The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Haiti, Henry Wooster, welcomed on Thursday, July 23, the commitment of the Haitian authorities to return the country to democratic governance. According to him, the way forward requires collective action by political leaders, private-sector stakeholders and civil society to reject corruption, put an end to impunity and work for the common good. The diplomat was speaking at his end-of-mission press conference.

For Henry Wooster, however, elections will only be able to produce the expected results if they take place in a secure environment. He recalled that security is the essential prerequisite for holding “safe and credible elections,” while stability will result, over the longer term, from legitimate institutions, effective governance and sustainable economic growth.