By Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
A Jamaica Defence Force pilot speaks with former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide (centre) after his arrival yesterday at Norman Manley International Airport.
OUSTED HAITIAN President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his wife, Mildred, have taken up residence at the secluded and heavily guarded Lydford Park Great House, where they are expected to stay over the next two months.
The couple were flown by Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) helicopter into Lydford at approximately 2:30 p.m. yesterday.
Two JDF helicopters flew into Lydford Park with the larger one landing on the lawns of the great house while the other hovered in the air for about five minutes before landing.
There was a strong presence of heavily armed JDF personnel in the area, some of whom have been guarding the property since last week.
The Lydford Great House, located within the gated upscale Lydford Park Housing Estate, was initially developed for senior executives of the Reynolds Jamaica Mines Bauxite Company.
The great house was once used as the home of the general manager of Reynolds up to the time the bauxite company ceased operation in the 1980s.
The property is about two miles from the populated Golden Grove community and overlooks several acres of open land, including old mined-out bauxite lands.
Residents in the area told The Gleaner that they had no idea that the former president of Haiti was being brought there but said they became suspicious over the past week because of the frequent movement of JDF personnel in the area.
At the nearby Lydford Park Preparatory School, teachers admitted that they were informed sometime last week to expect a heavy security presence but were assured that it was nothing for them to worry about.
Yesterday, there were two armed JDF soldiers at the gates to the estate who were only allowing authorised vehicles onto the property. They also requested and conducted a search of The Gleaner reporter.
For most of yesterday, there were regular movements of security vehicles in and out of the property but no sign of any government officials or the former president who is believed to be resting inside the four bedroom, two-floor building.
Meanwhile, residents of Lydford and Golden Grove say they are not too concerned about the heavy security presence in the area because they feel safe with so many soldiers moving around.
At about 6:00 p.m. another JDF helicopter landed at the great house but The Gleaner was unable to ascertain the identity of those travelling in the aircraft.
Shortly afterwards, two members of the Universal African Improvement Association arrived at the gate with the expectation of meeting the former president but were immediately turned away by soldiers.
Co-ordinator of the group, Dr. Rahu Imhotep Kametda, said he had visited the Haitian refugees in Portland and was hoping to speak with Mr. Aristide.
"We see Haitians as brothers and we are still hoping that we will be able to speak with Mr. Aristide while he is here on the island," he said.
