Philosopher David Alvarez Martin writes in El Caribe today that solidarity is the key to the cohabitation of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the shared island of Hispaniola. He highlights that Dominicans and Haitians have values in common in terms of hospitality, hard work and pride in national identities, and this should be put to work for the development of the island. He laments that Haiti is only mentioned when exorcising the demons of the past or responding to catastrophic circumstances that affect our neighbors and feels such attitudes will impede both countries’ progress in the future. “They want to paint the issue as a disgrace, not as an opportunity,” he writes. Alvarez also alleges that the Haitian theme has been manipulated to take advantage of border contraband and the exploitation of illegal Haitian labor. Haitians have been cast either as invading ogres or victims of racism, but never seen as trading partners or an ally for development. Instead, says the philosopher, Haiti is used for exploitation or by those who “sell” an image of misery to the world.
He writes that it is a fact that Haitian society is at the lowest stratus of the hemisphere and that its state has been collapsed for decades and its economy but one of subsistence, lacking middle class of any significance, an army or any public services. To move ahead, Haiti needs international solidarity, specifically from the US, Canada and France. What is needed from Dominicans right now, he feels, is an open avenue for trade, until the time it is no longer possible. There is also a need for us to ponder how we may contribute to long-range Haitian development once political order is restored, by investment of capitals, state cooperation and solidarity. “Far from closing our eyes and letting things pass, the Dominican Republic needs to dedicate itself intelligently and with open hearts to foster, as best we can, Haitian development and its viability as a country with its own agenda, in our own interests, and to prevent future crises like the present one.”