Dajabon - Haiti Observer Blog

With the news out of Dajabón stating the eventual deportation of at least 12 women of Haitian heritage arrested in the Dominican Republic for prostitution, the question of prostitution in Haiti comes to mind. The women claim they crossed the border to support themselves and their families back in Haiti, and with their own market all but dominated by prostitutes from the Dominican Republic, this isn't a farfetched justification.

Since the 1940's Dominican prostitution rings, comprised of the fairer-skinned and longer-haired women from Dominica have cornered the market, especially in Petionville, often to the exclusion of Haitian prostitutes who face such poverty. Many turn to the profession because of the stark reality of a lack of money; many Haitians live on an allowance of less than one dollar a day. It is then no wonder that some have crossed the border into the Dominican Republic, seeking to earn some of the wealth there and filling the small gap made by the Dominican prostitutes who live and work in Haiti.

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Tensions have escalated between the Dominican Republic and Haiti since the DR Constitutional Court issued a ruling, rescinding Haitian immigrants and their descendents from remaining in the country. The results of this ruling are affecting Haitian entrepreneurs.

Haiti has a large, informal small business sector. Merchants sell items purchased on the black market, sent from the U.S. by relatives, or donated by charities. Biweekly, Haitian merchants cross from Ouanaminthe over to Dajabón province in the DR to vend merchandise at the cross-border market.

Reports picked up by local media say tensions between Ouanaminthe and Dajabón merchants have led to a few skirmishes at the cross-border market. DR Border Security and the military have also detained Haitians, whose profiles have revealed questionable activities. But at the last Monday and Friday market days, it was reported no problems occurred with the border crossing over the Massacre River. These incident-free events have been ascribed to a strong military presence.

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Training will be provided to CESFRONT - The Dominican Special Corps for Border Security to identify human trafficking and offer protection to such victims. At the Dajabon border on October 5, 2012, a Haitian was prevented by the border guard of the Dominican from entering the Dominican Republic.

Signing Of The Pact

A pact was signed by the authorities in the Dominican Republic to train agents of a special group to focus on human trafficking. Agencies of the United Nations and military officials of the Dominican are teaming up to ensure security at the porous border of Haiti and the Dominican where human trafficking has proliferated.

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Tourists going to the Dominican Republic are finding the visit a bit dangerous. In this regard the latest victim has been Patrick Alexis. On December 12, 2012, several bandits assaulted him with stones, injuring parts of his body and face.

Who Were The Victims Of Banditry

Patrick Alexis who had been assaulted by bandits received some medical care at the Dominican Republic's local hospital and he is fine at present.

He is not the only Haitian victim of crime. There have been others like the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad, Jean Tolbert Alexis, Paul Evans, Daniel Supplice and Daniel Torment who all have been subjected to assault by bandits in Haiti.

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Ouanaminthe is one of the largest cityships situated within the Nord-Est Department. It has a population numbering 100,000, 10% of whom live in the metropolitan area. Located close to the Dominican Republic border, the Ouanaminthe people cross over via the Massacre River to peddle their wares twice weekly at the Dajabón market.

Ouanaminthe has a well-developed education system. It follows the Haitian model, beginning with Kindergarten, advancing to Primary, then Secondary, and finally University level. Private schools are numerous and church-sponsored. As part of the effort to make education accessible to all residents in Ouanaminthe, the Faith and Joy non-government organization, funded by the Jesuit Refugee Service, is building several new primary schools.

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