Ja: Ey! Aristide! Yuh time runnin' out!

A REPORT THAT ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will be leaving Jamaica 'in a few days time', may be premature, according to Huntley Medley, Mr. Aristide's media liaison officer.

Mr. Medley, who has been handling media queries concerning the deposed leader during his stay in Jamaica, told The Gleaner yesterday that while Mr. Aristide was on track to leave Jamaica shortly, a few matters still had to be addressed before he did so.

"I cannot confirm his leaving in a few days time because he is awaiting an official response from South Africa (his intended destination) and whenever that response is received he will need time to prepare for his departure," said Mr. Medley.

Furthermore, he said, Mr. Aristide, having indicated when he arrived in Jamaica on March 15 that he would meet with the local media, intended to deliver on that promise.

"He is aware that there have been several media requests while he has been here, and he has not been able to grant those requests so far, mainly because he has had to focus on arranging for his next destination. He thinks it is proper as a guest of the Jamaican government and people, however, that he speaks to the Jamaican people through the media before he goes," according to Mr. Medley.
...
He reiterated, however, that Mr. Aristide was well within the 10-week timeframe initially stated for the ousted leader to stay in Jamaica, this being the eighth week.

What a gentle reminder Jamaica has issued to Aristide.