the country.

Concerning the main challenges which expect Haiti now, Ban Ki-moon, estimates that the new Haitian government "will inherit a set of daunting challenges, compounded by the onset of another hurricane season, a severe lack of public sector expertise and a growing disenchantment among the general population with the existing political leadership and class and the long-standing socio-economic order."

In this context, the Secretary General considers that "the next President of Haiti may well face a protracted period of difficult cohabitation with a divided and potentially fractious Parliament". "The executive and legislative branches of Government will have to work together to meet the aspirations of the Haitian people and to deliver the reforms that they have been denied for far too long", he writes, noting that "Haitians must embrace the rule of law to advance peace and prosperity."

According to Ban Ki-moon, "the rule of law will require a genuine commitment to creating an independent and effective judiciary, a Parliament that is accountable to the people and not driven by special interests, and a Government that is transparent, responsive to the needs of the country and truly representative of the Haitian people."

Considering finally that the rule of law also includes "the creation of land registers and civil complete, the establishment of building codes and commercial laws", that it must "manifest itself in the ability of the state to collect taxes and ensure legal protection to facilitate economic development", the Secretary-General urges the international community to "continue to support Haiti so it could carry out the structural reform of the State". "I call on all international partners to work with the Government and the United Nations in a concerted and cohesive effort to strengthen the rule of law in Haiti."

In conclusion, the UN chief insists on the fact that Haiti "has the chance to make a fresh start under a new administration". To achieve "the new leaders must try to heal the wounds of a deeply polarized society and provide jobs, education and services to a population that is economically impoverished".

"The United Nations will work with the new Government and all sections of Haitian society to enhance the rule of law in Haiti, and to ensure that the population can fully enjoy its fundamental economic, social, civil and political rights", concludes Ban Ki-moon.

HL/ HaitiLibre