On the annual observance of Haiti Flag Day, a Dominican-based civil society organization, Dominican Solidarity with Haiti, has issued a formal statement reaffirming its unwavering support for the Haitian people while reflecting on the island nation’s profound legacy in global freedom struggles.
Released publicly on Monday, the statement opened with a heartfelt tribute to the iconic revolutionary figures who laid the foundation for Haiti’s independence as the first Black republic in the world. These trailblazers, including Cécile Fatiman, Dutty Boukman, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Alexandre Pétion, led the groundbreaking Haitian Revolution that ended colonial rule and slavery on the island more than two centuries ago. The organization emphasized that the revolution sent a ripple of inspiration across the entire Americas, fueling anti-slavery uprisings and independence movements that reshaped the regional political landscape for generations. It further highlighted Haiti’s often-overlooked contribution to South American liberation, noting the critical material and strategic support the nation provided to Simón Bolívar during his campaigns to free multiple South American territories from colonial control.
Beyond its historical reflection, the statement turned to the pressing challenges confronting Haiti today. The organization acknowledged that the Caribbean nation is currently grappling with an unprecedented crisis marked by surging gang violence, systemic political collapse, and widespread social instability that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and left basic services inaccessible for much of the population. Addressing ongoing international debates over external intervention in Haiti’s affairs, the group made clear that any path toward a lasting, sustainable peace must be led entirely by Haitian citizens, with full respect for Haiti’s national sovereignty and no unwarranted outside interference.
In closing, the organization called for deeper cross-border collaboration and collective solidarity between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, two neighboring nations that share the island of Hispaniola. It stressed that building a peaceful, productive relationship between the two countries hinges on mutual respect for national boundaries, universal human rights, and a shared commitment to peaceful coexistence that benefits all people living on the island.