On the afternoon of April 13th (day 2), I was able to talk to my wife for the first time since being kidnapped the day before. She was understandably quite emotional.

The first day of my captivity, I was told by the other captives (some had been in for over thirty days) that I would eventually get to make a phone call. For Haitians, that phone call was typically to a family member. The family would then need to appoint a negotiator.

I was kidnapped in Haiti on April 12th, 2023, and held for 43 days. I was beaten, tortured, and terrorized. I escaped for about 8 hours but only made it about a mile before I was recaptured by a neighboring gang and returned to my cell. It was terrible. I lost about 50 pounds before being released on May 24th

"Like squeezing blood from a stone," Haitian leaders have been trying to move their country forward for decades.

This article does not seek to diagnose the root cause of Haiti’s economic concerns. Rather, it seeks to assert a remedy to address the Haitian Government’s long term dependence on foreign assistance.

Humanitarian Aid is good but not if the economy doesn’t keep pace with population growth.

Imagine a country where the whispers of history blend with the rhythms of Caribbean waves; where resilience is not just a word, but a lived experience. This is Haiti – a land often portrayed through the lens of its struggles, yet pulsating with untapped potential. In this narrative of rebirth and transformation, there lies an unexpected hero: the burgeoning tech services sector.

Our thesis is clear and grounded in pragmatic analysis: aiding Haiti in its development is not merely a charitable endeavor but a strategic necessity for the U.S.

Christiansen sites the trillions in foreign aid that have been spent with less than inspiring results and argues that money could be better spent. The $13 billion Haiti has received since 2010 has produced disappointing results.

[Update: This article was initially published January of 2023. Since then security in Haiti has descended to a point that makes all areas of development extremely difficult. This fact makes security the priority for development in Haiti. The points explored in this article will regain relevance once ‘Level 1 Security’ (major supply routes and adjacent police stations are reopened) is achieved.]

Recent (post assassination) foreign policy statements from U.S. Officials have been widely condemned. Some demanding greater involvement in solving Haiti’s many issues and some demanding the opposite. I am here to both defend the wisdom of recent U.S. Policy positions, as well as advocate for the opportunity I see that awaits them.