A delegation of around 60 US senators were in the Dominican Republic this week led by senator Luis Sepúlveda to learn first-hand about the country, experience Dominican and Haitian relations and dispel misconceptions portrayed in the US media and social networks. Luis Sepulveda serves a large Dominican community in his district in New York.
The visit marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between New York and the Dominican Republic while addressing broader regional challenges.
The visit included a presentation by Foreign Minister Roberto Martinez on economic development and investment opportunities, and meetings with their colleagues at the Dominican Senate in the capital city. The senators also were invited to the Show del Mediodia noontime variety show to discuss national politics and partnerships with US businesses. They also traveled to the interior to visit Dajabón and the Dominican-owned Codevi apparel manufacturing plant in nearby Ouanaminthe.
The visit to the Dominican Republic happened at a time once again the Dominican Republic is blamed in the US media and by NGOs as a “racist” country. The legislators came to personally observe the day-to-day interactions between Dominicans and Haitians.
Senator Sepúlveda explained that the legislative mission sought to verify the nature of the relationship between the two nationalities firsthand. A particular focus was on the treatment of Haitian residents in border areas where manufacturing companies like Codevi Industrial Park operate.
Codevi is a duty-free zone in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, on the border with the DR, a division of Grupo M, a major Santiago-based duty free industrial conglomerate. Codevi has employed some 20,000 employees at any given time (currently making it the largest employer in Haiti), since 2003. It comprises a cluster of 29 garment assembly plants, several office buildings, a food and lodging center, a training center, a child care center, a recycling plant, a primary care center, a shop with food for employees, and a backup power generation building with 5 generator sets. This industrial park is perhaps unique in the world, as a free trade zone is located in the middle of two very culturally different countries.
The senators were able to see firsthand how Haitians and Dominicans get along. “Perception can be problematic sometimes in the United States, especially in New York, which has a large Haitian population. We want to see the reality of what is happening. We’ve seen that sometimes the press and social media give an impression that is not correct… many of the schools here have a large number of Haitian students, and Haitian women give birth in Dominican hospitals,” Sepúlveda added.
As reported in Listin Diario, Assemblywoman Amanda Séptimo expressed admiration for Cesfront’s dedication to maintaining security and order at the border. Cesfront is the Ministry of Defense division in charge of border security. “Their efforts are crucial for ensuring a safe and orderly flow of people and goods, and for strengthening bilateral relations. We are pleased to see how their work contributes to peace and stability in the border region,” stated Septimo.
Vice president of the New York Assembly, Phil Ramos, emphasized the importance of managing the border with care and respect amidst the critical humanitarian challenges faced by Haiti. “It is reassuring to see the border not only remain open but also be managed thoughtfully. This flow of trade and movement of people is a vital economic lifeline. While our support mission will continue, today marks a positive step toward a deeper understanding of this unique relationship. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the government of the Dominican Republic for providing our delegation with this important opportunity.”
The delegation, composed of over 60 US officials, aimed to strengthen ties between the Dominican government and officials in New York. These exchanges have already led to achievements such as the homologation of licenses and increased judicial cooperation.
During the visit, the US lawmakers were briefed on the construction of the border fence by the director of the Specialized Corps for Border Security (Cesfront), General José Heriberto Rodríguez Coste. The delegation also donated US$265,000 to the Boomstick Foundation in Monte Cristi to support its social programs.
Read more in Spanish:
N Digital
Listin Diario
Le Nouvelliste
Codevi
Amnesty International
29 August 2024