Haiti – Dominican Republic - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

private sector better informed. Customs personnelworking in both Ouanaminthe (Haiti) and Dajabon(Dominican Republic) listed the following areasthat require tighter regulation: charcoal, chemicals(agropesticides, hazardous wastes), plastic andother solid waste.Another acute political problem to address involvesthe legal and policy vacuum regarding the status,obligations and rights of the Haitian traders operatingin Dominican territory and the inequity, abuseand corruption associated with their presence. Inshort, Haitian traders often are or feel mistreatedand exploited by Dominican authorities and byelements of the Dominican business community.During market days merchants and buyers fromboth countries are to be allowed to enter themarketplace on equal terms. 12 of the 14 marketsare, however, located on Dominican territory,creating some problems for Haitian merchants,who carry both money and merchandise. Thismakes them easy targets for thieves, and dishonestsoldiers and custom officials. Haitians have noright to complain, once they have crossed theborder, and no authorities to turn to for help, asno such authority exists on the Haitian side. 283 Themain complaints of the Haitian population, whenvisiting the bi-national markets on the Dominicanside include: 284• Arbitrary fees demanded by customs andmilitary officials.• High taxes demanded for places in the market,in the case of Belladère.• Confiscation and theft of Haitian merchandise.• Verbal and physical abuse, as well as unofficialcollection of taxes by soldiers and customsauthorities.• Un-paid debts by Dominicans who buy Haitianmerchandise on credit, and the inability ofHaitians to get Dominican authorities to acton their behalf.Bi-national markets provide an opportunity for small scale farmers to sell their produce to inhabitants onboth sides of the border. A major problem, however, exist in respect to the lack of rights of Haitian merchantsonce they have crossed the border into the Dominican Republic.© UNEP88 Haiti – Dominican Republic: Environmental challenges in the border zone