Listin Diario political commentator Orlando Gil acridly criticized the position assumed by President Leonel Fernandez during a presentation at his think tank, the Fundacion Global Democracia y Desarrollo. Gil wrote on Saturday, “If the problems of Haitian migration are going to be discussed at the Global Foundation, then the country has already admitted defeat.” In his opinion, the matter has already been discussed enough, and what is needed now is clear action on the part of the government. “To recognize that the repatriations are carried out in an abusive and inhumane manner does not solve anything, and to say that this will not happen again under this government will not solve the problem, but will only make it worse,” stated Gil. He added: “President Leonel Fernandez only stopped short of apologizing to the Haitians who have been victims of abuses and offering to provide economic compensation”.
He then adds that the President contradicts himself when he on the other hand states that the migration laws need to be complied with, which would mean enforcing the rule that companies must employ 80% Dominican and no more than 20% foreign labor. He says that if the law is to be obeyed, the forceful deportations will be necessary, as the Haitians will not leave of their own will. “If the Dominican head of state can come up with a formula to send Haitians to their country that is not ‘hateful, abusive and brusque’ he should take out a patent of this, because he could win a Nobel Prize,” he explained.
Gil says that Leonel Fernandez needs to make a distinction between his former occupation as a humanities professor from his present role as President of the Republic. Gil says that in his first role he may dream, but in his second role he has to come down to earth and take decisions.
Gil comments that the two hats worn by the President create confusion and even irritation, “since there is no neutral territory.” He said that the President has convened a meeting to study Haitian migration problems this Monday. Nevertheless, in the light of the opinions expressed by the President at the Fundacion Global, he wonders whether any government minister will now dare to express anything to the contrary. “The matter is clear: there is no solution to the problem. Instead of looking for one, the government will seek refuge in an international organization that is more concerned with the humanitarian aspects, and the situation will remain the same. It is the most pathetic way of avoiding responsibility. If the country has the right to repatriate, why not exercise this right? Rights are like muscles. If they are not exercised, they will atrophy. Or is it that what is sought is that this be the common bedroom for all?”
Diario Libre comments that deputy Pelegrin Castillo was not allowed to speak during the working session at Fundacion Global. Speaking to El Caribe newspaper, Castillo criticized the President’s position on the repatriations. He said that all that was missing was for the President to kneel before the developed countries. Castillo understands that with his statement, Fernandez is reversing roles. “He is putting the country on the defensive, from being a victim of Haitian migration to the victimizer,” he stated. “When the President admits that the Haitians’ rights are violated he is making the country responsible for a situation it did not create: the Haitian crisis.”
Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez urged the country to define its migratory policy, abandoning the present ambivalency. As reported in the Listin Diario, he said that while deportations need to be made in a humane manner, the sovereignty of the nation must prevail.