Santo Domingo.- During the meeting of the Bilateral Mixed Commission on May 27, 2021, the Dominican Republic and Haiti mutually agreed on the ongoing work on the Masacre River for water harvesting. They acknowledged that this work does not involve diverting the binational tributary channel.
A joint statement was issued after the meeting to reflect this consensus and focus on the status of the transboundary waters of the Masacre River.
In the declaration, both nations recognized the provisions of the 1929 Treaty of Peace, Perpetual Friendship, and Arbitration signed between the governments of the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti. The treaty established the rights of both countries to use the border area rivers’ waters in a fair and equitable manner.
The joint statement clarified, “Recognizing, based on today’s information provided by representatives of the delegation of the Republic of Haiti and in the spirit of understanding and information exchange established in the 1929 Treaty, that the work on the Dajabón River or Massacre for water collection does not involve diverting the riverbed.”
To comprehensively address this issue, both delegations agreed to establish a Technical Roundtable. The purpose of this table is to enhance understanding of the work carried out in the border area within the Environment and Agriculture Subcommittee of the Joint Bilateral Commission. This initiative is expected to lead to the formation of a Binational Water Table.
On May 29, 2021, President Luis Abinader clarified that the commission had approved the creation of a technical table to discuss all water resources along the border in accordance with the provisions of the 1929 Treaty.
However, in a recent development, the Dominican government has requested that Haitian authorities immediately stop the resumption of construction of a canal intended to divert water from the Masacre River. As a result, discussions on this issue have intensified, raising the possibility of a complete closure of the border between the two nations.
Despite the tensions, both countries remain committed to the principles of cooperation and mutual understanding outlined in their joint statement of May 27, 2021. Their goal is to collaboratively manage transboundary river basins and binational waterways, adhering to the provisions of the 1929 Treaty and international law. They are open to seeking international technical assistance if needed to effectively address these issues.