At the request of exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, arrangements are being made for his travel and accommodation in Jamaica early next week, according to a statement yesterday by Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson.

"Mr. Aristide has expressed a wish to return temporarily to the Caribbean with his wife and to be reunited with their two young children who are currently in the United States," said Prime Minister Patterson, according to the statement released by the CARICOM Communication Unit in Georgetown.

"We have communicated our decision to our CARICOM colleagues," Patterson noted, "and to the governments who were originally involved in working together to seek a solution to the Haitian crisis,"

"I want to emphasise," he said, "that Mr. Aristide is not seeking political asylum in Jamaica. His stay in Jamaica is not expected to be in excess of eight to ten weeks. He is engaged in finalising arrangements for permanent residence outside of the Region." Aristide is presently in the Central African Republic. He has charged that he was kidnapped by the US and flown to the African republic as rebels threatened to overrun the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. The United States has denied Aristide's charge. Haiti now has a new President and Prime Minister.

The statement added that CARICOM remains committed to the goal of restoring and nurturing democracy in its newest member state, Haiti, as well as to the social and economic development of its people.

Meanwhile, Haiti's interim Prime Minister, Gerard LaTortue has already been in contact with the Jamaican Prime Minister and proposes to visit that country for discussions prior to the meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis later this month. The statement also noted that LaTortue who is well known to the regional and international community and well respected was chosen by a specially selected 'Council of Wise Persons', charged with steering the Caribbean country toward political stability.