Haitian bishop says time to move away from Aristide regime

Published: 2004-07-15

JACMEL, Haiti (CNS) -- The vice president of the Haitian bishops' conference said it was time for the country to move away from the regime of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Bishop Guire Poulard of Jacmel, who in recent months has called for the arrests of leaders of Aristide's Lavalas party, criticized the 15-member Caribbean Community, known as Caricom, for its refusal to recognize the U.S.-backed interim government. "Many of the Caricom leaders are corrupt," Bishop Poulard told Haitian media, without offering details. "It is time for the government to turn a new page." Caricom has refused to recognize the interim government and instead has questioned the circumstances surrounding Aristide's departure. In contrast with others in the Haitian bishops' conference who have largely kept silent since the Feb. 29 departure of Aristide, Bishop Poulard's comments were the latest in a series of criticisms against the former president's government and supporters.

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