THE GEORGE Bush administration is upset about Jamaica's decision to host Haiti's ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Miami Herald has reported.
In addition, the newspaper quoted U.S. officials as saying that if Aristide's return to the Caribbean from the Central Africa Republic renews bloodshed in Haiti and U.S. troops are harmed, Congress would move that strong actions be taken against Jamaica.
The measures could include a reduction in the provision of non-humanitarian aid to Jamaica.
Contacted yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister, K.D. Knight, said the Jamaican Government had not been informed of any such intentions of the United States Government and added that he would not "speculate" on the matter.
"There is a procedure," he said. "If the United States is taking certain forms of actions then there is a diplomatic channel that it would use, they have a resident ambassador living in Jamaica here, I cannot go by news reports."
The reports had also said the United States was angered by what it calls CARICOM's willingness to believe statements by the deposed president that he was forced to resign and kidnapped by U.S. forces.
An un-named U.S. official was reported to have said, CARICOM's actions over Haiti have damaged its relationship with the United States "a great deal".
Ousted Haitian President Aristide arrived in Jamaica last Monday with his wife Mildred as part of arrangements to meet with his daughters, who were sent to America during the bloody unrest in Haiti.
