Robert Hart, Staff ReporterFORMER HAITIAN Presi-dent Jean-Bertrand Aris-tide will arrive in Jamaica next week for a two-month stay, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced yesterday, allowing the former leader time to negotiate a more permanent home for himself and his family.
Yesterday, the United States, with whom Jamaica and CARICOM have been at loggerheads over contrary reports of the superpower's involvement in Aristide's ouster, held back on any immediate comment, but said a statement would be issued today.
Mr. Patterson yesterday said Mr. Aristide was not seeking political asylum here, and Foreign Affairs Minister K.D. Knight also told The Gleaner that Jamaica was not arranging asylum for him here, or anywhere else in the region.
VIRTUAL PRISONER
The PM said that Mr. Aristide had expressed a wish to return temporarily to the Caribbean with his wife, American Mildred Trouillot-Aristide, and to be reunited with their two young children who are in the U.S.
Mr. Aristide and his wife were given temporary refuge in the Central African Republic, another violence-prone and poor nation, after leaving Haiti on February 29.
Describing himself as a virtual prisoner, Mr. Aristide has provoked the African nation's leaders, who have publicly described him as "ungrateful".
"At his request, arrangements are being made for his travel and accommodation in Jamaica. He is expected to arrive here early next week," said the Prime Minister and current chairman of the CARICOM.
LABOURITES LIVID
Jamaica has already indicated its decision to the other governments of CARICOM and those initially involved in "working together to seek a solution to the Haitian crisis," said Mr. Patterson.
Reactions to the announcement came swiftly yesterday, with the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) referring to the decision as "unwise", while the Farquharson Institute labelled it "disrespectful" of the public and the Parliament.
The JLP, in a statement, said the visit could foment attempts to topple the new Haitian Government for which an interim president Boniface Alexandre was installed Monday and a new Prime Minister Gerard LaTortue took office Wednesday.
"Bearing in mind the inescapable contacts that will occur with persons who could be seeking to destabilise the newly-formed Government of Haiti, the decision is an unwise one," the JLP said.
MINIMISE STAY
The Opposition suggested the Prime Minister reduce the timeframe for Mr. Aristide's stay to a maximum three weeks.
This, the JLP said, would ensure that "no strategic opportunity can emerge from third party plans and contacts to unsettle Jamaica-Haitian relations."
Stating that Jamaica's own interests must be protected, the Opposition said that "Jamaica must not be a staging ground for any resurgence of the Haitian revolution."
Ken Jones, General Secretary of the Farquharson Institute, speaking with The Gleaner last night, suggested that the Opposition call for an emergency meeting of Parliament to discuss the matter, instead of asking the Government to amend the arrangement.
AMERICANS CAUTIOUS
Orna Blum, U.S. Embassy spokeswoman, also said last night that the Americans needed time to assess the situation and to formulate a response. The U.S. is the lead military force in Haiti, with as many as 1,600 troops there, according to wire reports attempting to bring fighting under control.
U.S. Ambassador Sue Cobb had on Monday met with the Prime Minister in an attempt to ease tensions stirred by the Government's call for an investigation of Mr. Aristide's claims of a U.S.-led kidnapping.
South Africa has backed Mr. Patterson in the call. The new developments follow on reports that South African officials had met Wednesday with Aristide. Wire reports on the visit said that South Africa and CARICOM would be conducting their own investigation into his ouster.
ACKNOWLEDGING NEW LEADER
Yesterday, the CARICOM chairman also indicated, for the first time, that the bloc was prepared to recognise the new Government in Haiti, having previously indicated that they would not be associating with the rebels.
"CARICOM remains committed to the goal of restoring and nurturing democracy in its newest member state, as well as to social and economic development of the people of Haiti," Mr. Patterson said.
In an apparent endorsement of LaTortue, he said: "He is well known to the regional and international community and highly respected."
The new Prime Minister - who replaces close Aristide-ally, Yvonne Neptune - has already made direct contact and has proposed a visit to Jamaica for discussions prior to the meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts this month.
