Quid pro quo: Dominican Republic swaps sovereignty for Haiti trade dollars

Santo Domingo.- Apparently bowing to pressure from abroad and eager for its neighbor’s trade dollars, Dominican Republic has opted to ease sovereignty and halt deportations of mostly Haiti undocumented foreigners, while Port-au-Prince lifts its ban on exports of its neighbor’s poultry products.

Presidency chief of staff Gustavo Montalvo on Friday said Haiti lifted its ban on the exports of chickens and eggs as the result of the resumed talks between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo authorities, which also agreed to discussions on contentious topics including migrant labourers, border security, and agriculture.

This encounter between the Governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the Haiti community of Ouanaminthe has begun to bear fruit,” Montalvo said, adding that officials from both countries plan to meet again Feb. 3 in the Dominican town Jimani, on the border that separates the two nations on Hispaniola.

The official’s revelation comes just one day after Agriculture minister Luis R. Rodríguez announced that exports of meats, eggs and chickens will resume out without hindrance by Haitian authorities.

Montalvo, speaking in an activity to deliver 200 motorcycles to the traffic police (Amet), added that the Government’s plan to regulate the presence of undocumented foreigners includes beefing up security along its 380 km. border with Haiti, among other measures to bolster bilateral relations between the two countries.