The Presidency convened the the political, business and social leadership to the Presidential Palace on Thursday, 4 November 2021 to explain the measures announced and others that may be adopted, in view of the worsening of the crisis affecting Haiti. The objective is preserving sovereignty and national security.
“I can affirm that all those present here are equally concerned, as is the Dominican government, first, in safeguarding our physical integrity and taking care of our resources, both of sanitary infrastructures and attending to the issues of national and citizen security due to the implications of this issue,” said the President.
An editorial in Diario Libre today explains that the actions of the government and the new restrictions are a message from the Dominican government to the world that the Dominican Republic can not bear the burden of Haiti’s health and education responsibilities. The Dominican Republic is not Haiti, highlights the editorial.
President Abinader has urged the participation of the international community, but this has not been happening. During the meeting with the leadership on 4 November, Abinader said regular Monday meetings would be held to follow up on the crisis in Haiti.
Abinader explained to the leadership the measures adopted on 3 November by the National Migration Council. These are based on the premise that the Dominican Republic cannot continue to bear the burden of Haiti’s problems.
The National Migration Council, in a meeting held at the Presidential Palace, decided the following measures:
- To audit the National Regularization Plan to determine if the persons included qualify.
- Establish 38 offices throughout the national territory for the purpose of identifying all foreign citizens.
- Organize meetings with the productive sectors to define the procedures for the hiring of immigrant labor.
- To limit, only in emergency cases, access to public hospitals throughout the country to illegal immigrants.
The objectives of the measures adopted are as follows:
- To guarantee dignified access to all Dominican patients attending hospital centers.
- To ensure disease control to protect the population from possible contagion.
- Decrease the presence of illegal foreign citizens in our territory.
- To increase citizen security by preventing the penetration of criminal groups into our territory.
The National Migration Council will remain in permanent session to take any measures required by the current situation in Haitian territory.
Meanwhile, reports are of no major novelties at the border with Haiti.
Read more:
Presidency
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Reuters
5 November 2021