Within the framework of the Customs Cooperation Agreement, signed between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in February 2014 in Jimani, www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10474-haiti-economy-fight-against-smuggling-bilateral-agreement.html a working meeting was held behind closed doors in Santo Domingo last weekend between the customs authorities of the two neighboring countries.

The Haitian Mission led by Victor H. St. Louis, the Director General of Customs, among others was composed of Deputy Director General of Customs, Reynald Eugene, the IT director Pierre Placide and the Secretary General, V. Gaston Sylvestre.

On the Dominican side, the delegation led by Enrique A. Ramirez Paniagua, the Director General of Customs, was composed among others of of Technical Deputy Directors, Gabino Polanco and Williams Pacheco, of advisor of the Director Eduardo Rodriguez Apolinario and of Director of Customs Intelligence Department, Ramón Valerio.

The two Heads of Customs from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have aggred to improve customs cooperation between the two countries, in particular by promoting the bilateral work between the technical teams to fight against smuggling and tax fraud in the border area.

The Director Paniagua described the meeting with Victor H. St Louis and his team of constructive and auspicious and recalled that the opening of the discussion table with the customs authorities of Haiti, pursuing the efforts being made on both sides to maintain active the agreement of Jimani of 2014. He expressed to the Haitian delegation all the interest of the Dominican Customs to maintain close cooperation to prevent and combat customs offenses.

Victor H. St Louis, expressed his gratitude for the welcome and the special treatment received by him and members of his team by Dominican customs authorities.

Both delegations expressed their satisfaction with the quality of exchanges and agreed to maintain a permanently open communication channel to facilitate cooperation between customs administrations.

SL/ HaitiLibre