Buyers at Dominican border market say Haiti agents demand bribes

Dajabón, Dominican Republic.- The number of Haitian buyers and Dominican merchantsat the binational market held Mondays and Friday in Dajabón dropped drasticallytoday, a virtual repeat of the activity last Friday.

The lull is cause for concern among Dominican merchantswho warn that restrictions by Haiti authorities on Dominican products Haitians buyat the market could affect future trade.

Quoted by listion.com.do, several Haitians said they didn’tbuy goods at the market since they risk having to bribe supposed Haitian officerswith a large sum of money, or have their purchses torn open and dumped.

Dominican merchants met with Dajabon and Ouanaminthe(Haiti) officials Thursday and proposed a possible solution to the standoff duringthe last few market days.

Haitian buyer Anny Yina complained of the restrictions anddemanded a solution so she can stock up on the products she resells in Haititerritory. "They don’t want us to buy goods and products in the DominicanRepublic, even though they can’t guarantee them in Haitian territory."

She said Haiti officials expose a huge Haitian populationto hunger and that the poor have no other recourse than the Dajabon market to buywhat they need.