Haiti eases ban on most products, surprises Dominicans

Dajabón, Dominican Republic.- Haiti officials yesterday eased restrictions and allowed their compatriots to return with products bought in the market held Mondays and Fridays on the Dominican side of the border at Dajabón, despite the import ban in effect for some of them.

The surprising flexibility shown by Haitian officials prompted the Dajabón Merchants Association to meet and agreed to adopt a wait and see attitude, since the market appears to start returning to normal.

As usual, Haitians lined up since early morning yesterday to get into Dajabón to buy the goods that are scarce in their country, including plastics, wheat and corn flour, and even some chickens and eggs.

Haitian Industry and Commerce, Agriculture and Health officials and inspectors who control the entry of Dominican products said the interest of their country’s authorities isn’t to block trade with Republic Dominican, but want fairness instead.