While Thomas Jacques, the Haitian Minister of Agriculture and Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, Health Minister accompanied of a commission of several Haitian officials are expected Monday in the Dominican Republic for a working session with the President Medina on the issue of export ban in Haiti of poultry, eggs and live animals; Sunday Vinicio Castillo Semán, the leader of the Dominican National Progressive Force (FNP) has suggested to the President Medina to order the closure of the border with Haiti and increase controls immigration, in response to the ban by the Haitian authorities he describes as "clear act of hostility that deserves a firm and energetic response from the government [...] The attack on the country's international image has been immense. It is widespread that the ban was justified by the existence of bird flu, which was rejected by the international health authorities [OPS]. The tourism sector can be significantly affected [...]"

This ban irritated each day a little more, many Dominicans sectors and up the tension between the two countries, sources of incidents. Thus, in the context of a call for a general strike organized by the Federation of Merchants United in response to the ban, according to the Federation "shouldn't be justified, because in the country there is no bird flu", traders and residents of Dajabón have prevented the entry of Haitians which traditionally pass through a day earlier, to participate in the binational market [Thursday and Friday], as well as the vehicles carrying goods from both Haiti and other parts of the Dominican Republic. The strike for this Monday remains strong and should affect border markets from North to South, the prohibition of border crossing could be extended to all vehicles, according to information circulating...

Since this incident, the Dominican Republic intends not to see again its merchants to the thank you of an unilateral decision of Haiti, and plans to diversify its markets such as eggs and chicken meat. By giving the information, José del Castillo Saviñón, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, said that the Dominican Republic had sent to Venezuela [as part of payment of the debt Petrocaribe] and towards other destinations around 6,000 tonnes of chicken meat every month. Recall that the prohibition imposed by Haiti, represents each week approximately 4.9 million eggs, nearly 350 tons of chicken and 1 million pounds of salami, a loss for the Dominican economy atg the borders of nearly $1,6 million each week.

Furthermore, since the ban, smuggling multiplies and prices rose by 200%. In the medium and long-term the diversification of exports of products originally intended for our country, could force Haiti to supply on other markets to supplement its needs, at costs that may be less advantageous...

Rather than seek confrontation, it would be better that the two governments find a solution quickly to live in harmony. Do not forget that Dominican exports [good and services] in Haiti, estimated at nearly $ 1.3 billion, represent less than 2% of their GDP...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8788-haiti-health-the-haitian-authorities-recognize-some-mistakes-but.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8780-haiti-health-the-dominican-republic-awaiting-the-decision-of-the-government-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8772-haiti-health-towards-a-solution-to-the-ban-imports-of-dominican-products.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8767-haiti-health-tense-situation-between-the-dominican-republic-and-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8751-haiti-health-apn-on-high-alert.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8747-haiti-health-import-ban-a-serious-misunderstanding.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8735-haiti-notice-import-ban-on-poultry-eggs-and-live-animals-from-dominican-republic.html

HL/ HaitiLibre