Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez Gil urged Dominicans to refrain from traveling to Haiti. He said only essential trips be made. During an interview with the Corripio Media Group, Alvarez noted that prudence dictates that one should not go there at this time.
He made the recommendation after two Dominican crew members were kidnapped when traveling with a large film convoy in Haiti. The kidnappers seek ransom for the release of the two brothers. Alvarez confirmed the Dominican government is in contact with the Haitian government for the release of the young men. Adrian Agromonte, the spokesperson for the film company, Miravista Films, told EFE the negotiations are on a good path.
Alvarez specified that the former mayor of Port-au-Prince, Ralph Youry Chevry was detained for violating Dominican laws: illegal entry and carrying of undeclared firearms in Dominican territory. Alvarez reported that at the time of the interview, the Ministry had not received a formal request for political asylum or has the Haitian government requested the group’s extradition.
Alvarez said that the Abinader administration has set forth a proactive agenda for bilateral relations. High on the priority list of bilateral projects is constructing a border maternity hospital in Haiti close to the Dominican province of Dajabón. At present, hundreds of thousands of Haitian women cross over to give birth for free at Dominican public hospitals.
Alvarez said that several countries have shown willingness to contribute to this cause, including the whole of the European Union and especially France. The construction of the hospital is part of the agreements reached last January, when the Presidents of both countries, Luis Abinader and Jovenel Moïse, announced bilateral cooperation agreements.
Deputy Minister of Bilateral Affairs, Rubén Silié, who accompanied Álvarez during the interview, says the Dominican Republic seeks to systematize policies and actions in its relationship with Haiti, avoiding just reacting to situations as they arise.
“If we only deal with situations, we will never have a defined policy, hence the importance of giving priority to our relations with Haiti and moving to behave proactively,” said Silié, who is a former Dominican ambassador in Haiti.
Alvarez said the country is following with interest President Jovenel Moise’s efforts to modify the Constitution to establish a presidential government system and not the semi-parliamentary system that exists today. He said that the separation of powers between the Senate, the Prime Minister and the President of the country has caused difficulties in consolidating a clear communication line with Haiti. Alvarez acknowledged that President Moise does not have a consensus on how to modify the Constitution. Yet he says there is a consensus that the Constitution needs to be amended.
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25 February 2021