GOVERNMENTS and  peoples around the world, familiar with the recurring nightmare of natural and human disasters that have plagued Haiti for far too long, would share the hopes of the very poor but admirable citizens of that Caribbean nation for at least realistic curtailment in their sufferings during the five-year administration of new President, Michel Martelly, that began yesterday.
Against the backdrop of much controversy in the conduct and outcome of parliamentary and presidential elections, that included a second round run-off,  Martelly, a popular 50-year-old musician, yesterday ceremonially took the oath as Head of State.
He has had no prior experience in government and was a relative newcomer to party election politics last year when he first sought the presidency. This, however, could prove advantageous, rather than a weakness, depending on his willingness and capacity to be a unifying president, reaching out across the political divide, for advice and support to steer Haiti out of a state of  seemingly perpetual socio-economic and political crises.
The very humble venue for the historic oath-taking ceremony in Port-au-Prince would have been a very strong reminder – if indeed one is necessary – for the representatives of the international community about the herculean challenges facing Haiti from the ravages of that unprecedented January 2010 earthquake, later followed by the nightmare of a cholera outbreak.
There, erected on the site of what was once the historic formidable Presidential Palace in the capital that was not spared from the earthquake devastation was, as reported by Reuters news agency, a simple prefabricated United Nations-supplied  structure.
As if to add to the painful inconvenience, there was a disruption in electricity supply during the ceremony but  Martelly went ahead with the proceedings to receive the blue and red presidential sash from outgoing President Rene Preval.
Yesterday’s ceremony would have been a good reminder to the governments and international financial institutions of the pledges yet to be appropriately honoured for the national reconstruction of post-earthquake Haiti.
One of President Martelly’s early official duties could result in his participation later this month in the two-day special retreat of CARICOM Heads of Government, scheduled to be hosted by President Bharrat Jagdeo in the Mazaruni region from May 21 – 22.