Port au Prince during the March 2011 Presidential Election

We visited Port au Prince on the weekend of the second round of Presidential elections in March 2011.  Even though we wanted to keep a low profile, we ventured out to see some of the sights, like the National Palace.

Broken government

Although there were many banners promoting the two candidates, many more banners celebrated the return of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, known affectionately as “titide.”

Banners welcome former President Aristide

Banner welcoming former President Aristide - "Titide" is an affectionate nickname.

 

At least on the Saturday before the election, MINUSTAH troops flooded the streets, riding in armored personnel carriers.  I’ve never seen anything like it in the city during the past few years.

UN soldiers from MINUSTAH rode in armored personnel carriers on Saturday before the second round of Presidential elections in March 2011UN convoy of armored personnel carriers

 

MINUSTAH armored personnel carriers flooded the streets on the Saturday before the second round of Presidential elections in March 2011

UN soldiers at election time

The UN convoys though disappeared on both election day and the day after the election — the days when violence was predicted.  And the streets were quiet.

Against all odds, Haitians were able to pick a President with minimal violence.