President Luis Abinader exhibited a straightforward demeanor during a brief English interview with British journalist Stephen Sackur on the BBC program HARDtalk.
In the interview, Abinader was queried about potential adjustments to his government’s policy concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti, the neighboring nation to the west which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.
Haiti, with a population of approximately 11.5 million, is grappling with widespread disorder and control of significant territories by criminal gangs, resulting in numerous casualties and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced individuals. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic continues its practice of deporting undocumented Haitians via the shared border.
Despite appeals from international bodies to halt deportations and provide refuge for Haitians fleeing violence, the Dominican Republic has thus far remained unmoved.
During the interview conducted on March 20, the President was questioned about the plea from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to suspend deportations due to Haiti’s dire circumstances involving gang violence and sexual assaults. Abinader’s response was resolute: “No, we won’t. We will continue to uphold our laws and Constitution. The UN should take further action. The United States, in particular, has lagged in providing unified support to Haiti.”
Abinader emphasized that the Dominican Republic cannot be expected to resolve Haiti’s issues, reiterating concerns about the deteriorating situation in Haiti, which has been described as reminiscent of Somalia. He underscored that the Dominican Republic has long advocated for increased UN involvement, dating back to 2021.
With millions of Haitians facing food shortages and hundreds of thousands displaced due to gang violence, Abinader was asked whether his government would consider allowing some displaced individuals to seek temporary refuge within Dominican territory. His response was firm: “No, we will not, citing historical and security grounds. Haiti possesses alternative options within its own territory, such as the islands of Gonâve and Tortuga.”
Addressing criticisms of Dominican deportation practices amid the crisis, Abinader defended his country’s actions, stating, “We are simply enforcing our laws, much like other nations including the Bahamas, Jamaica, the United States, and Canada. Allegations of racism within the Dominican Republic are unfounded, given our diverse population composition.”
Abinader concluded by reiterating the Dominican Republic’s commitment to border security and adherence to international law, emphasizing that expecting his country to shoulder additional burdens regarding Haiti is unjustified without broader international action.
Source: BBC Mundo