28 stalls where Haitians sell used clothing, alcoholic beverages and other products in the Dajabón binational market were scorched at around 3am on Wednesday, 11 October 2023, the day Dominican authorities had announced the binational market would reopen, with new restrictions. The market had closed as part of the general shutdown of the border. The shutdown occurred due to the impasse over the construction of a water canal that would divert water of a river born in the Dominican Republic, and that passes through Haiti for 2 km, before continuing for another 53 km in the DR.
The Dominican government had announced a partial reopening of the border to enable trade, but this time entering Haitians would be subject to biometric registration and would be limited to pedestrian crossing. The Haitians also are required to stay within the confines of the market complex. The Haitian government in a statement disagreeing with the partial opening of the border, demanded the total opening and restoration of the same conditions for free transit as in the past.
The Wednesday fire mainly affected the merchandise of Haitian vendors. There is speculation it sought to be a chilling impact on Haitians. The National Investigations Agency (DNI) is investigating the fire at the Dajabon binational market. The DNI is working with technicians of the National District Fire Department.
As reported in the media, hours before the fire broke out, the mayor of Ouanaminthe, on the other side of the border with Dajabon, had warned that the border gates on the Haitian side would remain closed. He urged his fellow Haitians to not cross for market day.
The fire affected the merchandise of Haitian vendors. The Haitian government had issued a statement that it rejected the partial reopening of the border gates.
The government of Haiti has sided with the construction of the canal to divert the waters of the Dajabon/Masacre River. In Haiti, gang leader Barbecue (Jimmy Cherizier) has also supported the construction. The gangs in Haiti resort to violence to keep control.
Once the fire was put out, the border gate on the Dominican side was opened late on Wednesday. Yet the gates on the Haitian side were not opened.
Nevertheless, Homero Figueroa, spokesman for the Presidency, said that Haitians queued up for the biometric registry at the Elias Piña’s El Carrizal crossing. He reported all was flowing as planned on that province’s market day.
Not so at Anse Pitre, the crossing to Pedernales, further to the south. Listin Diario reported that while all was ready on the Dominican side, the Haitian doors remained closed and people seemed too scared to cross because of threats the Haitian police would vandalize their merchandise. The Haitian government issued a statement rejecting the partial opening of the border. The Haitian government called for the normalizing of the border relations to what they were before the conflict. This means free entry without biometric registration and free transit of vehicles on market days.
Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez speaks in the Organization of American States on 12 October 2023 on the Haitian impasse.
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El Dia
12 October 2023