NewsWhore
08-25-2010, 03:40 PM
Francisco Leonardo of the Jesuit Refugee Service claims that the networks that smuggle Haitians, including children, into the DR to beg on the streets, do so in complicity with the authorities. As reported in El Caribe, he said that the owners of the business demand 200, 300, or 500 pesos a day from the children who are posted on busy street corners. Leonardo said that the massive presence of the children on city streets is caused by "interests of groups within and outside the government, associated with mafias that are the ones that direct the Haitian migration to Dominican territory."
He said that some children are there at their own will, but in general there are networks that distribute the children to city corners and it is a lucrative business. He said the problem would be solved if the authorities applied serious migratory policies.
"There are many checkpoints on the border. Everyone who has gone to the border knows that it is impossible for someone to cross to Dominican cities without the complicity of Migration, Cesfront (border patrol) and other military authorities at the checkpoints," he said.
He said that although the children's plight on the streets has worsened, the authorities only carry out raids when the topic is in the press. Meanwhile, the problem continues without being resolved. He said that sometimes, military officials caught openly asking for bribes are just sent to another post.
Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado said that while in Santo Domingo many Haitian children beg on street corners, what is happening in Santiago has no limits. "Go to Santiago. It is a deplorable situation, it breaks ones heart to see those children raising their hands at the traffic lights", he commented. He said that if the situation is not resolved, the children are at high risk of turning into criminals in the future.
El Caribe reports that efforts to pick up the children stopped after the January earthquake in Haiti. The newspaper writes that the children don't have anywhere to sleep. In Santiago, the director of the Association of Owners of Stores in the Historic Center, Carlos Lora said that the children harass clients and tourists, while the authorities remain indifferent. He said they are giving the city a bad image.
El Caribe reports that the Department of Migration has equipped a center in Haina to house the minors picked up during government operations until their parents are located and their status in the country is established. He said the department is preparing a campaign to discourage people from giving money to the children, to remove the incentive from the business.
Migration Department head Sigfrido Pared Perez recognized that the presence of illegal Haitians has increased since the earthquake. He said that the government would soon carry out a census to establish how many Haitians live in the country. Furthermore, he said that preparations are under way for the start of implementation of the six-year old Immigration Law.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
He said that some children are there at their own will, but in general there are networks that distribute the children to city corners and it is a lucrative business. He said the problem would be solved if the authorities applied serious migratory policies.
"There are many checkpoints on the border. Everyone who has gone to the border knows that it is impossible for someone to cross to Dominican cities without the complicity of Migration, Cesfront (border patrol) and other military authorities at the checkpoints," he said.
He said that although the children's plight on the streets has worsened, the authorities only carry out raids when the topic is in the press. Meanwhile, the problem continues without being resolved. He said that sometimes, military officials caught openly asking for bribes are just sent to another post.
Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado said that while in Santo Domingo many Haitian children beg on street corners, what is happening in Santiago has no limits. "Go to Santiago. It is a deplorable situation, it breaks ones heart to see those children raising their hands at the traffic lights", he commented. He said that if the situation is not resolved, the children are at high risk of turning into criminals in the future.
El Caribe reports that efforts to pick up the children stopped after the January earthquake in Haiti. The newspaper writes that the children don't have anywhere to sleep. In Santiago, the director of the Association of Owners of Stores in the Historic Center, Carlos Lora said that the children harass clients and tourists, while the authorities remain indifferent. He said they are giving the city a bad image.
El Caribe reports that the Department of Migration has equipped a center in Haina to house the minors picked up during government operations until their parents are located and their status in the country is established. He said the department is preparing a campaign to discourage people from giving money to the children, to remove the incentive from the business.
Migration Department head Sigfrido Pared Perez recognized that the presence of illegal Haitians has increased since the earthquake. He said that the government would soon carry out a census to establish how many Haitians live in the country. Furthermore, he said that preparations are under way for the start of implementation of the six-year old Immigration Law.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)