VOA标准英语2011--Haiti to Hold Second Round of Elections

After a grueling campaign, Haiti's two second round presidential candidates are making their final push toward Sunday's vote with concerts in Port-Au-Prince.
Scholar and former first lady Mirlande Manigat has worked to project an image of competence¹. She wants to strengthen government institutions and alleviate² poverty. She also wants education reform.
AP
Haiti's presidential candidate and former first lady Mirlande Manigat smiles after a press conference in Port-au-Prince, Mar³ 14 2011
Favored by the political and intellectual class, she has also campaigned heavily in poor neighborhoods where she has won some support.
Thirty-one-year-old artist Jean Marc Victor says he supports Manigat.
"The reason I am for her is because she is an intellectual. I went to school, I went to university, and I do not believe in Micky because he does not have the formal education to be president of the country," said Victor.
Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly is a popular Haitian musician known for his wild antics on stage. He has worked hard to change that image, and competed well in debates against seasoned opponents. He calls himself an agent for social change and has put forward a plan for free education and access to healthcare for all citizens.
He has won support from all segments of society, including the poor, young entrepreneurs, and the upper class.
Thirty-eight-year-old brick layer Evner Jerome explains why Martelly will get his vote.
AP
Haiti's presidential candidate Michel Martelly poses for a photo with supporters at a campaign rally in Gonaives, Mar 11 2011
"Whenever there is a problem you never saw Madam Manigat," said Jerome. "Whenever there was a problem, a natural disaster or whatever, you would always see Micky around trying to help the people. Micky is new to politics, Madam Manigat is the old politics."
Haiti is at a critical juncture⁴. International donors⁵ are waiting for a new government before they release billions of dollars in aid to rebuild the country. Analysts⁷ believe the chances are good one of the candidates will receive the required 50 percent of the vote to validate⁸ the election.
Political analyst⁶ Jean Robert Simonise acknowledges anything could happen on election day. He says the deciding factor will be which segment of the population turns out to vote. He adds the demographic numbers favor Michel Martelly.
"It is clear the ratio is seventy percent to thirty percent for Martelly," said Simonise.
The election had run smoothly⁹ until this week, when Martelly supporters threw stones at Mirlande Manigat at a rally in the town of Mirbalais. A musician on stage was injured, and in Port-de-Paix, a campaign worker was murdered. Furious at the violence Mirlande called a news conference in Port-au-Prince. She blamed Martelly's supporters.
"The rising wave of violence lets say, not shakes my confidence completely, but calls my attention and I suppose the attention of the observers, national or foreign observers on the possibility, I am not talking about probability, but possibility of violence, not only on the day of the election but on the eve," Manigat said.
There was no response from Michel Martelly.
There were numerous allegations of voter intimidation¹⁰ and fraud in the first round. Officials at the headquarters of the National Election Committee say they have made many changes. Richardson Dumel is the spokesperson for the National Election Committee.
"The difference this time is different personnel. The candidates have chosen different people this time around to supervise the election," said Dumel. "Certain security measures have been changed. And we have put more emphasis on the training of supervisors¹¹ at poling stations."
Analysts say the next Haitian president will have a lot of opportunities to bring change. But they will be entering a difficult political time. The country is still in ruins, expectations are high, and there are many obstacles to progress.

1 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

2 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

3 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

4 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

5 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 validate   

vt.（法律）使有效，使生效

参考例句：

• You need an official signature to validate the order.你要有正式的签字，这张汇票才能生效。
• In order to validate the agreement,both parties sign it.为使协议有效，双方在上面签了字。

9 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

10 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

11 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句