Santo Domingo.-  General Adriano Silverio’s surprise dismissal in less than one year as head of the Border Security Corp (Cesfront) has sparked mixed reactions from representative sectors of Dajabon province (northwest).

For Border Solidarity Foundation director Jesuit priest Regino Martinez the CESFRONT chief was fired because he hasn’t been carrying out the mission for which the Army created the unit.

The religious leader said when it began operations last year Cesfront undertook to comply with a 12-point list of actions to be taken in the border area. "Only two of these points have been met, which are Cesfront’s non-intervention in the market bi-national and the collaboration of the authorities with civil organizations to prevent smuggling."

The prelate said among the points which haven’t been met are the reduction of the number of checkpoints in several border provinces, issuing ID cards for Haitian domestic workers to cross to Dajabón, and banning Haitians from crossing the Masacre river to Dominican territory on non-market days.

The mayor Sonia Mateo said Silverio’s transfer is a routine change made by the Armed Forces Ministry. She said she’ll meet with the new Cesfront chief Jorge Garcia in next few days to discuss various issues related to border controls.

Cesfront began operations September 27 along the Haitian border, to prevent the smuggling of guns, merchandise, and drugs and people trafficking on both sides.