Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
A REPORT THAT ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will be leaving Jamaica 'in a few days time', may be premature, according to Huntley Medley, Mr. Aristide's media liaison officer.
Mr. Medley, who has been handling media queries concerning the deposed leader during his stay in Jamaica, told The Gleaner yesterday that while Mr. Aristide was on track to leave Jamaica shortly, a few matters still had to be addressed before he did so.
"I cannot confirm his leaving in a few days time because he is awaiting an official response from South Africa (his intended destination) and whenever that response is received he will need time to prepare for his departure," said Mr. Medley.
Furthermore, he said, Mr. Aristide, having indicated when he arrived in Jamaica on March 15 that he would meet with the local media, intended to deliver on that promise.
"He is aware that there have been several media requests while he has been here, and he has not been able to grant those requests so far, mainly because he has had to focus on arranging for his next destination. He thinks it is proper as a guest of the Jamaican government and people, however, that he speaks to the Jamaican people through the media before he goes," according to Mr. Medley.
10-WEEK TIMEFRAME
He reiterated, however, that Mr. Aristide was well within the 10-week timeframe initially stated for the ousted leader to stay in Jamaica, this being the eighth week.
The Associated Press report out of Guyana on Monday quoted an unnamed 'senior official' of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that Mr. Aristide would depart Jamaica for South Africa where he has requested asylum 'around mid-May, in a few days time'.
The report said South Africa, through Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, had confirmed that Mr. Aristide had asked for asylum until his personal situation 'normalises'.
She reportedly said that she would take the request later this week to the first meeting of the Cabinet appointed since general elections last month. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide departed Haiti for exile in the Central African Republic on February 29, in the face of increasing pressure from rebels who were advancing on the capital, Port-au-Prince, in a bid to oust him from office.
Shortly after his departure, however, he denounced the American troops who flew him out of Haiti, accusing them of forcing him to leave office.
Amidst much controversy, the ousted Leader arrived in Jamaica on March 15 for what the Jamaican Government said would be a stay of eight to 10 weeks, while he sought permanent exile outside of the Region.
"There is no indication that he will go outside of the 10-week period," Mr. Medley added.
Asked whether the former president would be meeting with the Haitian refugees in Jamaica before his departure, Mr. Medley said this was a matter that had to be discussed further before a decision is made.
On that question, Mr. Medley denied that the former Haitian President had turned down a request to meet with the refugees, since, according to him, no such request had been made.
"However, the issue of Haitians having to flee Haiti and come to Jamaica is something that concerns him greatly. And as to whether he will visit them, I'm sure that is one of those things that could be discussed further by him and the Jamaican authorities. His own concerns for his brothers and sisters from Haiti would suggest that it is something that he might discuss further with the Jamaican authorities," Mr. Medley said.
