UN envoy urges Haitians to vote on Nov. 20

The special representative of the UN secretary-general for Haiti, Sandra Honore, and other members of the "Core Group" called on Haitians to exercise their constitutional right to vote on Nov. 20, a UN spokesman said here Thursday.

"They acknowledge the measures taken by the national authorities to facilitate the holding of peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections, despite the challenges following Hurricane Matthew," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

The UN special envoy, the ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, the United States, the European Union and the special representative of the Organization of American States form the "Core Group."

"They stress that Sunday's vote will mark a critical step towards the return to full constitutional order in Haiti and hope that all actors will continue to make constructive contributions to ensure a serene climate that allows all citizens to freely choose their political representatives," Haq added.

Haiti will hold long-delayed presidential elections on Sunday, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) said on Oct. 14.

Initially postponed by political turmoil, elections were put off again last month by Hurricane Matthew, which devastated southern Haiti, leading officials to call off an Oct. 9 poll.

In addition, thousands of Haitians displaced by flooding are without their national identity cards, and will require time to retrieve or replace them, the CEP said.

Haiti has consistently failed to meet its electoral timetable and is officially without a head of state. The president of the National Assembly, Jocelerme Privert, has served as Haiti's provisional president.

Political instability has roiled Haiti since its first democratically-elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ousted by a U.S.-backed coup in 2004. Endit