Dajabón Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association protest illegal Haitian operators

Dajabón.- The Dajabón Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association staged a massive protest in front of City Hall to demand stronger enforcement against Haitian drivers allegedly operating illegally in Dominican territory. The demonstrators claimed that undocumented foreigners are creating chaos on local streets and causing frequent traffic accidents involving motorcycles and three-wheelers.

Eduardo Medina, president of the National Federation of Dominican Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Dajabón, said that Haitian drivers are taking over motoconcho stops and competing unfairly, threatening the livelihoods of Dominican drivers. He stressed that Dominicans cannot operate in Haiti under similar conditions, as they would face violence if they attempted to do so.

The protesters expressed support for Mayor Santiago Riverón’s measures to regulate the circulation of Haitian motorcycles in the municipality. Riverón reaffirmed that the ban on Haitian triple-engine vehicles remains in effect and emphasized that the cooperation of all local drivers is crucial to enforce it. He also announced that Dominican drivers will have access to new three-wheel motorcycles through the Promipyme program.

The mayor declared that the municipal authorities “will not bow to pressure from merchants or foreigners,” insisting that Dajabón’s rules must be respected. Meanwhile, motoconcho drivers urged national authorities to take immediate action, warning that illegal operations threaten to deprive many Dominican families of their main source of income.