In a press note, the Border Network Jeannot Succès (RFJS), for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights, denounced the climate of instability affecting the Haitiano-Dominican trade relations within the 14 binational markets and calls on the governments of Haiti and of the Dominican Republic, to take their responsibility in the management of trade relations between the two countries.

"Currently, most of the difficulties resulting from the lack of a legal framework, policy and institutional framework to regulate cross-border trade. Regulations applied, are archaic, with characteristics of feudal and semi-feudal type. Instead of serving to improve the process, these regulations are converted into obstacles to trade [...]" noting than in the provinces of Dajabon, Elias Piña, Independencia and Pedernales, have developed informal border markets.

"The lack of a legal and tax regulatory status in the transport system, the relations of buying and selling and in the logistics of markets are factors, that translate into elements that destabilize the functioning and development of border markets [...] this affects the commercial sector, Dominican and Haitian [...]"

Stressing that this general climate of instability in which has always operate border markets "will be maintained until the two states on the island, agree on a common agenda for the regular functioning of the Joint Bilateral Commission. Through this agreement, may be established a structure able to define, organize, plan and un as an administrative border platform of the border oriented towards the modernization of system of commercial exchanges between the two countries [...]"

Such a structure according to RFJS would likely to promote also "a climate of respect in the economic, social and cultural relations that have everyday residents on both sides of the border."

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre