President Luis Abinader formally has convened former Presidents Danilo Medina (2012-2016, 2016-2020), Leonel Fernandez (1996-2000, 2004-2008 and 2008-2012) and Hipólito Mejia (2000-2004) to a meeting on Monday, 14 May 2025 at 1pm at the Presidential Palace to discuss the Dominican Republic’s stand as the multidimensional crisis in Haiti worsens and it seems the world is leaving all up to the Dominican Republic to bear the brunt of the chaotic situation in that country. The meeting would be in time for the President to subsequently announce the outcome during the Monday press conference of the day.
The high-level meeting seeks to build a political consensus given the unprecedented Haitian crisis and its direct impact on the Dominican Republic.
Opposition leader, former President Leonel Fernandez said he accepts the invitation yet responded that what is most appropriate is for President Luis Abinader to convene the Social Economic Council. He said that the meeting at the Presidency would be but an opportunity to “take a photo,” as reported in Listin Diario. The Social Economic Council (CES) is the national dialogue entity, but has not been active nor is it known to be productive since it was created.
For decades, the Dominican Republic has been allowing steady migration from Haiti while picking up the tab for growing social costs in education and health care for the Haitian population, at a heavy cost to Dominican taxpayers. Nevertheless, the continuing worsening of the situation in Haiti is driving home the reality that the DR cannot carry the rising social cost of the situation in Haiti. The DR is already also carrying an enormous burden in border control and deportations, at a time when the border is described by Minister of Foreign Relations as a revolving door and the Haitian gang violence is a security threat.
Listin Diario reports that violence in Haiti has only worsened this year, with the rival gangs disputing the control of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, despite the existence of the Haitian transition government. According to the United Nations, during the first quarter of 2025, at least 1,518 persons have died as a result of the violence in Haiti and another 572 have been injured.
Read more:
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Hoy
Diario Libre
DR1 News
6 May 2025