"The Miami office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently seen an increase in the number of American citizens who have been kidnapped while visiting Haiti," said Supervisory Special Agent Liz Santamaría. The FBI office in Miami reports a "marked increase in the number of kidnappings reported to the agency, 300% for the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year."

Although the FBI's warning is recent, remember that the US State Department had maintained for the 3rd consecutive year Haiti in maximum alert level 4 : "Do not travel to Haiti" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38977-haiti-flash-the-usa-maintains-haiti-in-maximum-level-4-alert-do-not-travel-to-haiti.html

Following the FBI's warning, "Caribbean International" is strengthening its monitoring of the situation with regard to cruise stops in Labadie, its private port in Haiti, a peninsula far from the violence of Port-au-Prince.

"Our security teams continue to monitor the situation in the area and are working closely with authorities to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests and crew, who remain our top priority," a spokesperson for "Royal Caribbean" "We will communicate directly with our customers and let them know if any changes become necessary."

IH/ iciHaiti