Freed At Last

A television news producer, who works for Wyclef Jean's Telemax TV station in Haiti,was released from a kidnapping last Sunday ( December 3rd). The ransom for the producer was $250,000.


One of The kidnappers who goes by the name of " The Commander," said he released the news producer do to his respect for Wyclef's rebuilding efforts in the country, which is the poorest in the Western hemisphere.

Wyclef and his Yele Haiti program traveled to Haiti on Nov. 30 with the United Nations' World Food Programme agency, to present a one-week festival to promote artistic and cultural development in Haiti.

Shortly after Wyclef landed, Bidthlerson Brutus was abducted at gunpoint, becoming the latest victim in a string of kidnappings for ransom in Port-au-Prince

The kidnappings usually involve children and have become the largest security threat in Haiti.

Brutus was abducted by gunmen on Thursday, Nov. 30, in front of his house, which is near the headquarters of Telemax in Port-au-Prince.

The gunmen demanded $250,000 for Brutus' safe release.

Later in the evening, Wyclef performed in front of 20,000 fans and pleaded for Brutus' safe return and called for an end to the kidnappings in order for the Haitian economy to develop.

SOS Journalistes-Haiti, a news media network in Haiti, negotiated Brutus' release.


"I don’t like what I’m doing, but I don’t think I have an alternative for the time being," said the Commander, who has three children himself. "Sometimes I really want to stop...I wish I could have a normal life. We also have feelings."

However, the kidnappings continue in Haiti.

Yesterday (Dec. 13), gunmen abducted 10 children in Port-au-Prince after hijacking a school bus and a car in a series of daylight assaults.

Police are still seeking the captors and have yet to determine the exact number of children that were taken from the school bus.

Prior to Wednesday's incidents, 10 children have been reported as kidnapped since November.

Two were killed by their captors.

According to reports, Wyclef Jean plans to continue his work to help rebuild Haiti's economy.