NewsWhore
11-09-2010, 06:50 PM
The coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Services on the border with Haiti has reiterated his complaint about uncontrolled migration across the border, where he says Dominican soldiers charge tolls and traffic in prohibited substances.
Father Regino Martinez, a Jesuit priest, said that soldiers from the Specialized Border Security Patrol (Cesfront) charge up to RD$5,000 to let an illegal Haitian migrant through. He said that there are no mechanisms to detect the trafficking of weapons, or any trained dogs to catch drug traffickers or to assist soldiers in controlling illegal traffic on the border.
"Now they have increased the cost from RD$2,500 to RD$5,000. No one has authorized them to charge this, he said, saying that the military post is responsible.
"There is uncontrolled trafficking and there are no intelligence controls to establish whether it involves drugs or weapons. A weapons detector has never been taken there, nor a trained dog to control drugs. The military simply sees if the package is big it is RD$100, or if it is little it is RD$50. That's the only control," he told Listin Diario yesterday when interviewed as he took part in the civic movement at Congress to demand an increased budget allocation for education in the 2011 National Budget.
Hoy reports today that National Business Council (CONEP) president Lisandro Macarrulla has expressed his concern about the increase in people smuggling across the border with Haiti. He urged the authorities to deal with migration with a long term and integrated vision. He said the situation in Haiti is a serious threat to the future of the island and threatens the democratic system and institutions in both countries.
"The neglect of this situation is unsustainable. We can see this in our streets and it is an offense to human development to which Haitians have the right," he said, as reported in Hoy. He said the smuggling of Haitians across the border is creating serious problems that are affecting the DR's international image.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)
Father Regino Martinez, a Jesuit priest, said that soldiers from the Specialized Border Security Patrol (Cesfront) charge up to RD$5,000 to let an illegal Haitian migrant through. He said that there are no mechanisms to detect the trafficking of weapons, or any trained dogs to catch drug traffickers or to assist soldiers in controlling illegal traffic on the border.
"Now they have increased the cost from RD$2,500 to RD$5,000. No one has authorized them to charge this, he said, saying that the military post is responsible.
"There is uncontrolled trafficking and there are no intelligence controls to establish whether it involves drugs or weapons. A weapons detector has never been taken there, nor a trained dog to control drugs. The military simply sees if the package is big it is RD$100, or if it is little it is RD$50. That's the only control," he told Listin Diario yesterday when interviewed as he took part in the civic movement at Congress to demand an increased budget allocation for education in the 2011 National Budget.
Hoy reports today that National Business Council (CONEP) president Lisandro Macarrulla has expressed his concern about the increase in people smuggling across the border with Haiti. He urged the authorities to deal with migration with a long term and integrated vision. He said the situation in Haiti is a serious threat to the future of the island and threatens the democratic system and institutions in both countries.
"The neglect of this situation is unsustainable. We can see this in our streets and it is an offense to human development to which Haitians have the right," he said, as reported in Hoy. He said the smuggling of Haitians across the border is creating serious problems that are affecting the DR's international image.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)