Reginald Delva, the Minister of Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) and Carl Alexandre the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Haiti (MINUSTAH), at the head of a delegation composed of officials of the General Administration Customs, Haitian and Dominican authorities, members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations conducted a 4-day visit at the level of hatiano-Dominican border. The tour, which began Wednesday, September 10, 2014, was used to assess the border line covering 16 communes of Haiti, Anse-à-Pitre to Ferrier, or about 380km boundary with the Republic and visited in particular the posts of Anse-à-Pitres-Pedernales, Malpasse-Jimaní, of Belladère-Elias Piña and of Ouanaminthe-Dajabón.

Mr. Alexandre stated that "the objective of the mission was to assess the situation at border crossings and in order to support the Haitian authorities to develop a strategic plan for border management in order to foster collaboration in border management, security and economic development."

The Minister Delva estimated this assessment necessary to gauge the weaknesses of border control against the informal trade fueled by smuggling and illegal trafficking of all kinds, bringing harm to the two republics of the island. The minister said that following these observations, joint action will be taken by the governments of both countries, supported by international partners, so that Haiti is not the weak link in the security situation in the region and could be a threat to his vis-à-vis.

During these visits, members of the delegation inquired about the existing conditions on both sides of the border for the management of security, customs, emigration and immigration, economic activities in the bi-national markets of these areas and the development of border communities.

After this tour, the Minister of the Interior praised the support of the international community and the synergy of all state entities. He also announced that his Ministry will strive without delay to strengthen border posts, in particular by the integration of appropriate technology which also participate in the identification of our countrymen and stricter controls on market days at border.

HL/ HaitiLibre