This is a mess! As a Haitian-American i am embarassed and ashamed of my people. We have outgrown slavery, why Haitians have this invisible chains tie at their ankle. We are enslaving each other, and hurting each other, and we can't blame the white man this time, for this mess. how long ago we gained our independence? Then, why are we enslaving each other? For instance, my Dad just past away, last week friday (Dec.15,06) i can't even go to Haiti to assist his funeral. Everyone, are begging me not to come down there it is very bad. it sad that you can't go on vacation, you can't visit your families for emergency reason, etc. What's so alarming is that, the kidnappers (rebels) are vagabonds and poor, their victims are as well poor. And they are asking a ransom from $5000 to $150,000 US Dollars. How unrealistic! Even US middle-class can afford that! The kidnapping situation has veered from a different level of kidnapping to a money making business. For Example, I hear that, if you have already been kidnap, the kidnappers issue you a card, (must carry at all times)that other kidnapping groups can kidnapped you twice. Some Haitain people are so desperate, poor, finiancialy unstable, that kidnapping are their only solution. The Haitian govenement need to recruit, hire new police and place military soldiers on the street 24/7, to help slow down this situation, until it eradicate.