The Ministry of Foreign Relations has stated that the removal of sands from the riverbed of the Masacre (or Dajabon) river on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is a violation of the 1929 Treaty that deals with the river and its use by the two nations. The Ministry of Foreign Relations requested reports on the situation from the ministries of Defense and Environment. Also involved in the investigation of the environmental crime is the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI).
According to the Dominican position, any removal of aggregates from the river without the studies and protocols established in the 1929 Treaty of Peace, Eternal Friendship, and Arbitration is illegal. According to the note from the Ministry of Foreign Relations: “Any such activities will alter the course of the river… which serves as the boundary between the two counties.”
The issue was first reported by the Listin Diario newspaper. Listin Diario recently reported sighting at least seven small dump trucks being manually filled by Haitian workers with sand from the riverbed.
Since September 2023, Listin Diario has been denouncing the extraction of sand from the Masacre River. This is the same river that is born in the Dominican Republic where it is known as Dajabon River and then becomes Masacre River as it flows for 2 km through Haiti before returning to the Dominican Republic to continue its course of around 50 kms.
The Listin Diario reported on 12 July 2024, that the authorities in Haiti and Dominican Republic have yet to act to put a stop to the practice of the ongoing extraction of sand from the Masacre River on the Haitian side.
“It’s regrettable,” said Juan Cordero, an environmentalist from Dajabón. “With the canal construction and now sand extraction, the river could dry up entirely, severely impacting agriculture and ecology.”
The extraction is known to have serious consequences, including biodiversity loss, increased turbidity, rising water tables, soil fertility depletion, deforestation, erosion, altered hillside processes, heightened runoff, and flooding. These effects can impact both Haitian and Dominican territories.
The situation has raised diplomatic concerns with sources indicating that Haiti’s sand extraction violates the longstanding treaties and agreements governing the shared border.
Local figures like construction expert Héctor Valerio (known as Juan Bosch) emphasized the disparity in regulations, criticizing Haiti for using Masacre sand freely while Dominicans are banned from extracting and commercializing the sand on the Dominican side of the river. Environmental defender Gonell Franco echoed these sentiments, calling for coordinated action between Haitian and Dominican environmental ministries to mitigate the severe environmental damage.
Yet Haitians continue to extract sand for construction in Haiti from the same Masacre River where an irregular irrigation canal was built, despite major protests from the Dominican government.
Depredatory practices without any government control have destroyed most of the rivers and enormous extensions of forests in Haiti.
Haitian business people built the water irrigation canal after the death of President Jovenel Moise in Haiti. The canal had been begun in the Moise government, but the later ordered it stopped understanding it was in violation of agreements for the joint use of rivers after a protest was received from the Dominican government.
Now, Listin Diario reports ascertaining when flying above in an Air Force helicopter that the Haitians are trucking the sand from the river. The consequences are to be seen soon, with the drying up of the river.
This sand is destined for sale in Ouanaminthe and surrounding areas in Haiti, and is an ongoing practice that has persisted for over four years.
Listin Diario reports sighting seven trucks from Haiti loaded from the waters of the Rio Masacre or Dajabon on the Dominican side were spotted during the aerial reconnaissance. Around 10 Haitians would bring the sand by buckets to the trucks located near the Capotillo point on the border.
Listin Diario reports the movement was constant with the trucks entering to load the sand.
The sand is sold in Ouanaminthe in Haiti and nearby areas and is used for construction.
Listin Diario interviewed university professor Francisco Estevez who said it is unfortunate there is no action on behalf of Dominican and Haitian authorities, given the lethal impact of the sand extraction from the river.
The Dajabón River, originating from the Pico del Gallo mountain in Loma de Cabrera, Dajabón province, and flowing into Manzanillo Bay in Monte Cristi province, serves as a critical resource for both nations. Despite efforts to manage its flow, such as the La Vigía canal and promises of the construction of the Don Miguel Dam by the Dominican government, Listin Diario reports that the unchecked exploitation by Haitian operators continues to threaten the sustainability of the important river.
Listin Diario reports that the military presence along the border has done little to prevent the ongoing environmental degradation caused by unchecked sand extraction activities in Haitian territory. The absence of a clear agreement between Haitian and Dominican authorities regarding permissible uses of the Masacre River exacerbates the issue, leaving the river’s future in jeopardy.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
15 July 2024