Dominican Republic Partially Reopens Haitian Border Crossing But Under Strict Military Control

SANTO DOMINIGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominica Republic has announced plans for a partial reopening of some border crossing with Haiti on Wednesday, but under strict military control.

Spokesperson for the Dominican Republic government, Homero Figueroa.The two countries make up the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, but late last month, the Dominican Republic closed its land, air and sea borders with Haiti as the two nations continue to be at odds over the construction of an irrigation canal.

Water from the canal comes from the Massacre River which flows between the two countries.

The spokesperson for the Dominican Republic government, Homero Figueroa, speaking following a meeting of the National Security Council on Monday, said reopening of the border under strict military control will be on Wednesday October 11 from 8:00 am (local time) and that there would also be an indefinite extension of the suspension of the issuance of visas to Haitian citizens.

In addition, the Dominican Republic announced the activation of a fund from the Development and Export Bank (Bandex) to finance a vast agricultural mechanization program in order to reduce the hiring of illegal Haitian workers.

The Spanish-speaking country will also strengthen the militarization of the border to make access to its territory even more difficult for gang members fleeing the upcoming arrival of a multinational force in Haiti.

It will also maintain the closure of the border to immigration indefinitely, to prevent the transit of people coming from Haitian territory as well as banning the export to Haiti of electronic products, cement, iron rebar and other construction materials.

Figueroa said there would also be the establishment of Provisional Trade Corridors (PTC), with strict military control measures and mandatory biometric registration, in the provinces of Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia and Pedernales to facilitate trade in essential Dominican products such as food and medications, especially for infants.
”These measures will continue to be the new norm at the border until Haiti returns to normal governance,” Figueroa said, noting that the measures will be applied from Friday October 13 at 6:00 am )local time).

But the Haitian government is reported as an outcome to the border closure that an outcome will only be acceptable if the Dominican Republic allows the equitable sharing of water resources, the normalization of relations and the complete return to the movement of people and goods of both sides, as was the case between the two Republics before the unilateral closure of September 15.

Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media show Haitians crossing on foot to uncontrolled border areas to buy Dominican products and resell them on the Haitian market.

According to official figures, more than half of what Haitians consume comes from the Dominican Republic.