2023-10-12 00:52:32
Haitians entering the Dominican Republic this Wednesday by Elías Pila
SANTO DOMINGO.- Although they could not do so through Dajabón because the Haitian authorities themselves prevented them, Haitian merchants entered the Dominican Republic again this Monday through other border gates to stock up on products, mainly food and medicine.
The largest influx of them was observed at the border gate of El Carrizal, Elias Piña, where they met en masse the requirements demanded by the Dominican authorities, including undergoing a “biometric registration” whose main objective is to guarantee security and order in commercial exchanges, confirmed the spokesperson and director of Strategy and Communication of the Presidency of the Republic, Homero Figueroa.
According to Figueroa, the Haitian merchants who entered through Elías Piña demonstrated a high degree of responsibility and organization.
“Merchants are entering in an organized and peaceful manner through the pedestrian door to comply with the mandatory biometric registration to participate in the exchange in the Provisional Commercial Corridors,” he said, then highlighting that at all times there was “an atmosphere of peace and mutual respect.” ».
Figueroa shared photographs on his social networks, showing the orderly entry of the merchants.
On September 15, the Dominican Government completely closed the border with Haiti in retaliation for the construction of a canal that seeks to divert water from the Masacre border river to Haitian territory.
Almost a month later, the Dominican Executive decided to reopen this Wednesday to commerce, although limited, through what it called “commercial corridors”, under strong security controls.
CLOSING IN DAJABÓN
In Dajabón this Wednesday the opening was delayed due to a fire, which was immediately controlled, in the market of this city. After opening the gate, the Dominican authorities observed that Haiti decided to keep its gate closed, thus affecting the reopening of commerce.
On the Haitian side “the door is closed,” said Santiago Riverón, mayor of Dajabón, the border point with the greatest commercial activity between both countries.
“(Haitians) were going to be allowed in but they haven’t come,” the official said.
MAYOR OF JUANA MÉNDEZ ASKED NOT TO CROSS
Hours before, Lumax Demetrius, mayor of Juana Méndez, bordering Dajabón, had already warned that they will keep the border gate closed and asked his compatriots not to cross to the Dominican side.
The Dominican government announced on Monday that the so-called trade corridors will operate with “strict military control measures and mandatory biometric registration” in the provinces of Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia and Pedernales, bordering Haiti, with the aim of “facilitating the trade of essential Dominican products such as food and medicine”, and with an eye especially on children.
The Dominican president himself, Luis Abinader, said that trade would be able to enter starting this Wednesday, although limited, so certain items were excluded.
Thus, the export of electronic products, cement, rods and other construction materials will not be allowed to “prevent the construction of structures that threaten our environmental assets,” said the Dominican cabinet, referring to works such as those of the canal on the Haitian shore. del Masacre, as that river is called in Haiti, called Dajabón in the Dominican Republic.
FIRE INVESTIGATED IN BORDER MARKET
The reopening of the border gate was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. local time (12:00 GMT), but was delayed almost two hours due to the fire that broke out this morning in the binational market of Dajabón, causing no victims, but significant material losses, an accident that is investigated by authorities.
In total, 28 modules were burned in the market, said Riverón, who specified that the majority of these stalls are owned by Haitians, who the authorities of their country have not allowed to leave to verify their conditions.
After being alerted by the Police, the Dajabón firefighters immediately went to the scene of the incident this morning and, given the magnitude of the fire, firefighters from nearby areas also went there.
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