An AS/COA Miami panel featuring Haiti's former prime minister explored why the country is reaching a critical turning point.

AS/COA co-hosted a discussion with the City of Miami and Miami Dade College on Haiti and how best to move forward in terms of governance, investment, and development.

After winning Haiti’s March 20 runoff election by a landslide, President-elect Michel Martelly travels to Washington this week to gain the support of international donors who have yet to disburse the lion’s share of pledged funding.

After a first-round vote fraught with controversy, Haiti's electoral commission has removed the ruling-party candidate from the March 20 runoff. Meanwhile, the return from exile of two past presidents muddies Haiti's political landscape.

Recovery efforts have been sluggish and a runoff election may see delays that could further undermine progress. But some observers note that goals set for rebuilding after last year's earthquake were overly ambitious.

As natural disasters impact crop yields and global food prices continue to rise, experts worry that food scarcity will continue to haunt Latin America’s poor and vulnerable in 2011.

With 0.7 percent of the vote separating who will compete in the January runoff, Haitians are demanding justice.