dominican haiti - Haiti Observer Blog

The Dominican Republic could not ask for anything better than its actual trade relationship with Haiti. They are in command of the Haitian economy. Officials in DR just reported that trade with neighboring Haiti has surpassed last year's figure of US$800 million.

This was revealed by Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas in a recent address at a panel on "Dominican foreign policy towards Haiti". In return, his ministry is looking at empowering his consumers in Haiti by improving their economic and social development. He wants to create jobs to improve the well-being of citizens in both countries.

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Here is a name that most Haitians need to get familiar with, the Bi-national Economic Council Quisqueya or (CEBQ). Last Friday (April 15, 2016) CEBQ unveiled its development project for the Haitian-Dominican border at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and it is very promising. it is one of the largest global development institution which will be devoted exclusively to the private sector.

The border development project expects to take advantage of the Hope-Help legislation and expects to create over 200,000 jobs at Haiti-Dominican Border in 10 years.

What do you think?

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Although, Haiti is a free market economy that enjoys the advantages of low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports, some of the serious impediments to its economic growth are poverty, corruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, lack of proper economic planning and low levels of education for much of the population. Every year, thousands of Haitians risk to cross the Dominican border illegally in search of low-wage jobs in construction and agriculture, and at the big all-inclusive resorts, albeit they become victims of racism and xenophobia in the DR. The marketplace at the Croix des Bossales is flooded with Dominican products likes of carrots, cabbages, and all other vegetables along with pasta, eggs, tomato pastes, mayonnaise and other prepared foods.
Haiti produces foods no doubt, but the majority of its consumption comes from the Dominicans. Haitian cements are good, but it is more expensive than Dominican cements. The Haitian state was never capable to defend Haitian economic actors.

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Following the decision of the Haitian government to put some restrictions and conditions on certain Dominican products arriving in Haiti in order to insure quality and that the imported products are taxed appropriately, many who have been benefiting from the status quo are putting out all kind of arguments to convince the government to go back to its decision. We who love Haiti and want the situation to be changed have an obligation to support our government.

Effective October 1, 2015, a total of 23 Dominican products will no longer be allowed to enter Haiti by land but either by boat or plane. In addition, only two cities are designated to receive these imported products, Port-au-Prince or Cap Haitian.

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Organization of American States (OAS) issued a report, stating policies and practices implemented by the Dominican Republic (DR), under immigration reform, have risked rendering people stateless, as well as initiating a humanitarian crisis at the DR / Haiti border. OAS activists organized at the OAS building, then walked the half mile to the White House gates. There they protested loudly, carrying placards and demanding rights for everyone in the DR. Obama as yet to make a public statement on the issue. The U.S.'s gesture has been to send humanitarian aid to those in refugee camps on the border.

The international community has been vociferous in its denunciation of DR denationalization policies, pleading with them to carry out deportations humanely. Why the U.S. has not definitively expressed its opposition to the harsh immigration policy is perplexing. Rights 4 All in DR's, France Francois, thinks it sly Obama would fly to Africa to discuss human rights but ignore the ". . . human rights crisis . . . taking place right in our backyard." So far over 40,000 Haitians and Dominican-Haitians have deported themselves in fear of inhumane treatment. The majority of them are camped along the border.

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Ma to Initiate Conflict Resolution Talks between DR and Haiti. President Ma Ying-jeou, a strong ally of both the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti, has offered to act as a negotiator in the conflict surrounding the immigration issue between the two Caribbean nations, who share the island of Hispaniola.

Ma wants to help the DR and Haiti reach a resolution regarding Haitian migrants in the DR and their descendants being forced out of the country due to a Constitutional Court ruling that considers the undocumented aliens transients. Furthermore, their descendants born in the DR have lost their automatic birthright. The backlash from the international community has placed the DR on the defensive. Denying the planned mass deportations were a form of ethnic cleansing, it now says there will be no mass deportations.

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On Thursday, June 18, during a press conference, Emmanuel Menard, the Director General of the National Old Age Insurance Office (ONA) has announced the creation of a solidarity fund (FONDSONA) valuing over 2 million gourdes for the expelled Haitians. The fund has been collected through voluntary contribution from the salaries of their employees to assist the repatriated Haitians from the Dominic Republic.

The Director General of ONA has said he is proud of his employees' generous gesture and hopes other organizations to follow their steps. The Group "Haïti Chérie" (Dear Haiti), an entity in the Haitian private sector, has also announced the creation of a civic solidarity fund within the framework of upcoming repatriations of Haitian citizens. The fund initially consists an amount of one million gourdes. Moreover, this group has invited all national authorities to take necessary effective measures to improve the investment climate in the country.

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Is Haiti practicing the words of the Bible literally in the ongoing crisis with the Dominican Republic? "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". Haiti continues to remain true to itself by welcoming anyone who has problem in their own country. However, when do you say enough is enough?

Long ago, thousands of Haitians nationals crossed the border to seek work; many of them at the request of the Dominican Republic to go work in Batey. Like in any other countries, immigrants who usually come for work tend to stay by making the new land their own and also contribute much more to the society. The least that new country could offer them is a path to normalization and citizenship.

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The Government of the Dominican Republic has ordered the reopening of their consulates in Port-au-Prince, Cap Haitien, Belladere, Ouanaminthe and Anse Pitres starting March 17, 2015. The consulates were closed on March 4, after attacks by some Haitians, including the tearing down and torching of Dominican flag at the consulate in Port-au-Prince.

The violent reaction in Haiti came as a result a Haitian man that was found hanged in a park in Santiago

Kreyol:

Tout senk konsila Dominikèn an Ayitire ouvri a pati 17 Mas.

Gouvènman Repiblik Dominikèn an te bay lòdpou relouvri konsila nan Pòtoprens , Cap Haitien , Belladere , Wanament ak Anse Pitres kòmanse 17 mwa mas, 2015. Si nou sonje, konsila yo te fèmen nan 4 mas , apre yon atak pa kèk Ayisyen. Moun yo te chire plis boule drapo Dominikèn nan konsila Pòtoprens .

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The business of providing goods to Haiti must not stop for any reason. The Observer just learned that members of the United Nations Mission for Stability in Haiti (Minustah) and the Haitian police are now escorting some some of the Dominican trucks entering Haiti to deliver merchandises to insure their security.

Mr. Blas Peralta who is the president of the National Federation of Dominican Transportation reported that a guarded route has been established where the Dominican trucks will enter Haiti from Jimani to the town of Kwadebouke and Haiti International Airport

The power of the economy:
This is interesting to observe. No major decisions have been made by any of the two government until there are some economic consequences. As you can see once the problem starts affecting some deep pockets, a solution to the crises is found, not when a poor Haitian was hanged.

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