we pray that we will be able to look back and say this was the beginning of a new Haiti

amen !

It is with great pleasure that I watched a clip interview of Dominican president Leonel Fernandez on MSNBC regarding the recent catastrophy in Haiti. I was impressed by his sens of diplomacy and political finesse in addressing questions pertaining to the symbiotic destiny of the two nations. It was a perfect opportunity to blast the utmost incompetence of Preval and his associates but president Fernandez demonstrated great foresight in focusing on what challenges are ahead rather than looking back at the past that devided the island and the misconceptions that seperate the two peoples - too often manipulated by politicians for their own gain. As Haiti remains the DR's number one trading partner and will remain more so during reconstruction; it would be inconceivable not to expect a greater rapprochement between the two countries. We might even see a reverse migration whereby Dominicans might find employment in Haiti.
Que vivan nuestros dos paises entre los brazos de la paz

"We might even see a reverse migration whereby Dominicans might find employment in Haiti."

Unless you are talking about a very specialized Dominican Workforce, not available in Haiti, I just don't see how this could even be possible. There is 95% unemployment rate in Haiti. Why would Haiti contract a foreign work force? Or are there really that many people willing to accept employment for wages below what a Haitian worker is willing to take?, because that is what Haitians do in the DR.

What might be a more logical and reasonable statement: "We might see a reverse Haitian migration, whereby illegal Haitians might find employment in Haiti." Now that sounds more like it.

Your perspicacity has validity but fails to include that capitalism is the driving force behind migration, cultural and political conflicts. Vast amounts of mindless people are easily manipulated by politicians and special interest groups. The problems of migration between Mexico and the U.S. are not dissimilar to thoses between DR and Haiti. A cheap labor force responds to the economic laws of supplies and demand. In the Dominican Republic the U.S. owned sugar refineries are the ones that benefit most from the Haitian presence on Dominican land. When Trujillo had 30000 Haitian laborers massacred on the border not one working for the U.S. companies was touched. The slaughter did not occur because the Haitians could not say "perejil" they were killed because they were black and Dominicans were taught to repudiate their ancestry to Africa.
Haiti stood up against the inherent immorality of slavery and the hypocrisy of the Christian world.
Reverse migration ? Limited to the happy few!

True, Capitalism is a very powerful force and it is precisely the reason why I do not share your same overly optimistic vision for the future. Instead, there will be such an abundant supply of cheap labor that the costs will likely remain low and will fail to be an incentive to attract a qualified Dominican born labor force. I just don't see how it could happen. If anything at all, once Haitians begin to leave the DR to offer their services towards reconstruction efforts in Haiti, the net effect is that the price of labor on Dominican soil will go back to normal, return to regular market rates and offer greater incentives for Dominicans to stay in the DR and take on jobs they previously refused.

Speculating about ecomic fundamentals seems absurd when statistics are approximations and media fabrications computed by outside observers applying western concepts to non-western cultures they know nothing about. A 5% estimation in unemployment in Haiti leaves out an underground economy as exists in many parts of the world. Haiti and DR are Siamese twins. What ails one ails the other and conversely the prosperity of one benefits the other. Economic standards are as unstable as Wall Street or as Hispaniola on the tectonic verge of the Enriquillo-Plantain-Garden fault. What strikes one today might strike the other tomorrow. Instead of talking the fantasy economics of migration, it might be more pragmatic to engage in basic earthquake education and survival through peaceful coexistence as opposed to the cultivation of "ANTIHATIAMISMO" (kicking a dog when it's down). Reading the Dominican sentiments on this site, ethnic cleansing incidents would not be surprising!

To ducderochasse-You, like many others continue to confuse "ANTIHATIANISMO" with racism as if it were one and the same. Here, I must disagree. By making such an allegation you paint the wrong image, a distorted picture of the Dominican people and by doing so, you further spread the confusion and increase ill feelings amongst both nations.

"When Trujillo had 30000 Haitian laborers massacred on the border not one working for the U.S. companies was touched." "The slaughter did not occur because Haitians could not say "perejil" they were killed because they were black and Dominicans were taught to repudiate their ancestry to Africa"

THAT IS TOTALLY WRONG!

You lack accuracy, have twisted the facts and misinterpreted history. Why do you call them "laborers." What do you mean, laborers of what? Are you talking about a Haitian labor force made up of mostly "brazeros" during sugar cane harvest?

Let me tell you something and make one point perfectly clear. I do not condone genocide, but the massacre of the Haitians had more to do with a territorial dispute and the protection of Dominican Sovereignty which Trujillo zealously defended, then with racially motivated hatred, if any at all actually existed.

SO PLEASE STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION TO MAKE DOMINICANS APPEAR LIKE NAZIS.