Published January 13, 2015
Concluding a visit to his native Haiti (search), hip-hop star Wyclef Jean (search) said the Caribbean country is too divided and violent to hold credible elections.
General elections are planned later this year. Government and United Nations (search) peacekeeping officials insist they will do all they can to ensure the vote takes place.
Haiti's Parliament became powerless last year when a failure to hold elections because of instability left legislative seats empty.
"Unless there is some form of heavy national dialogue where there is security and people feel safe, it's going to be hard to go through with a really positive election," the 32-year-old singer told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Jean said a dialogue including businessmen, gang leaders and politicians is essential in addressing recent violence that has been plaguing Haiti's capital, forcing him to postpone a "concert for peace" planned for last month.
The singer said he's trying to find a safe place to hold a concert in the summer.
Jean visited Haiti this week to launch Yele Haiti — a development foundation for education, the environment, entrepreneurship and health.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/wyclef-jean-says-haiti-too-divided