Expert: Haiti’s distrust of the Dominican Republic mars ties

Santo Domingo.-  Dominican-Haitian relations expert Rebeca Ortiz  said Thur. that Haiti’s distrust of the Dominican Republic is behind what she labels the deteriorated ties between the two countries.

She said the govt. needs to appoint people who generate confidence to avert further mistrust.

Ortiz, who in the 1990s was appointed by former President Joaquín Balaguer as a liaison with former despot Raoul Cédras, also noted that ties with Haiti must be managed according to its mentality and idiosyncrasy. “It’s a very unique country, they kill among themselves, but they come together.”

“The Haitian is the most distrustful person that exists: he doesn’t do business with you because you offer him the best, but because you instill trust in him. The Haitian, when he comes here, makes agreements with the Dominican Republic; there is not one person that he trusts, which was what president Joaquín Balaguer utilized, that’s why you see that deterioration in relations,” she said.

Interviewed on El Nuevo Diario by Leonardo Jáquez, Ortiz said Balaguer knew how to handle the Haitian idiosyncrasy and that’s why he avoided many conflicts, and bilateral ties remained in harmony. “That doesn’t exist anymore because many Dominican officials and businessmen conduct big business with Haiti.”

said Thur. that Haiti’s distrust of the Dominican Republic is behind what she labels as the deteriorated ties between the two countries,

She said the govt. needs to appoint people who generate confidence to avert further mistrust.

Ortiz, who in the 1990s was appointed by former President Joaquín Balaguer as a liaison with former despot Raoul Cédras, also noted that ties with Haiti must be managed according to its mentality and idiosyncrasy. “It’s a very unique country, they kill among themselves, but they come together.”

“The Haitian is the most distrustful person that exists: he doesn’t do business with you because you offer him the best, but because you instill trust in him. The Haitian, when he comes here, makes agreements with the Dominican Republic; there is not one person that he trusts, which was what president Joaquín Balaguer utilized, that’s why you see that deterioration in relations,” she said.

Interviewed on El Nuevo Diario by Leonardo Jáquez, Ortiz said Balaguer knew how to handle the Haitian idiosyncrasy and that’s why he avoided many conflicts, and bilateral ties remained in harmony. “That doesn’t exist anymore because many Dominican officials and businessmen conduct big business with Haiti.”