BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has come out in strong condemnation of the kidnapping of the father of the Federation’s Honorary Consul to Haiti.
Word broke early on Monday (Apr. 17) morning that the Federation’s Deputy Honorary Consul, Mr. Harold Marzouka, was kidnapped at gunpoint whilst reportedly driving through the Delmas community in Port-au-Prince - Capital of the French-speaking country.
“The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is outraged by the kidnapping by alleged gangsters of Mr. Harold Marzouka, the father of the Honorary Consul of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Harold Marzouka, Jr, based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Government was further informed that the Consulate's official vehicle was also seized,” the statement read.
The statement continued: “The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis expresses outright condemnation of this and other cowardly acts which lawless agents in Haiti continue to indiscriminately utilise to terrorise Haitian citizens and residents alike.
“The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is deeply concerned about the safety of Mr. Marzouka and hopes that he will be returned to his home and loved ones soon. It is the Government’s wish that the Marzouka family will find solace in the fact that the Government and people of Saint Kitts and Nevis stand in solidarity with them at this undoubtedly traumatic time.”
Meanwhile, the Government is calling upon those “who are bent on committing these criminal and heinous undertakings to cease the violence”.
Kidnapping has been on the rise in Haiti which has been in civil turmoil in recent years as a result of earthquakes and storm damage.
The French-speaking nation has seen the assassination of its former President, Jovenel Moise, and, according to media reports, there was the recent kidnapping of Haitian-Americans Jean-Dickens Toussaint and Abigail Michael Toussaint.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has also reiterated its appeal to “international partners for short-term assistance to address the security and humanitarian crises” in Haiti.
