Dominican Republic bows to priest’s pressure with Haitian workers

DAJABON.- Dominican Republic.- Dominican Republic’s Immigration Agency Wednesday night bowed to pressure by the priest Regino Martinez, who together with hundreds of undocumented Haitian workers blocked the binational bridge over the Masacre River trying to force their way in since Sunday, after going to their country to spend the holidays with their families.

Martinez and the workers left after 7pm when president Danilo Medina, Immigration director Jose Ricardo Taveras and Haiti ambassador Fritz Cineas met in the National Palace where it was reportedly agreed to allow 1,080 Haitian nationals into the country.

Taveras said on Facebook that Martinez had agreed to the decision. "I thank father Regino Martinez for having reflected sensibly on the fact of their protest accepting to abandon the international bridge, in that manner fulfilling his desire for Christian solidarity which he can always resort to under the protection of the law."

The Dominican side of the border bridge and surrounding areas however continue under heavy military presence, while on Haitian side the crowd of people was dispersed, after having pitched tents on the banks of the river since Wednesday morning, awaiting the authorities’ decision.