The Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GARR) tells us that reliable sources have reported hunting of Haitians in Puerto Plata, Sosua and other tourist areas in the north of the Dominican Republic. Two trucks drive all day in Puerto Plata at the entrance and exit of the city and go into strong communities of Haitians. Officials of Dominican migration accompanied by military halt Haitian nationals and gives them the order to board without even linger to check their document.

Since the beginning of these arbitrary arrests, persons in charge of hotel, have advised their Haitian employees even those that hold a legal permit of residence to stay at the hotel for some time instead of returning home to avoid being deported without warning, said a source close to the tourism business. In addition, dark-skinned Dominicans have told Haitians that they also feel threatened by these raids and no longer move without their cedula. It should be remembered that cases of deportation of Dominican nationals taken for Haitians have already been recorded on numerous occasions at the border, in the past.

On December 9, 2010, the daily El Nacional had reported the arrest followed the deportation of dozens of Haitian merchants in Banica, Pedro Santana, Hondo Valle, Sabana Cruz and in other places of ELIAS PIÑA so, say the authorities to combat the spread of cholera in the Dominican Republic.

These operations were conducted jointly by representatives of the Ministry of Public Health, Directorate General for Migration, the Department, Armed Forces and the Corps of Border Security Specialist (CESFRONT). "The Dominican authorities have ousted Haitian traders during operations in hotels, dormitories, residences where they spent the night and in their warehouses of goods, for prevention of cholera", stated El Nacional.

In a recent note sent to the press, the GARR urged Haitian officials to break their silence and speak out publicly about the abuse and the increasing discrimination suffered by Haitian nationals in the Dominican Republic.

HL/ GAAR