Catholics in Haiti call for national strike over violence, kidnappings Kidnappings for ransom by armed gangs have increased in the Caribbean nation Updated: April 16, 2021 05:11 AM GMT Trending A protester runs from a fire during a demonstration in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Feb. 14. (Photo: AFP) In response to recent kidnappings of clergy and religious in Haiti and growing anarchy in the Caribbean nation, Catholic schools, churches and other entities called for a national strike on April 15. "The violence has reached a high point -- we see that this is the deepest point ever reached in this country and we cannot go deeper," said Fiammetta Cappellini, Haiti-based country representative for the Milan-based AVSI, told Catholic News Service by phone April 14.