Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
December 16, 2021 | Press Releases
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement following news reports that the remaining missionaries from Christian Aid Ministries, a Millersburg, Ohio, based missionary organization, were released from captivity in Haiti. The missionaries were detained 62 days ago by an armed gang while conducting missionary work near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“As Christian Aid Ministries said just a short time ago, today our prayers have been answered. Today’s release of the remaining is a relief and welcome news, especially during the holiday season. I commend the FBI, State Department and other federal partners for their efforts to help secure their release.
“As I’ve highlighted in the past, kidnapping in Haiti is all-too common. I will continue to press the administration to develop a whole-of-government approach to address this problem. But today is a day for celebration and a safe return of these missionaries to their families.”
NOTE: In October, Senator Portman’s amendment to the Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act was unanimously accepted. The amendment calls for “an assessment of U.S. interagency efforts to counter kidnapping and armed violence in Haiti.” Portman spoke with numerous officials at the Justice Department and State Department on this issue, and will continue to push them to do more to secure the release of all the hostages. Last month, Senator Portman spoke with Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. Assistant Secretary Nichols assured Senator Portman that he was personally involved in the recovery efforts, stating that he is in contact with our embassy in Port-au-Prince every day.
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