V.I. Congressional Delegate Donna M. Christian-Christensen traveled to Haiti Friday with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to meet with officials about the nation's upcoming elections in March and April.
Christensen and her colleagues were to meet with Haitian President Renee Preval, former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, representatives from non-governmental organizations, U.S. Ambassador Timothy Carney, Haitian political party leaders, the president of the Electoral Commission, and Haiti's police chief to observe the elections process.
Christiansen and the other observers were set to make judgments regarding the election timetable, access the technical steps necessary for their undertaking and observe the ability of the Provisional Electoral Council to organize and verify the elections.
Christensen, the only congressional representative of the English-speaking Caribbean, said "These meetings are a follow-up to our visit last September to focus on preparations for the elections as a means of supporting Haiti's efforts to become a democratic nation."
The delegation also wanted to look at public confidence in the electoral process, the competence of electoral institutions and the likelihood of broad civic participation in the process.