Despite the statement following the 3 January meeting in Ouanaminthe where the Haitian government recognized the sovereign right of the Dominican Republic to define who is eligible for Dominican nationality, the Haitian Prime Minister has stated that Haiti would continue insisting that the Dominican Republic should nationalize people of Haitian origin. Since Haiti for years has not been documenting its citizens, thousands that have relocated to the DR have done so without identification papers.
In an interview published on Saturday, 11 January Lamothe told The Miami Herald:
“Q: Why hasn’t the Haitian government been more public on the Dominican Republic’s ruling denying citizenship to Haitians?
A: The government has been very active in solving that issue in a diplomatic way. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are the only two republics that are sharing an island, so we have a unique situation with the Dominican Republic. We managed to have opened a dialogue as the only way to come to grips with the big issues that were affecting the country for the past 50 years. We made it public, our feelings toward this ruling: it was unacceptable, inhumane and steps needed to be taken to address it. However, we had to do it in a certain way to make sure it was a sustainable and successful strategy.
Q: How were the recent talks between Haitian and Dominican officials on the nationality ruling?
A: It was one where it was open, it was frank, it was direct. We put the issues on the table… Our intention is to leave no one behind, whether it’s Haitian temporary workers or Dominicans of Haitian descent…. This is what we discussed with them, and this is what we feel we advanced on many fronts.
Q: Why doesn’t the declaration issued after the meeting mention the nationality ruling?
A: This is the first dialogue of many others coming. We all know what the ruling says, and we all know that it’s an unacceptable ruling. We needed to focus on the next steps, the solutions and the steps that would be taken in order to come to a solution. It shows a willingness, it shows the clear intention of moving toward coming to support and aid of those of Haitian origin”.
www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/11/3865391/lamothe-haiti-rebounding-from.html