Haiti sectors question Dominican Republic´s aid

Santo Domingo.- Sectors of Haitian society onFriday criticized Dominican Republic´s aid to Haiti in the aftermath of thedamage in that country by Hurricane Matthew and warned of an"invasion" of Dominican products, including those on the list whose overlandimport has been banned since last year, outlet listin.com.do reports.

Haitian media also highlights the presence ofDominican troops in Haiti as part of the security for the convoys with aid forthat country, despite recent statements by Haiti foreign minister PierrotDelienne, who denied the Dominican military presence and affirmed "strictcompliance with diplomatic norms" in the delivery of aid.

Under the headline "Dominican soldiers deployedon Haitian soil," the influential Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste on Fridaypublished a front page photo of a Dominican soldier walking with his weapon atcamp Bizoton, a town southwest of Puerto au Prince where Dominican authorities haveset up a temporary base to transfer aid to Haiti´s most affected areas.

The Dominican government began deliveringthousands of tons in aid to Haiti on Wednesday, personally offered by Dominicanpresident Danilo Medina during a visit to Port au Prince on Sunday.

Dominican Public Works minister Gonzalo Castillosaid his country´s aid consists of a convoy of more than 500 trucks in additionto infrastructure teams coordinated with Haitian authorities, a task he affirmcould take as long as 60 days, repairing roads and the electricity grid.

"I’m here to receive the Dominican people´sefforts; it’s an aid that touches our heart. It was a spontaneous help," saidon that same day Haiti Presidency chief of staff to Jean Max Bellerive at theborder town of Jimani, accompanied by Haiti government officials.

Banned Dominican products

Nonetheless the Dec. 4 Collective, a majorHaitian entity groups various Haitian, from politicians and business personalitiesto former diplomats and intellectuals, said Haiti faces a virtual"invasion" of neighboring products that are "taking advantage ofthe situation to rid themselves of their products, good or bad."

"The authorities must accept Dominican aidgingerly to prevent our country’s increasing dependence in terms of food,"??said the group’s coordinator, Jean Robert Argant, quoted by the Haitian PressAgency (AHP).