Aristide says Jamaica has 'nothing to fear' from his stay

by Laura Bonilla

Friday, March 19, 2004

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Ex-Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide assured Thursday that Jamaica has "nothing to fear" from his visit which has caused friction with the new Haitian government.

Aristide's return to the Caribbean has also caused political waves across region and the leaders of St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines rallied to Jamaica's side on Thursday in supporting Aristide, but Barbados is sitting on the sidelines.

Jamaica has refused to immediately recognise the new interim Haiti government, which is supported by the United States and France, because of a dispute over whether Aristide resigned voluntarily and was forced out.

In a statement, Aristide said: "I want peace for Haiti, I want peace for Jamaica, for the Caribbean and all people everywhere. I want to be part of the process of promoting peace."

The former Haitian leader is at a Jamaican government residence where he expects to remain for about 10 weeks. He arrived from the Central African Republic, where he had been since fleeing Haiti February 29 amid an armed uprising.

Aristide had lunch Wednesday with Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson and gave assurances that he would stay out of politics while in Jamaica as he awaits a reunion with his two children.

"I want to assure the people of Jamaica that I would never use the kind hospitality provided by my brothers and sisters here in Jamaica to do anything that is political or that could hinder the process of peace in my beloved country of Haiti," Aristide said following his meeting with Patterson.

Jamaica's government has asked Aristide to avoid direct contact with the press, according to a source close to Aristide.

Aristide claims he was ousted in a coup orchestrated by Washington and supported by France, but the United States says Aristide left voluntarily after resigning.

And his arrival has split Jamaicans. Some believe his presence could harm relations with the United States, while others believe he should be welcomed as a democratically elected leader.

Mark Wignall, a columnist with the Jamaican Daily Observer, wrote: "Patterson is doing the right thing by siding with a political 'brother' from the region. Say what you will, Aristide was elected."

However, security guard Patricia Williams -- patrolling the Port Royal marina - said, "It's not a good image for Jamaica. We want the US to turn against us?"

Others fear Aristide's presence here could prolong the unrest that has plagued its Caribbean neighbor.

Aristide's return to the Caribbean, following a 15-day exile in the Central African Republic, provoked the ire of Haiti's interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, and cast a shadow over Jamaican-Haitian relations.

Across the Caribbean, the prime minister of St Lucia, Kenny Anthony, issued a statement saying he was "deeply disturbed" that Latortue had viewed Jamaica's hospitality as "an unfriendly act."

"The government of St Lucia fully supports the decision of the government of Jamaica," Anthony said.

Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, released a statement saying Latortue's stance was "ill advised" and had been "very disappointing."

Barbados Foreign Minister Billie Miller said his country would not take a stance on the controversy ahead of the next meeting of the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Jamaica has said it does not yet recognise Haiti's new government as it has not been acknowledged by Caricom, which is due to meet at St Kitts and Nevis on March 25-26.

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