President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic reiterated his position on the Haitian situation during his speech at the United Nations. He emphasized that there is no Dominican solution to the Haitian problem. Instead, it is an issue in the hands of the international community.
He called on the United Nations to intensify its efforts for the immediate deployment of a multinational force in Haiti. He urged the Security Council to urgently adopt a resolution to support this.
President Abinader expressed solidarity with the Haitian people and highlighted the Dominican government’s efforts to help them. However, he made it clear that his primary responsibility was to defend the interests of the Dominican people.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to the peace process in Haiti, including a social and political pact. To facilitate this, he tasked the Caribbean Community (Caricom) with reaching an agreement. The agreement would provide the greatest possible legitimacy to accept a multinational force and hold fair, free, and transparent elections.
President Abinader also praised countries committed to sending troops to bring peace to Haiti. These countries include Kenya, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.
He stressed that the situation in Haiti represents a breakdown of public order by criminal elements without any political or ideological claim. President Abinader highlighted that accepting the request for help from Haitian authorities aligns with the spirit and letter of the United Nations Charter. It also aligns with the organization’s mandate to guarantee peace in accordance with international law.
President Abinader clarified that the Dominican Republic does not seek confrontation with the Haitian people. Instead, it seeks to address the issue with the “uncontrollable” actors behind the construction of the canal on the Masacre River. He noted that the canal project was never discussed with the Dominican government, with no documentation provided regarding its size, environmental impact, and benefits.
The construction of the canal also threatens the Codevi industrial park, which employs thousands of people, and the Saladillo lagoon, one of the main wetlands in the Dominican Republic. President Abinader noted that his government had requested to cease construction of the canal in 2021 but had not received a satisfactory response. This led to the closure of the border to protect national security, rivers, the environment, and agricultural production.
In his speech, President Abinader emphasized that the Dominican Republic seeks to address the issue through diplomatic and peaceful means. The country is committed to safeguarding the well-being of both its citizens and the Haitian people.