UN Human Rights Expert Expresses Concern Over Dominican Republic's Border Closure Amid Canal Dispute
UN's William O'Neill calls on the Dominican Republic to reconsider its border closure with Haiti, citing potential economic repercussions and urging a peaceful resolution to the canal dispute between the nations.
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William O'Neill, the United Nations' expert on Human Rights in Haiti, has raised alarm regarding the recent decision by the Dominican Republic to shut down its land, sea, and air border with Haiti amid a dispute over the construction of a canal connecting a shared river.
O'Neill has urged the Dominican Republic to reconsider its actions, emphasizing the serious impact this border closure will have on both sides of the divide. In a statement, he called on both governments to return to the negotiating table and adhere to the process outlined in the Joint Declaration of May 27, 2021, in order to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing dispute.
Highlighting the significant dependence of numerous Dominican Republic businesses on cross-border trade with Haiti for their economic sustenance, O'Neill cautioned that the nation would immediately experience adverse economic consequences as a result of this decision.
For Haiti, the repercussions will be even more severe, according to O'Neill. He noted that due to the prevailing insecurity and gang violence in Haiti, essential goods such as food, medical equipment, and medicines are primarily imported from the Dominican Republic.
The UN expert called upon the Dominican Republic to permit the delivery of all forms of humanitarian aid and vital supplies to Haiti, emphasizing the importance of avoiding further aggravation of an already dire crisis.
Furthermore, O'Neill urged the Haitian Government to assert its authority over all activities related to the proposed canal on the Rio Massacre (Dajabon) to ensure that appropriate engineering, health, safety, and environmental protocols are rigorously adhered to.
This border closure comes on the heels of the Dominican Republic's decision to halt the issuance of visas to Haitians and the closure of the border near the northern town of Dajabon.
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