Central Romana sugar mill.
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SANTO DOMINGO.- Haiti’s ambassador Fritz Cineas said there is neither slavery nor mistreatment against his fellow citizens in Dominican Republic and that international human rights organisms exaggerate in their denunciations.
The diplomat also said there is no racial discrimination, though recognized that conditions in farms, bateyes and sugar fields where Haitians work “aren’t the best.”
He said the Dominican government and executives of sugar mills deliver make efforts to solve the precarious conditions of workers.
Cienas said the Haitians who enter Dominican territory to work do it of their own free will and the fact they live in bateyes were conditions aren’t the best doesn’t mean there’s slavery in the Dominican Republic. "Certainly the conditions for the Haitian workers are difficult, but it’s necessary to say that there is good will on the part of the Government and by the sugar industry of the Vicini Group and the Central Romana companies, who try to improve the conditions."
Cineas, in an interview for the Corripio Communications Group, said he recently visited the Vicini Group’s bateyes and observed improved conditions for Haitian workers. "Hopefully the improvements they are doing can become general in the other bateyes in this country."
In June the Haitian diplomat rejected the accusations in the campaign agaisnt the Dominican sugar industry headed by the Spanish priest Christopher Hartley.
Written by: JD, 30 Aug 2007 3:55 PM
From: Washington DC
FYI, there's a conflict of interest which leads him not to speak negatively against the industry & RD. Like many Dominicans living in the USA but send millions $ remittances back home to RD families...to a less extent the same is true for immigrant Haitians who provide a direct economic benefit to Haiti. Otherwise, Haitians would likely be unemployed back home in Haiti with a worse economy.
Haiti even gained textile exports/jobs from the RD but most went to ASIA due to RD corruption cost
Written by: Gregory, 31 Aug 2007 1:07 PM
From: New York
I wonder how much he gets paid for his comments. It is easier for him to ignore the situation than to make an effort to denouce it as a goverment official, and avoid a mass deportation similar to the one Aristide goverment faced. As a haitian, I am outraged. A Picture speaks louder than a 1000 words. I strongly support the documentary of the Father rather than his twisted view. Shame on you Mr Cineas. No wonder why Aristide is in exile today. He could not be bought, he had guts.
From: Santo Domingo
If you want to see the application of slavery on its maximum extension in the island, JD, you have only to see the appalling conditions with which the haitian children live under the "restavek" system on their own country. The basis of this system being that the families poverty of the haitian peasantry, making them unable to raise their children, so they tend to give some of them to the elite families, which in turn tend to treat those poor children no better than (cont...)
From: Santo Domingo
(cont..) their forefathers of colonial times. The only way to truly reach the elimination of slavery on the island is in the suppresion of the sources of it, namely, Haiti's poverty and lack of institutions, which are the chief causes that forces the haitians to sell their workforce in those conditions mirroring slavery. My point being that, until living conditions change on their country, the haitians will always be better off on the DR than on their own country, (cont...)
From: Santo Domingo
(cont..) and no matter the accusations of slavery, these would not dissuade the haitian peasant of seizing the chance to make good their escape from their dreadful reality. The existence of 12,000 haitian students in dominican universities is proof enough that the haitian population in DR is NOT suffering wholesale slavery as those accursed NGO's wants to sustain.
From: Barahona
Every one who travel around the country will see that haitians lives and work all over ours cities and rural areas. Their work in all constrution sites, farms, hotels and publics works. Gregory knows that, but lies and lies and lies is the creed of evil peoples.
From: florida
The regular Haitians and Dominicans understand that they are condemned to live together. Geography,ecomonomics,and common sense dictate it.
I observe the life Haitian living in Haiti and in the Domincan Republic . I wonder in which country the are worst treated: in their own country or in the Domincan Republic.
Hypocrisy stirs animosity. Some people will love to see Haitians and Dominicans crossing machetes.
From: Atlanta
It's perfectly understood that the Haitians came to work on their own free will, but there's what we call humanity, which means to treat some one else with respect and dignity regadless of what they choose to do. This people have been treated like they are not human even animals should be treated with respect. I don't seem to see any sympathy or bortherwood towards the dominicans which consider to me as a black.
From: USA/DR/Haiti
I think casting Dominican Republic as a slave country is a bit harsh and not fair since our own country practice the same form of exploitation even worst in certain aspects. I think haitians & dominicans need to get together to end this propaganda. It was a very positive suggestion for the haitain government to speak up and show solidarity with our neighbhors. Afterwards, we can discuss the disequality in Haiti and the DR. I am haitian and don't support this NGO crap. They should start
From: USA/DR/Haiti
continue...in Haiti first and show the conditions of darker hue people there. Does the DR practice discrimination against people of darker hue, of course but so does haiti. They should start campaigning where the fire started and sadly it is in Haiti where the epidemic stems.
Written by: Lamar, 19 Sep 2007 5:37 AM
From: Miami, FL
May the great work of great humanitarians like Father Christopher Hartley go on. Frits Cineas is a joke. It would be funny if we were not talking about real human beings. If slavery and mistreatment happens in a wealthy country like the U.S.A one could only imagine what happens to Haitian immigrants in a poor country like DR. Particularly given the vehement anti-Haitianismo in DR
From: USA/DR/Haiti
Lamar, Mistreatment, exploitation happens in the DR and Haiti. As a responsible haitian national it would be unfair for me to cast a stone at my neighbors when my home does the same thing. Dominicans get exploited too and are oppressed. I concur that the anti-haitianismo sentiment needs to be eradicated out of the dominican pysche but Haitian govn't has their hands dirty as well. To solve this problem then haiti has to face responsiblities as well. After all it is due to the inequality ...
From: USA/DR/Haiti
cont..in Haiti. Cineas can't out right blast DR for their neo-slavery of haitian workers since he, too, has his hand dirty. Besides, if haitian government blames DR that will cause more friction btw the 2 governments. I am not pardoning DR for its wrong doing but we need to step to the plate and take care of our own. Im all for the support of haitian and dominicans that are exploited. Both countries are equally responsible..
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Haiti even gained textile exports/jobs from the RD but most went to ASIA due to RD corruption cost
I observe the life Haitian living in Haiti and in the Domincan Republic . I wonder in which country the are worst treated: in their own country or in the Domincan Republic.
Hypocrisy stirs animosity. Some people will love to see Haitians and Dominicans crossing machetes.