AT the northwestern border.
Rio de Janeiro.- “As generous as Dominican Republic wants to be, it cannot assume Haiti’s poverty, because it would fall to the same situation," was president Leonel Fernandez’s argument against those who oppose the repatriation of Haitians who cross the border to his country fleeing their nation’s misery.
Interviewed by AFP during an Economic Forum in Rio de Janeiro last week, the Dominican chief executive also noted "national sovereignty" and similar practices in other nations to justify the repatriations. “Every day Dominicans are repatriated from Puerto Rico and the United States.”
He said it’s a phenomenon that occurs on a planetary scale and noted the construction of a wall along the Mexican-U.S. border. “Illegal massive migration is untenable for any country. Repatriation is a topic that is carried out in different parts of the world every day. Dominican Republic is obliged to carry out attributes of national sovereignty as it occurs everywhere."
Haitian immigration to Dominican Republic is a topic of permanent tension between both countries. Around 360 undocumented Haitians were repatriated in mid April from the country’s main northern city Santiago.
From: United States
This is the first time this idiot (Leonel) makes any sense.
Written by: Atabey, 3 May 2011 11:26 AM
From: United States, NYC
Good to see him stating this position in such a venue. The DR needs to get well spoken, and ENGLISH, speakers to combat the world wide misconception that Haiti's ills are somehow due to DR's attitude against Haiti's unremitting illegal population movement eastward on the island. Haiti's problems emanate from historical facts that have nothing absolutely to do with DR.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Poverty is a contagious disease.
It should be treated with more precautions than cholera.
Because it has no cure.
From: United States
Jim, i bet a speechwriter wrote that for this guy.
Written by: RoyStone, 3 May 2011 11:34 AM
From: Australia
So Leo's bid for a UN job has taken him to Brazil now? Maybe securing a box seat for the Olympic Games? Maybe getting advice from Brazil's lady president on how to get his Mrs to change her mind about running?
Written by: generoso, 3 May 2011 12:02 PM
From: United States, Quisqueya
Haiti's continuous and unabated transfer to the DR of their poor, sick, unemployed and homeless citizens can not continue any more. This illegal immigration, sponsored besides Haiti, by the developed countries that do not want Haitians immigrating illegally to their shores, should be number one priority in the agenda of the president of the DR, to protect our nation and its citizens.
The illegal Haitian immigration sadly displaces the poorest Dominicans, and forces them to emigrate themselves to other nations, in their desperation to flee poverty, and earn a living.
Historically countries have been taken over by this "transfer" of foreign nationals into their shores, and if the DR does not reverse urgently the flow of Haitian immigration, and send back the illegals ASAP, we might very well be speaking creole in the DR, sooner rather than later, have voo doo as our official religion, and make space for Jean Jacques Dessalines, as another father of our new country.
From: United States, Yonkers, NY
Exactly. Keep saying this.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
I had previously thought this guy was totally gutless, he might still have some residual testosterone after all.
MJEV.
Written by: Belly, 3 May 2011 12:34 PM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
Wow Leonel is starting to talk like president of DR instead of the LA conflict solver go to Guy. I wish he would take less time responding why DR is doing and spend more actually doing it what's he shall have been doing long ago. Let the whinners whin and do what you suppose to do in the best interest ofDR.
From: United States, Brooklyn
Finally a word from this guy!
From: United States
Well i guess he wants to leave on a good note with the dominican people.... its about time he payed more attention this issue.
Written by: danny00, 3 May 2011 2:14 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
Written by: WalterPolo, 3 May 2011 11:28 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Poverty is a contagious disease.
It should be treated with more precautions than cholera.
Because it has no cure.
NOT TRUE THE BEST CURE FOR THIS IS EDUCATION.
WELL AT LEAST THEN ONE HAS THE CHANCE TO RAISE FROM POVERTY.
Written by: danny00, 3 May 2011 2:15 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
rise they will if given the chance the people in poverty.
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
Did he have to cut a ribbon for this one? What a genius.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Danny
You're describing the vaccine.
Not the cure.
From: Dominican Republic, Santiago
Too little too late from the leader who has allowed our country to be infested and infected with these illegals.
SEND THEM BACK BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
They destroyed their land and now they want to destroy my Quisqueya La Bella.
SEND THEM BACK BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Illegal is illegal.
From: United States
he should've said this years ago !
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
The only time leonel has not told lie , we cannot take burden of haiti poverty and government corruption , they must fix there problems themselves .
From: United States
por fin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: United States
We don't need your help, Mr Fernandez and your fellow dominicans, you are also a poor country. Two skinny people amount to nothing.
From: United States
carbelk, i see where your welfare payments have been cut off, and you can no longer afford medication. fear not. go have a word with social services. i am sure that they have some sort of program to help the mentally defective.
Written by: jasfalon, 8 May 2011 5:46 PM
From: United States
HEY LEONEL, Where's the 10,000 student University that you said that you would build for Haiti after the earthyquake. LIAR - as usual!
From: United States
Generoso's comment of countries being taken over by the transfer of masses of refugees is a warning to all Dominicans. Look what happened to Lebanon with the mass migration of Palestinians from Jordan and likewise what happened in Jordan when massive immigrants came from Palestine after the Israeli Declaration of independence.
Let's not let history be repeated in our country, or we will be fighting a civil war in ten to twenty years with a population that came en mass looking desperately for survival. ( Jordan-1948 Palestinian massive immigration: 1960's- war of expulsion of Palestinians. Lebanon 1960's- massive Palestinian immigration from Jordan: Late 1970's Lebanese civil war begins with Palestinians front and center in the conflict ).
From: United States
Now he is finally talking..............What took him so long?
Too little, too late.
From: United States
carbelk, you are not a member of any sector of the human race. now get back to your cage.your daily ration of bones is on its way. now try not to urinate where you sleep. it is not polite.
From: Dominican Republic
That reminds me of this ad :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfaFmv9GdjY It's a small island, alone obviously we cannot do it, but you got to think a little bit. We are neighbors afterall,....it's not a "let me close my eyes and forget about it" situation either.
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It should be treated with more precautions than cholera.
Because it has no cure.
Haiti's continuous and unabated transfer to the DR of their poor, sick, unemployed and homeless citizens can not continue any more. This illegal immigration, sponsored besides Haiti, by the developed countries that do not want Haitians immigrating illegally to their shores, should be number one priority in the agenda of the president of the DR, to protect our nation and its citizens.
The illegal Haitian immigration sadly displaces the poorest Dominicans, and forces them to emigrate themselves to other nations, in their desperation to flee poverty, and earn a living.
Historically countries have been taken over by this "transfer" of foreign nationals into their shores, and if the DR does not reverse urgently the flow of Haitian immigration, and send back the illegals ASAP, we might very well be speaking creole in the DR, sooner rather than later, have voo doo as our official religion, and make space for Jean Jacques Dessalines, as another father of our new country.
I had previously thought this guy was totally gutless, he might still have some residual testosterone after all.
MJEV.
Finally a word from this guy!
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Poverty is a contagious disease.
It should be treated with more precautions than cholera.
Because it has no cure.
NOT TRUE THE BEST CURE FOR THIS IS EDUCATION.
WELL AT LEAST THEN ONE HAS THE CHANCE TO RAISE FROM POVERTY.
You're describing the vaccine.
Not the cure.
SEND THEM BACK BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
They destroyed their land and now they want to destroy my Quisqueya La Bella.
SEND THEM BACK BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Illegal is illegal.
Let's not let history be repeated in our country, or we will be fighting a civil war in ten to twenty years with a population that came en mass looking desperately for survival. ( Jordan-1948 Palestinian massive immigration: 1960's- war of expulsion of Palestinians. Lebanon 1960's- massive Palestinian immigration from Jordan: Late 1970's Lebanese civil war begins with Palestinians front and center in the conflict ).
Too little, too late.
It's a small island, alone obviously we cannot do it, but you got to think a little bit. We are neighbors afterall,....it's not a "let me close my eyes and forget about it" situation either.