Barbados Today

An agreement has been reached for a transitional government in Haiti one day before President Michel Martelly demits office without an elected successor.
The deal was brokered with the assistance of a special mission of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to Port-au-Prince, which began on January 31.
Martelly officially signed the agreement with the President of the National Assembly Jocelerme Privert and Vice-President Cholzer Chancy. The formal signing was expected to take place today.
The second round of presidential elections was postponed last month due to protests by opposition parties who raised allegations of fraud, with opposition candidate Jude Celestin threatening to boycott the vote.

A statement issued by the OAS mission today said under the accord parliament will elect an interim president for a four-month term and confirm a consensus Prime Minister. The second round of presidential elections is scheduled for April 24 and the newly elected president will be installed on May 14.
“The situation in Haiti is exceptional and it required exceptional solutions. We are pleased that the stakeholders have all committed themselves to democracy, peace and stability, amid a Constitutional vacuum created by the absence of an elected President to replace Mr Martelly,” said Head of Mission, Sir Ronald Sanders, who is the Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS.
“My delegation is satisfied that while we were in Haiti to garner an appreciation of the views of as many stakeholders as possible, our presence had a beneficial effect on the search for a consensus formula by the various groups. We were also able to address and clarify misconceptions and misleading information about the role that the OAS plays in Haiti,” said Sir Ronald, who is also Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the OAS.

While in Haiti, the OAS delegation held several meetings with President Martelly, the Prime Minister and other government officials, as well as the presidents of the Senate and Lower Chamber, Senators, members of opposition parties and other Presidential candidates, and leaders of trade unions and civil society.
The Mission is expected to report to the 34 member-nations represented in the Permanent Council of the OAS upon its return to Washington.