By Bill Quigley, Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, counsel for Pere Jean-Juste assisting lead lawyer Mario Joseph of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti,

www.ijdh.org.

Phone number in Haiti 011.509.401.4822 or duprestars@msn.com

I visited with Pere Jean-Juste this afternoon in Carrefour prison. He is in excellent spirits and very hopeful that he will be released Monday or Tuesday. Apparently, the judge's order to release him still has to be approved by another official. That request will be made first thing Monday.

We visited on a wooden bench in a bare concrete room in the prison. He was wearing sandals, the same sport shirt and pants I have seen him in each of the other times we visited, and a pink rosary around his neck. While we talked, sweat rolled down his face and he swatted away flies, but he laughed often and smiled the rest of the time. He says the rosary with the other prisoners, but the authorities will not let him say mass for them.

Fr. Gerry said: "I thank everyone. Keep the pressure on. There is hope release is coming soon. Stay awake! It could be Monday, it could be Tuesday, or sometime this week. I look forward to seeing the people of my parish and I hope to see my friends in Florida soon. Praise be to God almighty!"

Fr. Gerry asked me to send out a special message to the children who were shot by the police during his arrest: "To the children who were shot - thank you very much for your letter and prayers. I have been praying for you too. I hope your wounds are healed by now. Sorry I could not answer you by letter for reasons of security in this prison. Keep up the good work and I shall see you soon. A lot of love."

Fr. Jean-Juste is anxious to get back to work with the people in his parish. When he is finally released he is planning to go to his parish for a big celebration and mass. He hopes to make a short visit to Miami soon after being released and is open to do a longer visit in the US and speaking tour later, after he has made arrangements for a priest to help out with his parish.

So, for all who support Fr. Gerry and the rest of the political prisoners in Haiti, as he asks us, KEEP UP THE PRESSURE! US Embassy in Haiti is 011.509.223.7011. Peace.