Haitian civilians, working on their side of the Masacre River have installed an earthen diversion dam for the waters of the Masacre River. The purpose of this improvised earthwork is to provide more water for the recently opened canal in Haiti that was built amid major controversy between the two nations.
Since the river is currently at a low level, the Haitians were able to use shovels to create a small earthen structure that effectively diverts more water into their canal.
According to the Listin Diario, Dominican military officials said that they could not interfere since all of the work was done on the Haitian side of the river.
On another level, Dominican authorities from the National Institute for Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi) told reporters that new electric pumps would be put into operation at the entrance to the La Vigia canal, and this would provide sufficient water for Dominican farmers to plant their crops. Dominicans object the Haitian canal on ground that it affects farming interests in the DR and biodiversity.
All of this is part of the controversy created by the construction of the new canal on the Haitian side of the border, apparently without any consultation with Dominican authorities as required by a bi-national agreement dating back to 1929.
The Haitians allege the dam will benefit 3,000 farms. Local media has said it was built to benefit no more than six large privately-owned farms in Haiti.
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Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Caribe
15 April 2024