US threatens to pull aid to Haiti over late vote

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (AP) — The US government has warned Haiti that it risks losing aid if it doesn’t hold elections that are more than two years overdue.

The US Embassy in Port-au-Prince said Thursday that none of the money set aside for the Haitian government by the State Appropriations Act will be available until the US State Department certifies Haiti is “taking steps” to hold the legislative and local votes.

The money at stake is about $300 million that the US Congress allocated for Haiti for fiscal year 2014. The money is earmarked for Haiti’s coast guard, health ministry and other projects.

Haitian officials are under pressure to organize the elections for this year. The executive branch and Chamber of Deputies signed an electoral law this month but the Senate has yet to approve.