While more and more Haitians are saying that Haiti should close its borders to Dominicans who seem "apparently" indifferent to the consequences of the measures taken by the neighboring Government, they advocate the consumption of local products to be less dependent, see self-sufficient "Borders must remain closed. The Dominicans can keep their products, we will buy other things. Instead of eating meat, we will eat herring and cod," declares a very angry and militant nationalist local resident.

But beyond an apparent and rare nationalist unity, Haitians continue "from behind" to obtain supplies of Dominican products thanks to contraband which is exploding in the face of strong demand...

Videos circulating on social media show Haitians crossing on foot to uncontrolled border areas to buy Dominican products and resell them on the Haitian market, and several traders have confirmed that they find all the products through the contraband that exists between the two countries for decades.

"We manage to find products, even if they are more expensive," explained a Haitian vendor who sells salami, hot dogs, meat and chicken wings in Haiti.

Armed gangs also contribute. "As food prices rise, they hold the transporters to ransom and demand more and more money to let them pass," which ends up having repercussions on the price at which traders sell their products https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40693-haiti-flash-ouanaminthe-gunfire-and-tear-gas-at-the-border.html

According to official figures, more than half of what Haitians consume comes from the Dominican Republic. If Dominican food products are among the most demanded, Haiti also needs medicine and construction materials (mainly iron and cement), so since the closure, the shortage has become more and more obvious…

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40698-haiti-flash-partial-reopening-of-the-dominican-border-new-measures-and-an-embargo.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40693-haiti-flash-ouanaminthe-gunfire-and-tear-gas-at-the-border.html

S/ HaitiLibre