In the Population Census for the years 2002 and 2010, there were population increases in four border provinces and decreases in three.
The director of the Department of Border Development, Miguel Bejaran says that the increases were due to immigration of Haitians. “Since the Census did not determine nationalities, I dare to say, because I have seen it with my own eyes, that what has occurred is a displacement of the nationality of people,” said Miguel Bejaran. He assured reporters that in various schools of border cities 80% of the students are Haitians.
During his participation in the panel “National Development and Mining Potential of the Border Area”, during the first Border Forum of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the official supported his comments on comparative data of the 2002 and 2010 census.
The population between these periods in the seven provinces considered to be on the border with Haiti increased by 15,468, going up from 460,088 to 475,556. The provinces where the number of inhabitants has increased are Bahoruco, that added 5,833 new persons, reaching 97,313; Dajabon, with 1,909 more for an increase to 63,955; Independencia, with 1,756 more people, for a total of 52,589, while Pedernales increased 10,380 and now has 31,587 inhabitants.
On the other hand, in Elias Pina population fell by 850 persons, going to 63,029; Montecristi’s population dropped by 1,407, down to 109,607 inhabitants, and Santiago Rodriguez lost 2,153 people and is at 57,476 inhabitants.
Beharan stressed that there is much poverty in these provinces. “Just among the youth, those between 15 and 35 years of age, the immigration to other cities is more than 70%. Entire families migrate, and only the elderly and the parents remain, he said.