By Claude Mills, Staff Reporter OUSTED HAITIAN President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is still vetting his options for permanent exile, even while 45 of his countrymen arrived in the island by boat yesterday .
Nigeria on Monday offered Aristide temporary asylum, but reports yesterday suggested that he would not be taking up the offer. The ex-president's local media liaison, Huntley Medley, said Mr. Aristide had expressed his appreciation for the offer, but said that he was still in consultation with others.
"Because in the final analysis, he would have to make a decision in the best interests of his family," Mr. Medley, told The Gleaner yesterday, responding to reports quoting former Trans-Africa president Randall Robinson that the deposed president would not be accepting Nigeria's hospitality.
The Haitian's polite decline of the offer comes hours behind a late night statement issued on Monday by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson thanking Nigeria for extending asylum.
The new arrivals, including seven children three of them only 10 months old, were picked by fishermen who alerted the coast guard. They were taken to Bowden Wharf in St. Thomas.
There is now concern in Portland about the health implications of housing 179 refugees, and the burden it will place on limited Government resources.
"There is a bit of unrest among the health workers because they were not prepared for the new arrivals. They have to now be thinking what tomorrow or next week will bring in terms of new arrivals," a police officer at the Manchioneal police station said.
In the meantime, residents of Portland who welcomed the first three Haitian boatloads were expressing concern about the recent turn of events.
"The communication in terms of cellular phones by Haitians relaying messages to their friends in Haiti is going to cause a problem," said Patrick Thomas, a resident of Port Antonio.
"These new arrivals are jumping on the bandwagon; they must believe it is a feeding tree here in Jamaica but Jamaicans here are suffering, and the Haitians are being treated better than we are free food, free accommodation, free clothes. How many more will come?" he asked.
Land and Environment Minister Dean Peart said yesterday that arrangements would also be made for the new arrivals to be transferred with the others to Montpelier in St. James this weekend.
"We simply have to do what we must in this crisis," he told The Gleaner.
Mr. Aristide, who was taken from Haiti on February 29, is on a 10-week stay in Jamaica, at a secluded Lydford property, to decide on his final home.
First taken in by the impoverished Central African Republic, overtures have since been made by leaders such as President Hugo Chavez from Venezuela, and Panama's president Mireya Moscoso who said she would 'grant asylum if asked'.
South Africa has said it is not opposed in principle to taking in Aristide, but had not received any formal asylum request.
"The unfolding situation will determine the exact timing of any option to be exercised," Mr. Patterson said in his statement Monday.
Mr. Medley said that it 'was entirely possible that Mr. Aristide could leave the island' long before the 10 weeks are up.
Contributions by Gareth Davis and Monique Hepburn
