All Dominican and foreign Industrial Development Corporation (Codevi) personnel were evacuated on 27 June 2023 to prevent further violent incidents at the free zone manufacturing center that is located on the border with the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Codevi employs around 14,000 Haitians at the free zone plant that is located in Ouanaminthe with administrative offices in the Dominican side of the border.
It is now known the new disturbances in Ouanaminthe, Haiti were caused by demonstrators who demand compensation from the free zone for the death of two Haitian workers on 15 June 2023. The company at the time issued an explanatory note that said the matter was under investigation but denied its involvement.
On 15 June, a dozen workers were injured on that Thursday workday and there were many material damages. At the time, Haiti Libre reported gunshots, scenes of looting, the burning of the facilities of a Codevi plastic recycling plant, the destruction of a vehicle sowed panic among Codevi workers.
On 15 June, the free zone was evacuated (5% Dominicans, 95% Haitians) and the zone was militarized with the intervention of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the Haitian Border Police (Polifront). Likewise, security on the Dominican side of the border was put on alert.
Haiti Libre reports that tension has again increased with the demands for millionaire compensation for the deaths. The unrest has led to chaos and violence, with reports of clashes between the demonstrators and the security forces.
As reported in Haiti Libre, the groups of protesters, composed of Haitians, are demanding that Codevi, the main free zone company operating in Haiti, compensate the two workers with $30 million.
Read more:
Noticias SIN
Haiti Libre
Haiti Libre
DR1 News
28 June 2023