Soldiers guard pumping system at La Vigía canal

Dajabón, DR.- Soldiers from the Dominican Army and the Specialized Corps for Land Border Security (CESFRONT) are stationed with automatic weapons to safeguard the pumping system installed by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) for the construction of the La Vigía canal.

At the intake site, two trenches are visible, which Dominican soldiers would utilize for protection in the event of potential attacks by Haitians aiming to sabotage the pumping system. This system is crucial for delivering water to agricultural producers in Dajabón and Montecristi.

Reports from local media in Haiti indicate that the Dominican government’s protective measures are hindering the sufficient flow of water to the Haitian canal, sparking discontent among Haitian nationals.

In recent days, military authorities constructed two trenches fortified with sandbags—one at the Cesfront base bridge in Dajabón and another at the La Vigía canal intake site. However, due to escalating tensions, a third trench has recently been observed at the intake site, bringing the total to two in the area.

As of now, neither civil nor military authorities have formally announced the implementation of these security measures. The objective of these measures is to safeguard the installed equipment responsible for drawing water from the Massacre River, channeling it through the canal, and ultimately depositing it into the tributary. This action comes in response to the construction of a channel by Haitians to ensure water access for Dominican producers.