Ja: Wishful thinking?

US/Jamaica relations, strained over Kingston's disaffection with the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and its decision to host the ousted Haitian president, have improved in recent weeks and may be on the way to being mended, Prime Minister P J Patterson suggested yesterday.

"The level of discomfort has been diminishing as time has passed, particularly in light of the deportment of Mr Aristide and his family," Patterson said. "...There is no doubt that they would have preferred if he was further away."

The prime minister also said that there was a clearer understanding on the part of the United States and Jamaica of each other's position after a frank meeting a fortnight ago between himself and US ambassador, Sue Cobb. The meeting was at the request of the ambassador and was announced by her, diplomats say, before Patterson was aware of the approach.