NewsWhore
06-25-2012, 05:21 PM
The European Union made possible a new modern marketplace at Dajabon for bi-weekly market days when Haitians come to the DR to source products to sell in Haiti, and Haitians call sell Haitian goods. On market days, the Dominican border authorities allow Haitians to freely enter through the main port of land entry. But now, Haiti's head of government feels these are not working in Haiti's best interest. He has gone on the record saying that they are unilaterally beneficial for the Dominican Republic.
But Haiti Libre reported recently that the pressure by Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to close the binational markets could boomerang and result in higher prices for Haitian consumers. "Some observers believe that this new policy, outside of increasing tax revenues, will not cause a big change in trade relations between the two countries, except that the new taxes, will contribute to higher prices in Haiti and will have little impact on the neighboring Republic. Haiti does not export much in this country", reports the online publication.
As reported, Lamonthe on Friday visited the Malpasse customs office at the Dominican-Haitian border. With him the Haitian Minister of Economy and Finance, the Director of Customs, and the Police director. After the visit, Lamonthe said that improvement of working conditions for Haitian customs agents and modernization of the customs facility itself could result in improvements in customs revenue.
The head of the Haitian government argues in favor of a more rational management of the border to allow the state to earn more money. "It would take a coordinated management of the border," he declared. The lack of cooperation between the Customs Service of Immigration and Emigration and the Police, weakens the public capacity in the area, making possible all the excesses and that trafficking prosper," he said.
Despite a significant increase in the flow of goods in 2011-2012, as reported in Haiti Libre customs revenue at Malpasse dropped significantly compared to 2010-2011. When last year taxation was between 180 to 200 million gourdes every month, now in 2011-2012 it is down to 120 million monthly.
The publication says that the Prime Minister's visit to the customs office of Malpasse reflects a desire to continue the crusade against smuggling, corruption and fraud that are major obstacles to the development of Haiti.
Meanwhile in the Dominican Republic, the president of the Federation of Merchants of Dajabon, Freddy Morill said that the closing of the markets would be a blow to small and medium-sized Dominican and Haitian merchants, and the big losers would be the middle class that makes a living off the commerce the market days generate, as reported in Listin Diario. The president of the Association of Women La Nueva Esperanza of Dajabon told the newspaper that the closure of the markets would just stimulate contraband, crime and violations of human rights. She said that before the operation of the regulated market, trade was carried out clandestinely and the women crossing the border suffered rape and robbery by unscrupulous men. Father Regino Martinez, president of Solidaridad Fronteriza, rejected the Lamothe's proposal to close the market, also commenting on all the negatives suffered by those involved in the clandestine night time border crossing.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
But Haiti Libre reported recently that the pressure by Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to close the binational markets could boomerang and result in higher prices for Haitian consumers. "Some observers believe that this new policy, outside of increasing tax revenues, will not cause a big change in trade relations between the two countries, except that the new taxes, will contribute to higher prices in Haiti and will have little impact on the neighboring Republic. Haiti does not export much in this country", reports the online publication.
As reported, Lamonthe on Friday visited the Malpasse customs office at the Dominican-Haitian border. With him the Haitian Minister of Economy and Finance, the Director of Customs, and the Police director. After the visit, Lamonthe said that improvement of working conditions for Haitian customs agents and modernization of the customs facility itself could result in improvements in customs revenue.
The head of the Haitian government argues in favor of a more rational management of the border to allow the state to earn more money. "It would take a coordinated management of the border," he declared. The lack of cooperation between the Customs Service of Immigration and Emigration and the Police, weakens the public capacity in the area, making possible all the excesses and that trafficking prosper," he said.
Despite a significant increase in the flow of goods in 2011-2012, as reported in Haiti Libre customs revenue at Malpasse dropped significantly compared to 2010-2011. When last year taxation was between 180 to 200 million gourdes every month, now in 2011-2012 it is down to 120 million monthly.
The publication says that the Prime Minister's visit to the customs office of Malpasse reflects a desire to continue the crusade against smuggling, corruption and fraud that are major obstacles to the development of Haiti.
Meanwhile in the Dominican Republic, the president of the Federation of Merchants of Dajabon, Freddy Morill said that the closing of the markets would be a blow to small and medium-sized Dominican and Haitian merchants, and the big losers would be the middle class that makes a living off the commerce the market days generate, as reported in Listin Diario. The president of the Association of Women La Nueva Esperanza of Dajabon told the newspaper that the closure of the markets would just stimulate contraband, crime and violations of human rights. She said that before the operation of the regulated market, trade was carried out clandestinely and the women crossing the border suffered rape and robbery by unscrupulous men. Father Regino Martinez, president of Solidaridad Fronteriza, rejected the Lamothe's proposal to close the market, also commenting on all the negatives suffered by those involved in the clandestine night time border crossing.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)