This is a hard topic to discuss because this is a long confrontation that started hundreds of years ago. I hope our generation or the generations to come solve this problem. I am not an anti-Haitian; I am the one who thinks that Haiti is a country culturally reach and full of intellectual people.

The problem is that we Dominicans don’t know too much about our neighbors even thought a lot of them live in our country and their country is right there. We just suppose how they are like.

If I ask right now to the people that are by my side who is the current president of Haiti, what’s happening right now over there or any other simple question a few will know the answer to these statements.

Now this is my opinion about our current situation

Dominican Republic lately has developed its economy to a level that is getting the attention to the world!!! If you live one year outside Dominican Republic and go back again you will see every thing different. When I was living in New York, I spent two years there without coming here to (DR). When I came back I was really impressed about all the new buildings, businesses etc. The point that I want to reach with it is that the uncontrolled immigration from Haiti to DR is not helping us at some point to our development.

1st- 1000000 Haitians living in DR (99% poor), that wont help in any way to our development. The worst thing is that their children (95%) won’t go to school, because if their parents are illegal they won’t be recognize as Dominican even thought they are born here.

2nd – Some other problems that this immigration can cause are related to health, security, jobs and the list goes on and on.

Me as a young Dominican see my country as a place full of possibilities… we just have to put some effort… we are just afraid of this immigration factor… Can it turn our dream of having a developed country into a nightmare? WE JUST WANT TO ECHAR PA LANTE!!!!

I really appreciate the mature and respectfull citizens of both nations comments regarding this post. I hope that we get something "positive" of it. It was indeed a ballsy move Frank but I feel we have have nothing to lose. NY4life, I think my fellow compatriots that believe DR is part of haiti or rightfully our is in the minority. Actually that is new to me and I've never heard about this in my circle. Frank regarding the race issue I have to agree with you that Haiti faces the exact same thing depending on the hue of the person. I think if haitians and dominicans stop yelling at each other they will realize that NGO's and foreignors are the ones throwing flame into the fire but when shit hit the fan they pack up and take the first flight out of hispaniola and live us to deal with the uproar. I sincerely think we are at a critical point in history and if we miss this ride I have to say it will be another one hundred plus years before we can patch up our wounds that we seem to appear love scratching so it never closes. I feel as though this dialogue has been healthy and I hope it continue on this path. Frank, I think dominicans need to petition for a monument in haiti to remember what happen and also the 37 massacre. So these things never happen again and we can say I forgive and move on to a better future.

" I think dominicans need to petition for a monument in haiti to remember what happen and also the 37 massacre. "

That is an excellent, excellent proposal.

I second that

Jabao, that's a great idea!!

It would also help if, for once, the media over here would stop portraying Haiti as a dreadful and dangerous place to go. I know that it may sound as limiting freedom of speech, but one thing that I have clear is that journalism should be exercised with responsibility in order to achieve its true goal as the safeguard of the truth in a democracy. Sadly, much of media is increasingly finding itself very far from this lofty goal nowadays.

Mr. DOM thanks for bringing the immigration factor into it and dealing with present. You are right although many haitians live in the DR only a small percentage know anything about them. Personally I think dominicans need to learn more about there neighbours. They arent interested unless it effects them personally although this is a human nature thing. I have made dominican friends and they were dying to visit haiti. Some were apalled to see haiti in a better light that what they have imagine. Its like the average american not knowing anything outside of his backward mexican or canadians. I have to agree with you in a sense that haitians are hindering the development of DR to a certain extent. Who do you think built all of the roads,buildings etc. that you were impressed when you came back home? The fact that dominicans dont want to admit or refuse to accept is that haitians have contributed immensely in the development of DR now my main concern is having these experience maestros go home and build there. Now this is up to the haitian government to open that door and I feel it is dominican concern to make sure these plans are implemented more than the International community. Actually Preval is in the works of building infrastructure and hopefully that will persuade haitian workers to come back home. I think one thing that needs to be address is the quality of life in haiti has to be up to par with DR especially salary to keep haitians home. I know that haiti is in shortage of young engineers and tech support which dominicans can help us with since there aren't enough jobs for all of these dominican professionals. Also there are many haitian doctors,lawyers, entrepreneurs boosting the dominican economy as well now im sure if things were more stable they all would go home. Do you know that there are more than one flight and many airline between the two countries on a dialy basis..ticket cost 250 usa. Who do think are on these flights..now that's alot of money haitans are putting out in the DR..I have to go to the length to say after dominican diaspora haitians are not lagging with spending money in the DR. I think if many dominicans see haiti as a potential investment man will have alot of money circulating on the island rather than foreignors routing out of either country. The future of Haiti and Dominican Republic is in our hands..Two separate country that needs a hand from each other..that's the only way..when dominicans stop thinking that haiti is some place in space rather a neighbour that contributes to their development will be on the road to recovery... One thing to clarify is I don't condone illegal haitians just coming across the border at free will without having proper documentation.

I agree with you Mr. Jabao, Haitians have enriched the Dr in many ways but there’s comes a point where over abundance of cheap labor has an adverse affect on the lower strata of local wages. Since the immigrants are from the lower echelons of Haitian society they also tend to have more kids initiating a vicious circle of poverty and over population that is seldom broken. That is the dilemma Jabao, but I can happily report that I have been noticing a drop in Haiti’s fertility rate in the last 5 years or so this should in theory, make it a more manageable situation. Also, Mr. Jabao, the international campaign against the Dr is so inefficient if they were to put that much effort into rebuilding Haitian infrastructure(or just putting money into circulation in Haiti), Haiti would have a firm foundation towards the future. I believe I have told you about my dealings in Haiti. Haiti is so ripe because it is still so virgin in the ways of the modern business model.

Another point I would like to make is that the red tape to get commerce across the border is a pain in the butt and some type of procedure needs to be implemented to make the transactions smoother. Also I believe haiti needs to promote tourism to its country. The first clients should be our neighbours. Yes, it is cheap bus ride or flight(will not cheap) but wherever your money can pay for. Some type of discount for dominican citizens in hotels car rental etc. and the visa entry fee for dominicans should be removed to persuade dominicans to travel there. The media in the DR need to allow the dominican people to see the real haiti rather than just when there are problems. I discovery channel for haitians and dominicans to learn about one another. I dont know Im just throwing some ideas out that I feel would break the misconceptions. The monuments is something very important so that dominicans and haitians can say we haven't forgotten but have forgiven for the better of our people and respect. Have a yearly pilgrammage of dominicans to that monument to pay hommage and have haitians do the same to the Ouanaminthe/Dajabon frontier. It is a start..we would put the NGO's out of business and make mends on our own terms..I am getting upset that we are being played....let me stop writing..

Getting off the main subject a little...out of curiousity, Jabao, what town or city in Haiti holds the reputation among your people for having the most attractive females?..Jacmel seems to come up alot when I ask some of my Haitian-American freinds.