Ja: Venezuela here he comes?

JEAN-BERTRAND Aristide, the ousted former Haitian President, could depart Jamaica sooner than planned, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said yesterday.

Mr. Aristide and his wife Mildred arrived in Jamaica on March 15 for an eight to 10 week visit to re-unite with their two young daughters and to make arrangements for permanent asylum in another country.

Yesterday, Mr. Patterson who was addressing journalists during a press conference at his Jamaica House office, said arrangements for permanent asylum for the Aristides were close to being finalised.

"The arrangements are far advanced for his place of permanent residence," the Prime Minister said. "If that materialises his visit could be shorter than eight to 10 weeks. I can't say how much shorter."

Although he is part of the discussions to find a permanent home for Mr. Aristide, Mr. Patterson would not be drawn on where he is headed, although speculations are still rife that the ex-president's next place of abode will be South Africa.