René Préval, who was declared Haiti's new President on Thursday, has pledged to tackle the Caribbean country's rampant poverty and seek a national dialogue, though he was yet to announce a clear programme. During his electoral campaign, Préval had asked voters to judge him on his performance during his 1996 to 2001 presidency.
For Judie Roy, the only woman among 34 candidates for president of Haiti in elections to be held in January, the face of poverty in one of the world's poorest countries is female. "All that is misery, all that is poverty is female in Haiti. That must be changed," says the 41-year-old mother of six.
A year after Hurricane Jeanne ravaged Gonaives in Haiti, killing 3Â 000 and leaving 300Â 000 homeless, residents still await emergency food aid and fear they have been forgotten. Pierre Edner, who helped distribute emergency food aid to storm survivors, said people are desperate in this immense township on the coast.