Aristide meets Jamaican PM

2004-03-18 10:45

Kingston - Former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide on Wednesday promised Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson to stay out of politics during his stay in Jamaica, an Aristide spokesperson said.

At a meeting with Patterson, Aristide brought the premier up to speed on "the progress he has been making for the eventual relocation of his family, of himself, his imminent reunion with his children," said spokesperson Huntley Medley.

"He said he wanted to assure the people of Jamaica that he will never use the kind opportunity provided by his brothers and sisters here in Jamaica to do anything that is political or that could hinder the process of peace in his country of Haiti."

The presence in Jamaica of Aristide - who left power on February 29 and fled to the Central African Republic - has unsettled transitional authorities in Haiti, from which Aristide claims he was abducted by the United States with French support.

Washington has said he departed willingly and signed a resignation letter after half the country was overrun by rebels in an uprising that left about 300 people dead.

They are not hostages

Aristide and his wife "are not hostages, they are guests here," said Medley. "Hence, they are by no means restricted in what they want to do. And what they want to do is entirely up to them; the Government has not planned an itinerary."

A populist former priest, Aristide and his wife are staying in Lydford, St. Anne parish, at a property owned by the Jamaican government. They are awaiting a visit with their daughters here.

Jamaica offered Aristide up to 10 weeks temporary asylum, angering both the United States and the interim Haitian government.

- AFP