Ja: Kidnap victim free to roam

Huntley Medley, the former press secretary for Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who has been assigned Mr. Aristide's media liaison officer, told The Gleaner yesterday that Mr. Aristide was "in very good spirits."

"He thanked the Government and people of Jamaica for agreeing to his request to stay for a short time," Mr. Medley said. "He also thanked the Government of the Central African Republic for the hospitality there."

How is it that Aristide was under guard in Bangui and yet was able to request that Jamaica put him up for a space? How is it that his jailers in Bangui let the kidnapped one escape?