Former Haitian Pres. Jean- Bertrand Aristide may be considering a change in venue – from exile in South Africa to his homeland Haiti – now that political changes are underway in the U.S.
Former Haitian Pres. Jean-Bertrand Aristide may be considering a change in venue – from exile in South Africa to his homeland Haiti – now that political changes are underway in the U.S.
Four years ago, Aristide was removed from power and taken to the Central African Republic, reportedly at gunpoint – and from there to exile in South Africa – when U.S. officials said they could not guarantee his safety in Haiti.
Caribbean leaders held a two-day emergency meeting in Jamaica on Aristide’s forced removal but failed to take action.
Renewed support for the Haitian leader was in evidence this month when thousands of Haitians demonstrated in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the country’s second largest city, Cap-Haitien, on the 18th anniversary of Aristide’s first election as president.
Aristide–often called “the little priest”–has said he would shun politics if he were allowed to return and would instead serve Haiti as a private citizen. Aristide, 55, has lived in Pretoria with his wife Mildred and two daughters since May 2004. Special to the NNPA from GIN
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