Kingston
Haiti’s exiled president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, flew to the Caribbean from Africa this week after Jamaica offered him temporary asylum. Aristide said the Haitian people needed him nearby. “I cannot forget their suffering,” he said. The Bush administration warned that Aristide’s presence 150 miles from Haiti could “complicate the situation” and spur violent demonstrations demanding his return. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue immediately cut off relations with Jamaica, calling their hosting of Aristide “an unfriendly act.” K.D. Knight, Jamaica’s foreign minister, said the visit was merely a brief reunion with Aristide’s two daughters, who sought refuge in the U.S. as rebels threatened the Haitian capital. Knight said Jamaica would not serve as a “launching pad” for Aristide to regain power.
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