DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Haitians have long found work in the Dominican Republic’s agriculture and construction sectors. Now, they are increasingly turning to public transportation, primarily as unofficial “pirate” drivers, a trend that is fueling resentment among their Dominican counterparts, Diario Libre reports.

Dominican taxi and motorcycle drivers complain that these unlicensed Haitian operators undercut fares and avoid paying transport association dues.

“They take our passengers, and they don’t have the same responsibilities we do,” said Alejandro Núñez, a Dominican taxi driver. Many drivers view the “pirates” as unfair competition, noting they don’t contribute to the established system.

Diario Libre reports that the so-called pirate drivers often operate outside the formal syndicated transport associations system, which requires significant upfront investment. Joining a...