Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry speaks at an earthquake memorial service in January. On February 7, he renewed calls for elections this year. (Photo by Richard Pierrin / AFP)

NEW YORK CITY – A sense of uncertainty gripped the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on February 7, in anticipation of potential unrest on the date the late President Jovenel Moïse claimed his term would end. Daily life in and around the capital was put on hold.

“Everybody was scared,” said Erick Pierre-Val, a pastor who resides in Delmas, a district near Port-au-Prince. “The schools and most of the businesses were closed. It was quiet.” 

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Sam is a reporter for The Haitian Times and a 2020 Report for America corps member. He has covered Haiti and its diaspora since 2018. His work has also appeared in USA Today, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Haiti Liberte. Sam can be reached at sam@haitiantimes.com or on Twitter @sambojarski.