The Bishop of La Altagracia, Jesús Castro Marte declared that the United Nations Organization must establish advocacy spaces for services to Haitians in their territory. Castro Marte is the Roman Catholic Church priest in charge of the Higuey municipality that encompasses hundreds of thousands of Haitians working in Punta Cana.
“We have many countries in need, whom they must also take into account for their aid, always respecting human rights,” said the head of the Diocese of Our Lady of La Altagracia.
The 58-year old bishop maintained that the Dominican people are the owners of their territory and the Dominican Constitution is the norm for rulers and those governed. “We are called to defend the supreme interests of the nation, in defense of the territorial integrity, with unrestricted attachment to human dignity,” said the bishop.
Recently, President Luis Abinader said that for the UN to establish refugee camps, there is Gonave and Tortuga in Haiti. The UN has insisted in installing refugee camps in the Dominican Republic. The government has insisted it will not do so for security and historic reasons.
The recommendation for the refugee camps in Haiti makes sense. While Port-au-Prince, Haiti is under curfew and violence continues to escalate with a recent assault on a closed major manufacturing center and shooting at the Presidential Palace, the situation in Cap Haitien, for instance, is very different. Residents there seem to be going about their life in the northern area of Cap Haitien. Haiti Libre reports on activities to preserve the cultural heritage of Cap Haitien and municipal orders against noise in the second largest city, located on the north coast, have been making headlines in that country.
Previous to his appointment as bishop of La Altagracia, Castro Marte was the rector of the Universidad Catolica de Santo Domingo. He has masters studies in Caribbean history from the University of Puerto Rico.
Read more:
Hoy
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
El Dia
Wikipedia on Castro Marte
Haiti Libre
Haiti Libre
2 April 2024