By Leonardo Blair, Staff ReporterTHE CONTROVERSIAL ouster of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will be back on the agenda at a meeting at the headquarters of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington D.C. today.
Delegates of the Permanent Council of the OAS were initially scheduled to meet last Friday to begin the probe into Mr. Aristide's ouster but they were unable to decide on a mutually convenient time.
Yesterday, in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Minister K.D. Knight said that the meeting will be held today.
SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS
Minister Knight explained that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Aristide's controversial departure, if left unchecked, could have serious implications for the democracies of the region.
"We (CARICOM) remain concerned about the lingering political and constitutional issues and believe that the circumstances of February 29 must be fully investigated," the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister said.
After his February 29 departure from Haiti, Mr. Aristide claimed that he was forced to leave his country by the United States. The United States has repeatedly denied the claim.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), led by outgoing chairman P.J. Patterson, however, submitted a request to the chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS to investigate the matter.
Mr. Aristide will soon be leaving Jamaica for South Africa while 60 of his countrymen, who arrived here by boat during weeks of civil riots in their homeland, will be repatriated.
"... I want to inform this Honourable House that we have heard from the Government of South Africa and there is a clear understanding that Mr. Aristide will depart from Jamaica to South Africa," Mr. Knight told Parliament yesterday.
"We are currently engaged in working out the transportation arrangements for a smooth transition and later this week an announcement will be made as to the date Mr. Aristide will depart from Jamaica," he added.
Mr. Aristide's eight-to-ten-week stay in Jamaica officially ended on Monday.
Since his March 15 arrival, he has been staying at the Government-owned Lydford Park Great House in Lydford, St. Ann.
