Elias Piña, DR.- The twelfth edition of the Haitian Diaspora Week commenced this Sunday in the main municipality of Elías Piña, Comendador, coinciding with the observance of Dominican-Haitian Fraternity Day, as stipulated by Law 1105 of 1936, which designates April 14 annually for this purpose.
The legislation mandates the celebration of this date in public schools alongside Pan American Day. The opening ceremony took place with a Dominican-Haitian fraternity luncheon at the Elías Piña Governorate hall, featuring the national anthems of both nations and the participation of Haitian and Dominican authorities.
Themed “For a Good Neighbor Policy,” this year’s event spans four cities: Puerto Plata, Santiago, Santo Domingo, and Comendador, and runs until the 20th. Activities include conferences, panels, and various sports, religious, artistic, and cultural events.
On the 14th, a binational prayer chain for peace, led by Pastor Lima Confiance, was held, alongside the conclusion of the IX Vimenca Cup promoting Dominican-Haitian neighborliness at the Puerto Plata sports center.
Organized by the Zile Foundation, Haitian and Dominican community groups, with support from the Haitian Embassy and consulates in Santiago and Higüey, Vimenca Western Union, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the event saw the participation of representatives from UNHCR, UNICEF, Dominican Ministries of Women and Public Health, government bodies, churches, civil society, CESFRONT, General Directorate of Migration, as well as Haitian Governor Yvanosky Joachim (Vava), consulate representatives, police, civic groups, and spokespersons from transportation associations and the Dialogue Table.