CIAO DATE: 09/2012
February 2012
Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre
Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR), the two adjacent countries that comprise the island of Quisqueya, have wide asymmetries and similarities. Due to poverty, nearly a third of Haitians migrate in search of work, including to the DR, and Haiti relies on foreign assistance for food security. The DR’s economy exhibits considerable dynamism, but depends on cheap labour from Haiti and remittances from its own expatriates. Both countries have a common habitat and ecosystem, and their populations have a large proportion of youth. The goodwill that followed Dominican help to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake had largely dissipated by 2011, as Dominican deportations and harsher measures regarding migrants reawoke old grievances. Presidents Martelly (Haiti) and Fernández (DR) have met several times, but these gestures need to be coupled with consistent efforts to address issues of bilateral concern. Haiti should set in place the required administrative capacity for co-operation, possibly through the Mixed Bilateral Commission. The Haitian-Dominican agenda has several areas of great potential. Each country is the second most important trading partner of the other; private investment is creating opportunities for employment on both sides of the border; the protection of the ecosystem and natural disaster prevention are considered priorities by both governments; and interaction between the two countries’ state institutions, academics and civil society has helped to reduce mutual prejudice and foster co-operation. Binational dialogue should also address the situation of Haitian migrants, mainly by seeking ways to prevent abuses and providing personal documents to persons of Haitian origin born or living in the DR and to temporary migrants. International donors should continue to play a key role in supporting projects related to these issues.
Resource link: Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic [PDF] - 421K