Traders in the northwestern border province of Dajabon have agreed to resume sales after a meeting with ministers of Foreign Relations Andres Navarro and Jose del Castillo Savinon of Industry & Commerce. Dajabon senator Sonia Mateo of the ruling PLD party and provincial governor Ramona Rodriguez also attended the meeting.
The traders delivered a five-point strategy to the government after a meeting between President Michel Martelly of Haiti and President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic failed to secure the revocation of the recent ban on overland exports of 23 Dominican products by the Haitian authorities. Haitians who purchase these items in the DR to smuggle into Haiti also risk the goods being seized by the Haitian authorities.
The traders are asking the Dominican authorities to be firmer in their negotiations with Haiti. They were representing traders in the border region whose livelihood depends on trade with Haiti.
They asked the Dominican government to come to the rescue of the border businesses that have been affected by the ban by implementing measures to help them recover.
They said that any investments by major businesses in the border region should also include local inhabitants in trade, jobs and transport. They also want customs regimes to create the infrastructure for the expansion of border trade.
The foreign and industry ministers said they would convey their requests to government decision-makers. They are also requesting that the Dominican government should order a suspension on air and sea exports of the 23 products whose overland export was unilaterally banned by Haiti.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/comerciantes-y-transportistas-levantan-paro-y-bloqueo-en-la-frontera-por-veda-que-mantiene-haiti-LH1595872