Following the joint statement issued after the first meeting of the High Level Bilateral Commission, held on 7 January in Ouanaminthe https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10252-haiti-politic-resumption-of-dialogue-text-of-the-joint-statement.html the Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GARR) expressed concerns about certain aspects of this statement.

GARR believes it is important that meetings are carried out between the authorities of both countries to the island around issues of common interest or topic can hinder good neighborly relations. "However, it is inconceivable that both sides begin to lose time in useless discussions while concerned (small traders, immigrants...) continue to suffer measures that have never been respected as MOU 1999 or the non-observance of the truce on repatriation. The same day of the meeting of 7 January, 33 people have been repatriated by the border Elias Pinas / Belladère."

The GAAR stresses that the measures that must be taken by the Dominican Republic to safeguard the human rights of people of Haitian origin, the joint statement is not clear enough. "In no way there must be negotiations around the Sentence TC 168-13 absurd and discriminatory of the Dominican Constitutional Court. Dominican Republic must assume its responsibilities vis-à-vis his own son and daughters [...] We note that it is inconceivable and unrealistic that the Dominican state asks Dominicans o become Dominican by naturalization."

Dominican side announced the adoption in the coming weeks of an additional law that will address all cases not included in the regulation plan. GARR hope that Dominicans of Haitian descent already in the Dominican civil status, will not be affected by this measure.

In regard to the commitment of the Haitian side to provide appropriate identification documents to Haitian workers to complete the process of regularization of their situation, the GARR expresses serious concerns "When we know that 57% passport applications outside the country are in the Dominican Republic. When we make the observation on the procedure, the cost and the whole problem that exists in the civil registration system that we constantly denounce, we recommend to the Haitian authorities to take measures to ease the process of obtaining a passport, subsidize the cost for this very vulnerable group and initiate real reform of the civil state of the country."

On issues related to sustainability, harmony and proper functioning of trade at the border, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to organize and regulate binational markets. GARR believes that "the expression of binational markets is not appropriate when we know that they are only Dominicans products that collapse in the markets that are in some border points. He took the opportunity to require the integration of municipalities in managing these markets."

GARR calls for a frank and sincere dialogue between the Haitian and Dominican authorities around certain vital issues affecting the lives of two people on the island. However, it urges the Haitian authorities to integrate into discussions some sectors of Haitian civil society "The private business sector can not alone represent civil society. Small merchants, transporters, labor unions, human rights organizations present at the border is an important sector in the dialogue process [...]" GARR warns the Haitian Commission "against any manipulation of Dominican radical sectors very hostile to the Haitian nation, which could encourage them to take decisions contrary to the interests of Haiti."

Also note that as part of the announcement of the Dominican representatives concerning an additional legislation to address all cases not included in the regulation plan, Reynaldo Pared Perez, President of the Dominican Senate stated that the Dominican executive would submit on February 27, to the parliamentary approval a special bill complementary of naturalization...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10263-haiti-politic-predominantly-negative-and-reserved-reactions.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10252-haiti-politic-resumption-of-dialogue-text-of-the-joint-statement.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10245-haiti-politic-binational-dialogue-the-government-continuing-its-consultations.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10237-haiti-dominican-republic-haiti-formed-his-binational-commission-for-dialogue.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10220-haiti-dominican-republic-the-dominican-hard-right-opposed-to-the-resumption-of-dialogue.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10115-haiti-denationalisation-towards-the-resumption-of-dialogue.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9948-haiti-denationalisation-the-dialogue-only-way-for-reasonable-solution.html

HL/ HaitiLibre