Expensive bed and board ...

Press, 28 February 1986, Page 6

Expensive bed and board ...

NZPA-Reuter Paris The ousted Haitian dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, is estimated to have spent well over half a million francs ($132,000) for food and lodging since starting his forced stay in a luxury French hotel 3 weeks ago. Jean Tiffenat, owner of the the four-star I’Abbaye hotel, in the Alpine resort of Tallolres, said Mr Duvalier had paid his bills regularly with credit cards.

“Baby Doc,” his wife, Michele, their four children and other close relatives were occupying only five rooms of the converted monastery but were paying for about 25. • The heavily-guarded hotel was closed on Government orders to all other guests when Mr Duvalier arrived on February 7 after fleeing Haiti aboard a United States

Air Force plane. “Like our usual clients, I suppose he is on a holiday of sorts, even though he can’t leave the building,” Mr Tiffenat said.

“I can’t tell you the exact amount but he is paying the normal amount charged to ail our guests. There are no surcharges or discounts.” Rooms at the exclusive I’Abbaye, on the eastern shore of Lake Annecy, cost an average of 700 francs ($185) a night. Full meals in the muchpraised restaurant start around 500 francs (about $130).

Hoteliers in Tallolres estimate that the fallen dictator is paying up to 30,000 francs ($8000) a night for himself and family. Mr Duvalier, who arrived in France with a 22member entourage, has

spent the time since then confined in rooms previously used by several American Presidents, the Aga Khan, and a host of film stars. French officials, who have repeatedly said they want Mr Duvalier out of the country, say taxpayers have not footed any of his bills.

Mr Duvalier and his late father, Francois, are accused by the new Haitian Government of spiriting up to SUS6OO million ($ll4O million) out of the country during the dynasty’s 28-year rule. Much of the money is reported to be in Swiss banks, just across the border from Talloires. Mr Duvalier has defied French pressure to force him to leave the country by filing for refugee status and beginning court action again against the Government; objecting to

confinement in the hotel and lack of free movement.

Legal sources said the case was due to have gone before a Paris court yesterday but was postponed at the last minute. Monday has been set tentatively for the hearing.

Mr Tiffenat has also started legal action to try to get Mr Duvalier out of his hotel, saying his stay was upsetting preparations for the busy summer season.

“He wants to get out and I want him out Our points of view are different but our aims are identical,” Mr Tiffenat said.

In Washington the Reagan Administration said yesterday it was resuming aid to Haiti that had been suspended because of human rights abuses by Mr Duvalier’s regime.

The Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, said Haiti’s new National Governing Council had made a “radical break with the Duvalier past” in human rights and democracy. The finding means the release of aid totalling nearly SUS 26 million ($49.4 million) this year.

United States aid was suspended last year and early this year because Washington was unable to certify to Congress that human rights in Haiti were improving, as required by United States law.

The law also requires an Administration statement that Haiti has shown willingness to co-operate to prevent illegal emigration to the United States and to co-operate on U.S. development programmes in the country. Mr Shultz’s message to Congress gave assurances in both areas.