The idea originally came from the Haitians themselves when they started
building a wall in order to prevent contraband from the Dominican Republic.
The Haitian government wants to charge more import taxes.
Today’s Diario Libre back page editorial, Tuesday 17 June, makes light of
the first statements by the country’s newest legislator, Marino Vinicio
Castillo, who proposed the construction of a border wall between the two
countries. The En Buena Tinta editorial writer comments that it is all
nonsense. “The Berlin Wall had to be toppled, and people jump over the
Mexican wall in sandals. How would we fund the construction if the DR can’t
bear any more loans?” asks the writer. “And it is foolish to do what others
are doing on their own, and the Haitians, without known reasons, already
took the initiative.”
“Even, in their case, it would be good because they would employ their own
people. And if they have work on that side, would not try to cross the
Masacre River, let alone the wall. And the ILO (International Labor
Organization), as a multilateral organization, or the international
community, could monitor to ensure there is neither exploitation nor abuse,
as would be the case if this were a Dominican project.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Interior and Police described the proposal for the
wall as “absurd” and said that what was needed is a wall of legality. Minister
of Defense Sigfrido Pared Perez has also described it as “utopian,” but was
in favor of it being built in certain key areas.
Leading Church figures are divided on the issue. Monsignor Jose Dolores
Grullon, bishop of San Juan de la Maguana and Elias Pina says it is a
shameful idea, but Archbishop of Santiago, Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio
is in favor of its complete or partial construction.
www.diariolibre.com/opinion/2014/06/17/i660371_otro-muro.html
http://hoy.com.do/el-muro-de-la-discordia/autor/claudio-acosta/