After battling diseases in Haiti, this doctor is now fighting for his kidnapped son
He led Haiti’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic after cutting its death rate from waterborne cholera by more than 50 percent. Now, Dr. Jean William Bill Pape has become a victim of his country’s vicious cycle of gang violence and kidnappings.
Dr. Pape’s son, Douglas, was abducted on Nov. 28 near his coffee farm in the mountains of Belot, above Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital. Nearly two months after he and another man were abducted by four men at gunpoint, the 33-year-old agronomist remains captive.
A video sent by his captors last month showed the young man being beaten and psychologically tortured, according to those who have seen it.
Nothing is working, Father Richard Frechette, a Roman Catholic priest and medical doctor in Haiti, said in an open letter, requesting the help of the international community in securing Douglas Pape’s freedom. It is over 30 days of degrading captivity, of death threats with videos of abuse by his kidnappers, and with three failed ransoms.
The next step, Frechette said, is the closing of GHESKIO, the renowned HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis research organization that Pape founded in 1982 and has continued to run even though one of its sites is across from a known gang-controlled kidnapping lair.
Staff members, Frechette said, are thinking, If this can happen to Dr. Pape’s own son, what is our own security?
Fear for themselves and their families, heavy mental distraction and anxiety, and the inability to focus on their vital tasks as the GHESKIO team makes it impossible for them to continue, he wrote, noting the serious risk for AIDS and tuberculosis patients if the facility were to shut its doors.
On Wednesday, GHESKIO employees and members of the community who benefit from its health services launched a second day of protests. They demanded the release of the young Pape without conditions. The day before, protesters were joined by many of the 360 students enrolled at a school run by the organization, along with Dr. Pape. As the crowd held placards, Pape addressed them with a bullhorn.
People have claimed that I made money treating cholera and COVID cases. Everyone knows that I was helping; I never received a cent for the work I’ve done in the country, he said. As a thank you, they kidnapped my child who was working in agriculture.
More than 20,000 patients are currently followed at GHESKIO and receive their treatments, said the staff in a letter directed to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, citing Pape’s impressive resume. They recounted the thousands who were treated underneath tents after the 2010 earthquake.
Since the ordeal began, Pape has garnered support from various organizations, including the Haitian Medical Association Abroad and the National Academies of Medicine. They have reached out to the Haitian prime minister and ambassadors of the U.S., France, and Canada to take action.
Haiti has seen a spike in kidnappings, with almost 3,000 cases reported last year, according to the United Nations. Victims are often held for longer periods and subjected to abuse. The police, in some instances, have managed to free hostages, but in most cases, it’s the payment of exorbitant ransoms that secures the release of loved ones.
For Haitian nationals, the situation is more complex. Without the support of local embassies or specialized negotiators like the FBI for U.S. citizens, they often have to rely on their own resources.
The Haitian government, in an effort to combat kidnappings, has vowed not to pay ransoms and has offered the services of the police. However, its ability to tackle the issue is limited due to the control of certain neighborhoods by armed gangs and the lack of experienced negotiators.
In the case of Douglas Pape, his father’s reputation and the GHESKIO organization are not enough to ensure his safe return. It is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Haiti’s populace amidst the cycle of violence and insecurity.
As the international community and local activists continue to pressure the government to take decisive action, the fate of Dr. Pape’s son hangs in the balance. The hope is that his release will not only bring relief to his family but also shed light on the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to Haiti’s kidnapping crisis.
