The PLD has voiced its support for the pastoral letter issued by the Dominican Episcopal Conference-the highest directive body of the Catholic Church-regarding the situation of Haitian migration in the DR. As reported in Listin Diario, Secretary General Reinaldo Pared Perez declared, however, that the bishops should have referred to priests Pedro Ruquoy, Christopher Hartley, and Vigny Bellerive, who have been found to have falsely registered Haitian children as Dominicans. Meanwhile, Armed Forces Minister, Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez said the bishop’s message was excellent and called upon the Church to collaborate on the border with Haiti to detect cases of abusive treatment of deportees and to stop the influx of illegal Haitians to Dominican territory. He said that the Armed Froces are taking into account all the issues presented by the bishops in the letter and that instructions have been issued for the army personnel taking part in the repatriation of illegal Haitians to respect the deportees- rights and dignity.
Diario Libre reports that Migration Director Carlos Amarante Baret described the letter as “an important contribution”. According to Amarante, Dominican intellectuals, politicians, religious people and businessmen have been ignoring the migratory problem for 40 years. Dominican ambassador to Haiti, Jose Serrulle Ramia, supported the Church’s call to tackle the disorder that characterizes Haitian immigration to the DR.
El Caribe considers the document to have conceptual and historical transcendence and has thus published the entire 18-page document on their website.
It can be read in Spanish at http://www.elcaribecdn.com/images/banners/carta.htm