Editorial comment: The following interview with Ricardo Seitenfus, outgoing representative in Haiti of the Organisation of American States (OAS), by the Swiss daily “Le Temps”, is a rare but welcome admission, by a top official of one of the intergovernmental organisations that have for decades exercised a disproportionate influence in Haiti, how many of the policies of the “international community” have failed Haiti, and that finally it is time for them to give room to the development of a “Haitian vision for reconstruction”.

HSG

Photo: Ballot boxes, 28/11/2010 – © Joris Willems

By Mark Weisbrot and Jake Johnston

A draft copy of the Organization of American States (OAS) Report on Haiti’s election, “Organization of American States Expert Verification Mission, President Election — First Round 2010 — Final Report,”1 was leaked to the press last week, and the Center for Economic and Policy Research posted a copy on its website after receiving it from a different source.  The report was formally presented to Haitian president Rene Préval on January 13.