The first phase of the border wall with Haiti that the Dominican Republic is building in the neighboring provinces of Montecristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia and Pedernales is 84% ​​complete and its delivery is scheduled for February 2025, reported last week the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza during a tour with the Commander General of the Dominican Army, Major General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, to see the progress of the work carried out at a cost of 32 million dollars of the planned 39.5 million (excluding technological equipment).

It should be added that this wall, in addition to the permanent presence of soldiers, will have a state-of-the-art surveillance system, including other devices : radar, motion detector, high-definition cameras with night vision and infrared, in addition to a squadron of surveillance drones. All information will be transmitted in real time to central control posts.

Paliza announced that a call for tenders will be launched for the second phase of construction of approximately 110 km.

The final wall will include a total of 170 watchtowers (surveillance towers) and checkpoints, in addition to some 71 controlled access gates. The fence will be double in the most critical areas.

With this smart wall between the two countries, whose construction began in 2021, the Dominican Republic seeks to stop irregular immigration and control drug, arms and merchandise trafficking as well as ensure the security of Dominican territory.

It should be noted that the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola, which have a border of 391 kilometers, 654 meters and 46 centimeters, have historically had a tense and complex relationship.

SL/ HaitiLibre