PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC):
THE TWO major political forces in this impoverished Caribbean nation are predicting victory in today's poll with one of the two leading contenders for the presidency suggesting that his political rival does not stand a chance.
"Let me be honest and say that (René) Preval has as much chance as a snowball in hell of winning any elections here, that I am certain of," said businessman Charles Baker, in reference to his challenger for the presidency, René Preval.
Although there are over 30 presidential candidates and more than 1,000 participants drawn from over 50 political parties in the legislative ballot, the race is seen here as a straight fight between the Lavalas Family of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the opposition 'Convergence' group.
The most keenly watched contest is that for the presidency, with the favourite, a staunch supporter of President Aristide, who was ousted from power in February 2004.
ARISTIDE BLAMED FOR INSTABILITY
Since then, a United States-backed regime, led by interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, has been in charge of Haiti's affairs.
Although a December poll showed him a distant second to Preval with 10 per cent compared to the former president's 37 per cent, Baker believes he has overtaken Preval and is now the candidate to beat in today's poll.
Baker places blame squarely at the feet of Aristide and Preval for the present climate of instability and insecurity in the country and has sought to warn his political opponents that the Haitian people are clamouring for change.
"For 14 years, the Aristide/Preval Governments were never able to establish security and stability in the country, so why would the Haitian people want to give Preval another five years," questioned Baker in an interview Sunday with the Caribbean Media Corporation.
Preval led Haiti from 1996 to 2001, following Aristide's first term in office. He was the second democratically elected president in Haiti's 200-year history following a landslide 89 per cent of the vote in the elections boycotted by several political parties.
