JAMAICA up to last night was yet to receive correspondence from Haiti's interim prime minister, Gerard Latortue, on Port-au-Prince's plans to resume diplomatic relations with Kingston, a government source said.

Radio Jamaica reported yesterday evening that Haiti was preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Jamaica and would be sending a new ambassador to Kingston.

But the Observer source said the foreign ministry has not been informed about such a decision. "Mr Latortue believes diplomacy can be conducted in the media," said the government source.

Latortue withdrew Haiti's ambassador to Jamaica in March to protest against Prime Minister P J Patterson's decision to grant temporary asylum to the ousted Haitian president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The interim Haitian leader who also froze relations with the Caribbean Community, of which it is a member, said Jamaica's decision was a bad one.

Aristide, who was forced out on February 29, left Jamaica last Sunday for South Africa. He, however, vowed to return home when stability returns to the poor Caribbean nation.

The fear factor

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS