博客

In a significant display of discontent, the Dajabón Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association organized a large-scale protest outside City Hall, calling for stricter enforcement against Haitian drivers accused of operating illegally within Dominican territory. The demonstrators argued that undocumented foreign drivers are causing widespread chaos on local roads, leading to frequent traffic accidents involving motorcycles and three-wheelers. Eduardo Medina, president of the National Federation of Dominican Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Dajabón, highlighted the unfair competition posed by Haitian drivers, who he claims are monopolizing motoconcho stops and jeopardizing the livelihoods of Dominican drivers. Medina emphasized that Dominican drivers face severe risks, including violence, if they attempt to operate in Haiti under similar conditions. The protesters voiced their support for Mayor Santiago Riverón’s efforts to regulate the movement of Haitian motorcycles in the municipality. Riverón reiterated the ongoing ban on Haitian triple-engine vehicles and stressed the importance of local drivers’ cooperation to enforce the regulation. Additionally, he announced that Dominican drivers would soon have access to new three-wheel motorcycles through the Promipyme program. The mayor firmly stated that municipal authorities would not yield to pressure from merchants or foreigners, insisting that Dajabón’s regulations must be upheld. Meanwhile, motoconcho drivers urged national authorities to take immediate action, warning that the illegal operations of Haitian drivers could deprive many Dominican families of their primary source of income.

In a tragic incident on Saturday night, a Haitian man identified only as ‘Blanco’ lost his life after being brutally attacked by a mob in the Gozuela area of Pepillo Salcedo municipality, Manzanillo. The incident occurred on a rice farm in the Santa María district, near the Dominican-Haitian border. According to the National Police’s Criminal Investigations Division (Dicrim) in Montecristi, the man allegedly attempted to rob a group of Haitians crossing into Dominican territory, which incited the violent response from the crowd. Dr. Rosibel Grullón, the medical examiner, confirmed that the victim succumbed to severe head trauma. Local residents revealed that the deceased had a reputation for targeting other migrants who used unofficial border crossings. Following the incident, judicial and police authorities transferred the body to the Padre Fantino Hospital morgue before sending it to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) in Santiago for an autopsy. Prosecutor Francis Alexander de Jesús Peña Sabés has initiated a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full details of the case and assign accountability.

In a significant development at the Codevi free trade zone, located near the Dominican Republic-Haiti border, hundreds of Haitian workers organized a peaceful demonstration to voice their opposition to the industrial park’s decision to withhold taxes at the request of the Haitian government. The protest, which unfolded without violence, prompted the evacuation of Dominican personnel from the area. In response, the National Police of the Dominican Republic heightened security measures on their side of the border to ensure stability and prevent any potential escalation. According to Goidy Reyes, a correspondent from RC Noticias, an urgent meeting has been scheduled to address the grievances and facilitate the swift return of workers to their jobs. The situation underscores the ongoing economic and political tensions between the two neighboring nations, particularly concerning labor rights and cross-border trade policies.