Hundreds of Haitian cane cutters working at the Los Llanos sugar mill in San Pedro de Macoris province staged a protest on 10 December 2024 outside the Haitian Embassy in Santo Domingo to demand the expedited issuance of passports. The workers claim they have been waiting up to two years to receive their documents.
Jesús Núñez, a representative for the group, said the lack of passports has restricted their ability to work due to fears of deportation.
“We’ve been waiting for our passports for almost two years,” said Jesús Núñez, a spokesperson for the group. “This uncertainty has made it difficult for us to work without fear of being deported.”
The protesters argued that they entered the Dominican Republic legally under work contracts and that they are now entitled to permanent residency and pension benefits. Núñez emphasized that obtaining Haitian passports is a crucial step in securing their rights.
For decades, governments in Haiti have reneged on the responsibility of providing identity papers to Haitians. The issue is foremost on the requirements made by the Dominican government to the Haitian authorities. The documentation is in the better interest of the Haitians and would facilitate the Haitians living in the Dominican Republic to regularize their status.
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Noticias SIN
11 December 2024