Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas confirmed that a long-time Haitian employee serving the Embassy of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in Port-au-Prince, had been kidnapped Friday, September 2nd, 2022 by armed men. He indicated that the kidnapping had been reported to the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and was under investigation "Our prayers are with the victim and his family for a safe and rapid return. We help the authorities as far as we can."

The kidnapping happened around 6:00 a.m. when the employee went to the ATM in his neighborhood and was kidnapped on his way home according to reports from the family.

The victim's family is in talks with the kidnappers to negotiate his release, according to Minister Mitchell, who clarified that the Government of the Bahamas was not involved in these negotiations.

The Minister recalled that the Embassy includes 11 Haitian employees and 6 diplomatic staff including Commander Godfrey Rolle who has been tasked with advising the Minister on security conditions in Haiti and making recommendations for withdrawal if deemed necessary.

Mitchell asked Commander Godfrey Rolle to tell him when he thought it safe for us to get out of the country "at the moment he doesn't think so."

Following this consultation the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas indicated that the Government had not issued an order for the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel, but that the diplomats were free to return home if they wished.

"We are going to strengthen our security measures, I am thinking of additional officers from the Royal Bahamas Defense Forces and probably an increase in weapons as well are the measures we are taking" adding "We have a lot of Haitians, or Bahamian-Haitians , or however designated, who live in the Bahamas. We also have a migrant problem. It would not be appropriate for us to close our Embassy and have no further contact with the Haitian Government on the ground when we have all of these factors at play."

Image thumbnail : Embassy of the Bahamas in Haiti, Minister Fred Mitchell

S/ HaitiLibre