The Dominican gov along a host of investors are currently studying a plan to build an international airport in the province of Dajabon, which makes border with Haiti and serves as one of the principal points of exchange between the two countries.

The general idea is to move goods faster and cheaper to the distribution point right on the border, so that goods can move crosswise with less travel over the roads.

Also, there's the goal of making tourism a parallel enterprise of the airport; aiming to bring echo-tourism to the area and allow tourists to experience both sides of the island with less road impact. The plan is to build a heliport on the airport grounds to allow heli-taxis to travel from Dajabon to several locations safely into Haiti and back. The aim is to create one day tours to Haiti and get them comfortably back into their hotels in the DR at night.

A major improvement of the roads from the major city of Santiago to the area is already underway and several waterworks to bring the area to sustain major hotel investments is also ongoing.

What's your take on this?

Why are haitian domestic agendas being planned by the Dominican government?

The fact remains that its quite troubling that the Dominican Government is planning to cross tourists across borders with no concern of the other country in which they would be dropped.

Isn't it illegal by international law standards?


Or have the haitian government approved of such a project? Currently, there is no government to approve it, yet, you say the project is already underway?

One can only laugh

Just my 2 cents

It is a little frustrating to witness how things are unfolding on Hispaniola. The incapacity of the Haitian government to get anything done are driving the investors away. We all know Haiti's Coastlines are untapped, the culture is vibrant and the Historical sites on the island is second to none in the Caribbean.
Every sector in Haiti is wide open for any business to thrive, but wait it's a booby trap.
Somehow, someway, some wouldn't like it any other way.

in any case, some Haitians up north will be employed, instead of risking their lives taking the Sea.

Vision - 22 May 2008 08:53 AM

It is a little frustrating to witness how things are unfolding on Hispaniola.

Hispaniola? There is no Hispaniola. There are 2 different nations within one island, Hispaniola is dead and will never be revived. That romanticism needs to come to acknowledge reality.

Vision - 22 May 2008 08:53 AM

The incapacity of the Haitian government to get anything done are driving the investors away.

Not really......it is the fact that there are sections within the haitian government (when its actually put forth) that blocks out of control investors from implementing nonsense investment. The worst case scenario would be for investors to come, implement their investment and gather their profits, and later move and let the investment rot.

Go to Limonade in Haiti to see that in action as a factory that employed the population was abandoned and is now being ripped apart so that people can sell metal to Port-au-Prince.

Vision - 22 May 2008 08:53 AM

in any case, some Haitians up north will be employed, instead of risking their lives taking the Sea.

The people who risk their lives by taking to the sea will not benefit from any investment in the North, ESPECIALLY, if the investment is coming from the outside.

Investors do not go into countries to help employ the natives....they go in to expand assets ...the incentive have little to do with employment.

Vision - 22 May 2008 08:53 AM

It is a little frustrating to witness how things are unfolding on Hispaniola.

Capoix - 22 May 2008 09:59 AM

Hispaniola? There is no Hispaniola. There are 2 different nations within one island, Hispaniola is dead and will never be revived. That romanticism needs to come to acknowledge reality.

Hispaniola may be dead for some, but the Island as a whole is still being referred to as Hispaniola. Just an observation.

Vision - 22 May 2008 08:53 AM

The incapacity of the Haitian government to get anything done are driving the investors away.

Capoix - 22 May 2008 09:59 AM

Not really......it is the fact that there are sections within the haitian government (when its actually put forth) that blocks out of control investors from implementing nonsense investment. The worst case scenario would be for investors to come, implement their investment and gather their profits, and later move and let the investment rot.

Go to Limonade in Haiti to see that in action as a factory that employed the population was abandoned and is now being ripped apart so that people can sell metal to Port-au-Prince.

It would certainly wrong of my part to place all of our politicians in one basket, but the bad apples are unstoppable.
Nonsense to you and I might have different meanings, You mean to tell that we have no real investors are looking at Haiti because their business plans that are working in the other country called DR would never work in Haiti? I highly doubt that.

That is the problem, when they try to come in, the roadblocks are not worth the aggravations. Although, some have penetrated, but only they know at what cost.

I don't know what happened in Limonade, but I do know, no one wants to see their venture fail, unless, they are directly profiting from the failure.

Vision - 22 May 2008 08:53 AM

in any case, some Haitians up north will be employed, instead of risking their lives taking the Sea.

Capoix - 22 May 2008 09:59 AM

The people who risk their lives by taking to the sea will not benefit from any investment in the North, ESPECIALLY, if the investment is coming from the outside.

Investors do not go into countries to help employ the natives....they go in to expand assets ...the incentive have little to do with employment.

The major population "maybe" would not benefit, but I'm sure a few would. I'm not satisfied with a few, but our government cannot get their acts together for a common cause.

Totally agree, and that's true everywhere. It's all about the bottom line. That's why major corporations are abusing people around the globe, Haiti is certainly not an exception.

Until we have a working Government that is: Executive, Legislative and probably the most important for Haiti right now the Judiciary branch working for the betterment of Haiti and it's people, the grass will only get greener on the other side.

Vision - 22 May 2008 10:57 AM

Until we have a working Government that is: Executive, Legislative and probably the most important for Haiti right now the Judiciary branch working for the betterment of Haiti and it's people, the grass will only get greener on the other side.

Your missing an important element in that statement and that is all sects of government have yet to implement policies of their own.

We constantly kill the haitian government for this and that when the reality still stand that they have YET to enforce a policy that THEMSELVES have created. All policies since baby doc, actually, have been out of the hand of the government and it escalated in 1995 and 2005.

We are finally seeing a drop in the government who are speaking out on this topic since the riots......and the rejection of Mr. Ericq Pierre in some way or another involved the topic as well, since he would've done nothing to stop it and simply pushed forth policies that were being made abroad.

Different face does not equal different policies.

Just my 2 cents

Interesting Comments in this thread

Capoix - 22 May 2008 11:13 AM

Your missing an important element in that statement and that is all sects of government have yet to implement policies of their own.

Different face does not equal different policies.

Just my 2 cents

Implementing their own policies? Difficult, not impossible, All it takes is a collective effort, and the willingness to move forward. That on the other hand has proven to be a difficult task for them.

Capoix - 22 May 2008 07:58 AM

Why are haitian domestic agendas being planned by the Dominican government?

The fact remains that its quite troubling that the Dominican Government is planning to cross tourists across borders with no concern of the other country in which they would be dropped.

Isn't it illegal by international law standards?


Or have the haitian government approved of such a project? Currently, there is no government to approve it, yet, you say the project is already underway?

One can only laugh

Just my 2 cents

In actuality, already one and two days quick tourism is being done from the DR to Haiti via small planes that leave the major international airports of the DR to only a few places where landing strips exist in Haiti.

Tourists only need to pay the fee at entrance to Haiti, there's nothing exceptional to the way this happens on an every day basis, skin.

The Haitian gov is MIA; every single bi-national project stalls after initial approval because of infighting in the highest musical chairs. Recent plans to plant trees and restore the Artibonite in the border, was and still is a blue print on the Haitian side. Mind you that these plan only benefits Haiti which is the only people that get their water from that river...

The creation of an international airport (with world accreditation and safety codes) will allow tourism to reach Haiti safely and build up confidence as a tourism destination to be explored on the long term.

On the grounds of Hispaniola, yes that is gone politically but not territorial. All over the world the island is recognized as that, not the island of Haiti and DR...

Just to give you an idea of what's to happen in the future (not too distant) a good 80% of people in border provinces that voted this past may 16 elections in the DR, turned out to be of Haitian heritage. Eventually, Haiti and the DR will come together as federal states to form one country and single again. So calling Hispaniola again to both sharing the spec of dirt in the ocean is not comical but quite sure the outcome...

Ever wonder why all help to Haiti has always felt to be half as*ed in a way? Well, it's because that's how it was exactly...
The international community see and understands that the two nations will without doubt unite in the near future, an are weary of funding something that the DR can and will have to pay at the end, to bring Haiti resources to bare...

The actual political ground is playing out already in the DR; the formation of Haitian-Dominican political interest parties is done...

The Haitians that make it out of the country understand right away the situation in Haiti is dire and no gov will ever bring the ship about... They can see the ship sinking from the distance, unlike those in the ship that sinks ever so slowly under their feet...

The reason the current DR's president has not and will not take under consideration the mass deportation of undocumented Haitians in the DR, is mainly because we need to gauge the impact of total influx once the unification and federalization of both nations is done to the Dominican economy.

The next leaders of Haiti will not come from the corrupted and broken political gov there now, but from the next political leaders of Haitian origin in the DR... The liking of the two nations will be with full autonomy and respect for the desires of all the people. Haitians will go to the urns and vote their choice...

Now, I ask you: Do you really think that the vast majority of people now suffering in Haiti share your political views regarding uniting Hispaniola once again is death to Haiti or advancing towards a better future????

The outcome is unavoidable...

RPichardo - 22 May 2008 04:00 PM

In actuality, already one and two days quick tourism is being done from the DR to Haiti via small planes that leave the major international airports of the DR to only a few places where landing strips exist in Haiti.

Tourists only need to pay the fee at entrance to Haiti, there's nothing exceptional to the way this happens on an every day basis, skin.

That's quite some illegal activites being done......flying small planes into foreign territory without any advance notices to customs. Are is customs notified? please elaborate......

RPichardo - 22 May 2008 04:00 PM

On the grounds of Hispaniola, yes that is gone politically but not territorial. All over the world the island is recognized as that, not the island of Haiti and DR...

Just to give you an idea of what's to happen in the future (not too distant) a good 80% of people in border provinces that voted this past may 16 elections in the DR, turned out to be of Haitian heritage. Eventually, Haiti and the DR will come together as federal states to form one country and single again. So calling Hispaniola again to both sharing the spec of dirt in the ocean is not comical but quite sure the outcome...

Ever wonder why all help to Haiti has always felt to be half as*ed in a way? Well, it's because that's how it was exactly...
The international community see and understands that the two nations will without doubt unite in the near future, an are weary of funding something that the DR can and will have to pay at the end, to bring Haiti resources to bare...

The actual political ground is playing out already in the DR; the formation of Haitian-Dominican political interest parties is done...

The Haitians that make it out of the country understand right away the situation in Haiti is dire and no gov will ever bring the ship about... They can see the ship sinking from the distance, unlike those in the ship that sinks ever so slowly under their feet...

The reason the current DR's president has not and will not take under consideration the mass deportation of undocumented Haitians in the DR, is mainly because we need to gauge the impact of total influx once the unification and federalization of both nations is done to the Dominican economy.

The next leaders of Haiti will not come from the corrupted and broken political gov there now, but from the next political leaders of Haitian origin in the DR... The liking of the two nations will be with full autonomy and respect for the desires of all the people. Haitians will go to the urns and vote their choice...

Now, I ask you: Do you really think that the vast majority of people now suffering in Haiti share your political views regarding uniting Hispaniola once again is death to Haiti or advancing towards a better future????

The outcome is unavoidable...

I would go on and on but the man that used to be known as Skinz have changed so I won' t bother to write a long paragraph on this little essay here.

Where is Jesus Christ? He would be all over this one.......

In any case, I think this little engagement you have with haitians on this site or in the D.R. is clouding some perspectives..........maybe you need to talk to some native haitians..............JUUUUUUSSSSTTTT to get you back on track.

just my 2 cents

Capoix - 22 May 2008 05:15 PM

That's quite some illegal activites being done......flying small planes into foreign territory without any advance notices to customs. Are is customs notified? please elaborate......



I would go on and on but the man that used to be known as Skinz have changed so I won' t bother to write a long paragraph on this little essay here.

Where is Jesus Christ? He would be all over this one.......

In any case, I think this little engagement you have with haitians on this site or in the D.R. is clouding some perspectives..........maybe you need to talk to some native haitians..............JUUUUUUSSSSTTTT to get you back on track.

just my 2 cents

The actual transit of air traffic from the DR to Haiti only needs to contact the air traffic controller in Haiti to notice the entry of the aircraft to Haitian authorities... No matter what it is, small, large planes, helicopters, etc...

The landing site of such craft in Haiti passes by customs there (more like a guy passing bills and collecting the entry fee) and that's all there is to it!!!

What?!? Did you think that Haiti's air traffic is controlled/monitored like the US or DR??? LOL!!!!!

That's exactly where you're lost at... The vast majority of Haitians would favor the federalization of both countries in a jiffy!!!
Reminder to you: The vast majority is poor and poorest...

The same plays if the DR had the opportunity to annex to the US like PR (the vast majority again, the poorest, will approve) save for the small pockets of well to-do and patriots (if you can call them that) it would be a done deal once put into play...

Native Haitians are not the Diaspora, but those in Haiti suffering under the will of a few...

The top can't and won't allow the vast majority to educate and reach better economic status as this would pose a grave threat to their power consolidation... When the people riot in Haiti, it's when the top fears and tumbles around in panic...

You can give Haiti 100 years more and no advance will occur, due to that same problem.

Just for the record: I'll hate telling you, I told you so...

About building the international airport in djabajon i thinkl it's good idea that is if preval and the goverment approv such idea. The reason i say is a good idea because our border is ugly that it's a shame people driving through, Heliport will be able to get the tourists who wants to go to Haiti without experiencing those nasty smells along the boder and as well get them to port-au-prince or to where they want go in haiti, that will give us an opportunoty for more tourist to go to Haiti and be able to see Haiti (best places of Haiti) Such as club indigo, Kaliko, wayoo bay and mouling sur mer just to name a few. I think that is a good idea because i was in DR and traveling to Haiti was a nasty site so if the tourist won't have to see or experience those nasty sites and see Haiti that is a good idea. That way the next time the tourist are traveling they will go straight to HAiti and spend some money and then go to DR if they want. .....lol It's good idea unless Haiti make his border look better.

I have yet to give my thoughts on this because frankly I don't know what to say. Perhaps it is for the better for the reasons mentioned above and perhaps not also due to the reasons mentioned above. Binational projects can only help both countries (more so Haiti) however I fear as if Dominican authority will soon infringe upon Haitian governance as these projects and proposed policies inch closer and closer to home and this might incite more division instead of unity because we know how the people of both countries are very nationalistic despite the unfortunate situations that they may live in. A united Hispaniola would only work with the unanimous (or at least majority) agreement of both peoples and the very close cooperation and relations with the two governments and I see that far from ever happening. Anything else would probably be seen as "forced" and cause more problems. I look forward to hearing more about this "International Airport" in Dajabon.