Spanish
SANTO DOMINGO. – The Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, assured this Wednesday that the situation on the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti remains under control, with no reports of unusual incidents.
He indicated that the four border markets are operating with high commercial activity, driven by an increase in trade due to the fall in Haitian imports. This scenario has increased the entry of food into the neighboring country, where more than 80% of these products come from Dominican territory.
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Fernández Onofre explained that, although in Haiti some cities have been walled by local authorities, armed gangs continue to operate in their usual areas and control strategic routes —such as number 3 and number 8 towards Port-au-Prince— without approaching the border line. The minister pointed out that a “minute-by-minute” monitoring of the situation is maintained, with operations that include support to the General Directorate of Migration for the exhaustive screening of all foreigners detained irregularly, verifying if they belong or have belonged to armed groups. He reaffirmed that the Armed Forces are committed to preserving the peace, security, and tranquility of Dominican families, and maintained that the country has full control in the border area. Regarding the United States' decision to limit visas in a currently litigated case, Fernández Onofre indicated that it is an ongoing process and that its evolution will be awaited.
