A lot of people have died in fights over water rights, and the issues between the Dominican Republic are certainly heating up. The “battle of the canals” goes on at the present time. The Haitians resumed construction of waterworks to divert waters of the Dajabon/Masacre river born in the Dominican Republic and that flows for two kilometers in Haiti before resuming its course of 55 km in Dominican border provinces.
When diplomatic channels failed, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic closed the entire sea, land and air border between the two countries. Haitians can leave, but coming into the Dominican Republic can be more difficult. Trade is closed over the border for the past 10 days.
Late last week, the National Institute for Water Resources (INDRHI) began testing the pumping station on the irrigation canal known as La Vigía. The canal is upstream from the canal under construction in Haiti with the backing of the Haitian government and gang leader Barbecue (Jimmy Cherizier) on the opposite bank of the Massacre River. The new/old La Vigía canal is being refurbished and ties into other irrigation canals in the Dajabon area.
This area is a very important agricultural center, producing everything from avocados to rice, and houses some of the most productive lands on the so-named Northwest Line that groups northwestern border provinces.
Diario Libre published an interactive graph of the different canals and other important waterworks structures along this international river.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
2 October 2023