Zile Foundation, of former Haitian ambassador in the Dominican Republic, Edwin Paraison, announces the celebration of the 10th edition of the Haitian Diaspora Week. The event seeks to strengthen ties between the two peoples and make visible the contributions of migrants in both countries. Paraison himself is a resident of the Dominican Republic.
The theme of the 10th Diaspora Week is “Haiti and the Dominican Republic: sovereign, independent and in solidarity for a better island.” The event is taking place 18 April through 24 April 2022.
Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) Judith Auguste is the chair of the event for Haiti. Reports are this is her first official visit since she was named to the position in November 2021. Haitian ambassador in the Dominican Republic Smith Augustin accompanies her in her visits to Santo Domingo, Santiago, Barahona and San Cristobal for several activities coordinated as part of the event.
Immacula Samuel, coordinator of the event, states in a press release: “It is important to make visible the contributions of the migrants in different fields, both in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti, where some 6,000 Dominicans live.”
The Diaspora Week is supported by private sector companies such as Vimenca, through its partnership with Western Union and Sunrise Airways of Haiti.
According to official statistics, as established by the 2017 National Immigrant Survey (ENI), around 500,000 Haitian immigrants live in Dominican territory. The same survey estimates at more than 250,000 the number of Dominicans of Haitian origin. The director of Migration Enrique García, nevertheless, has said it is difficult to know the exact number of Haitians living here because of the large numbers of undocumented persons that live and travel here from Haiti.
19 April 2022