From left Minister of Foreign Affairs, K.D. Knight, Jean-Bertrand Aristide ousted Haitian President.
-File photosTHE JAMAICAN Government has warned exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide that it will not tolerate any attempt to topple the new Government of his former home.
But Haiti's new Prime Minister Gerard LaTorture said yesterday that Mr. Aristide's planned return to the Caribbean could destabilise the country.
Wire reports quote the new PM as having advised Jamaica's Prime Minister Patterson that bringing Mr. Arisitde so close to home was considered "an unfriendly act."
At the same time the United States Embassy in Kingston says it is hoping the upcoming visit of the deposed leader this weekend will be consistent with CARICOM's official commitment to restoring democracy to its newest member state.
Addressing journalists at a media briefing yesterday, K.D. Knight, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said that Jamaica's position was outlined to Mr. Aristide prior to agreeing to next week's visit.
"It has been made very clear that Jamaica must not be used as a launching pad to further any desire to be reinstated in Haiti," Mr. Knight said.
Pressed on the Government's options in the event that Mr. Aristide reneges on the agreement that there will be no "political involvement" during his stay, Minister Knight hinted that the former President could see himself booted out of the country.
"He is a guest of the nation and, in the event that the rules of the host are not recognised, then the host has a choice," Mr. Knight said, noting that there were other nations in the region willing to host Mr. Aristide.
Adding that the former Haitian leader was free to pursue that reinstatement outside of Jamaica, Mr. Knight noted that the "ground rules" were laid out in discussions with both Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and himself.
"Jamaica does not want its territory to be used for such a purpose," he said.
The Foreign Minister's statements came a day after Prime Minister Patterson who is also CARICOM chairman announced that the former Haitian President will be coming to Jamaica for a two-month visit. In an immediate response, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga called the visit unwise and suggested that the arrival could precede an attempt to overthrow the new Haitian Government.
The Prime Minister had indicated that the visit was organised after Mr. Aristide expressed a wish to return temporarily to the Caribbean with his wife, Mildred, and reunite with their two young children who are currently in Miami, Florida, US.
Yesterday, Minister Knight indicated that Mr. Aristide would be accompanied by his wife, his five and seven-year-old daughters, and one other individual. Security, provided by the Jamaican Government, will be the only charge on the state purse.
"I suspect that he (Aristide) will be enjoying the country side and doing some shopping," the Foreign Minister quipped while discussing Mr. Aristide's expected activities while on the island.
Minister Knight noted that it was not the first time Jamaica has hosted an ousted Haitian president. Research, he said, indicated that the country has been visited by 13 past Haitian leaders, the most recent being General Paul Magloire in 1956.
Commenting on the new Haitian Government, Minister Knight noted that Prime Minister LaTortue will be arriving in Jamaica either today or tomorrow, but stressed that it was not an indication that Jamaica or CARICOM had decided to recognise that country's new regime.
"CARICOM will make that decision at the Intersessional meeting to be held in St. Kitts later this month," he said.
