By: Staff Writer
October 22, 2021
A Haitian political activist is calling for a “strong and immediate” response by the Haitian government on the kidnapping of 17 American and Canadian missionaries by the 400 Mawozo gang last weekend.
Jude Elie, president of political action group Sove Lone, told Caribbean Magazine Plus, “The escalation of violence as well as the blatant disregard for the authorities has gone too far in Haiti. The latest spate of kidnappings added to the bold prevention of a time honoured tradition, Dessalines Day, demands a strong and immediate response from the Haitian government.
“The daily violence against the population of Martissant and Croix des Bouquets compounded by the blocking of entrances to the capital has brought about the unmitigated rise in food prices.
“These continued acts of terrorism are exasperating an already impoverished population, while suffering, hunger and stress related diseases are destroying whole families.
“This needs to be stopped by all means possible.”
Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel told CNN the kidnappers have demanded a total of $17m for the group’s release and that they were being held in a location outside the suburb.
The missionaries are affiliated with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, which says the abducted group is made up of five men, seven women and five children.
The five children abducted include an 8-month-old baby and children ages 3, 6, 13 and 15 years old, Christian Aid Ministries said in a Tuesday statement. The ages of the adults range from 18 to 48, they said.
Quitel said that both Haitian police negotiators and the FBI are advising the missionary group on how to proceed and that negotiations are ongoing. FBI agents are on the ground in Haiti assisting with the investigation but are not leading the negotiations, nor have they spoken directly with the kidnappers, he said.
“The FBI is part of a coordinated US government effort to get the Americans involved to safety. Due to operational considerations, no further information is available at this time,” an FBI spokesperson told CNN.
Mr Elie added: “The return of Law and Order will not only begin to alleviate the hunger and suffering of the capital’s population but also pave the way for free and fair elections.
“We need to return dignity to our people and help them regain their pride as Haitians.”
The country is still reeling from the assassination of their president, Jovenel Moise in early July and a 7.2 earthquake that killed over 2,000 in the country in late August.
Moise’s assassination has left a political void being filled by his last appointed prime minister, Ariel Henry, with the next General Election scheduled for November 7, 2021.
Candidates and hopefuls have not started to line up yet for the job, considering what happened to the post’s immediate past president, but with the country’s instability and still delicate state after the 2021 earthquake, leadership is what the nation needs.