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BiggerAbinader: Dominican Republic limited to Humanitarian aid for Haiti
Santo Domingo.- When asked about the Dominican Republic serving as a logistical hub for humanitarian aid entering Haiti, President Luis Abinader emphasized the country’s willingness to assist Haiti in health-related matters. However, he made it clear that they wouldn’t extend support for military purposes.
Speaking on La Semanal with the press, he pointed out Haiti’s significance as the Dominican Republic’s second-largest trading partner in terms of exports. Despite the challenges faced by Haiti, Abinader highlighted that trade along the border remained active and unaffected.
In recent days, armed gangs in Haiti have mobilized against the anticipated arrival of a multinational force, approved by the UN last October and aimed at stabilizing the country. These protests, organized by the armed coalition Vivre Ensemble (Living Together) under the leadership of former Haitian police officer Jimmy Cherisier, also known as ‘Barbecue.’
Abinader also touched upon his country’s progress in combating corruption, stressing the need to persist in this endeavor.
Addressing concerns about undocumented Haitians detained by immigration authorities, Abinader acknowledged widespread complaints about individuals avoiding deportation or returning from Haiti by paying 15,000 pesos (approximately $250).
So the border quietly opened..or it never was totally shut…Haiti remains second largest trading partner…
What the government needs to do is crack down completely on corrupt immigration and border patrol officers who facilitate the entry and re-entry of illegal migrants into the country via bribery. How nothing has been done about this yet is beyond me.
Corruption should be severely punished regardless of who is involved.
No one cares about corruption. The president knows and acknowledges that millions of illegal are crossing and criminals and does nothing. The problem is that this has been happening since Leonel hipolito Danilo and so on. I don’t blame the politicians. The people keep voting the same corrupt politicians.
The Dominican Republic benefits with a trade surplus with Haiti of almost $1 billion dollars a year. It is hard to believe that the next door neighbor will not send in military support while watching women get raped, students murdered, robberies , extortion by a bunch of small time gangsters. These are ordinary citizens that have nothing to do with politics. The lack of military support will result in a disaster for Kenya, Jamaica, Bahamas & others who are trying to help.
The RD and Haiti have a very long history of disputes. Haiti has serious problems but the RD is not the correct entity to solve them. RD troops or police in Haiti would probably be the match that lights the fuse. It’s best, in my opinion if the RD remains hands off and only assists with medical assistance….inside Haiti and not in the RD.