Dajabón.- Haiti has temporarily closed its border crossings, which has halted the partial reopening of commercial exchanges. The Dominican government had ordered the reopening almost a month ago, but the crisis between the two nations over the Masacre River has caused a halt.
The Dominican Republic plans to present the controversial canal issue caused by Haiti’s illegal construction project to the Organization of American States (OAS). They have requested an extraordinary session at the OAS to address this matter.
In an effort to ease the situation, Dominican authorities briefly opened the border with Dajabón to allow Haitians to access the Provisional Commercial Corridors (CCP) to acquire essential goods. However, commercial activity has been minimal. There are reports suggesting that some Haitian companies are trying to prevent the revival of trade with Dominicans.
The border situation has caused confusion and frustration among Haitian residents in the Dominican Republic who are unable to access basic necessities.
Haitian authorities have closed the border as a protest against the construction of a canal that would divert water from the Masacre River while it traverses Haitian territory.
Meanwhile, the Dominican government continues the biometric registration process for merchants who are involved in cross-border trade and are required to participate in the Provisional Commercial Corridors. This registration is mandatory.
The Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez, will present the canal dispute case to the OAS to inform member countries about the border situation and encourage objective opinions on the matter.
In response to the Kenyan High Court of Justice’s temporary suspension of the deployment of security forces to another country, the Haitian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense are recruiting new members. The hiring period is from October 9 to 29, 2023, and there are specific requirements for applicants, including proficiency in the Spanish language.