The Dominican Government asked "firmly" this week to the Haitian authorities to immediately stop the resumption of the construction of a canal whose purpose is to divert the waters of the Massacre River "This request is based on a legitimate concern about the effects potential negatives that this work could have on the agricultural producers of the two countries" declared the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez in a statement specifying "this project violates the Treaty of Peace, Perpetual Friendship and Arbitration of 1929, the 1935 Boundary Agreement and the 1936 Boundary Review Protocol.3 He also stressed that the boundaries between the two countries are final, irremovable and non-negotiable.

This is not the first time that Dominican authorities have expressed concern about the channeling of the Masacre River. Since July 2021, the works had already been stopped following a complaint from the Dominican Government and all the equipment related to this construction had been removed.

He indicates that these works are carried out between pyramids 13 and 14, located between Fort Liberté and Ounaminthe and according to the available reports, they are carried out manually, which indicates an improvised character in the construction.

Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry expressed his concern about the situation and indicated that a delegation from the Ministry of the Interior has been sent to the site to seek a definitive solution to this situation. Henry was categorical stating THAT this work was non-governmental

"We appreciate this gesture of cooperation and we are convinced that the ongoing negotiations will allow us to resolve this conflict peacefully and respecting the interests of both nations,3 declared Álvarez adding "We reaffirm our desire to dialogue and find a solution that respects the interests of both nations, and we are convinced that the Haitian authorities will act responsibly and in the interest of friendship and collaboration between our countries.3

However, contrary to the position of Prime Minister a.i. Henry, former Chancellor Claude Joseph expressed his support for the inhabitants of the Commune of Ferye by declaring on his account X (formerly twitter) "I support the peasants of the commune of Ferye, in the North-East department, who have decided to continue the work started by President Jovenel Moïse on the Massacre River to help the farmers of the Maribabou plain. Claude Joseph also accused the Dominican government of being racist for urging Henry to stop the work.

See also about the Haiti Irrigation Canal case :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36174-haiti-politic-claude-joseph-deplores-the-stoppage-of-the-construction-of-the-irrigation-canal-of-the-massacre-river.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34875-icihaiti-rd-resumption-of-works-of-the-massacre-river-irrigation-canal.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34389-icihaiti-dr-stop-in-haiti-of-the-construction-of-the-canal-to-collect-water-from-the-massacre-river.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33974-haiti-dr-the-construction-of-the-haitian-canal-on-the-massacre-river-on-the-way-to-becoming-an-international-affair.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33953-haiti-flash-dominican-geologist-osiris-de-leon-denies-haiti-s-assertions.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33945-haiti-flash-canal-on-the-massacre-river-in-haiti-dominican-president-abinader-raises-the-tone.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33854-haiti-flash-president-abinader-announces-the-construction-of-a-dam-on-the-artibonite-river-in-dominican-soil.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33823-haiti-agriculture-diversion-of-the-massacre-river-in-search-of-a-solution-with-the-dr.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33596-haiti-flash-conflict-with-the-dr-over-a-canal-diverting-the-massacre-river-to-haiti.html

SL/ HaitiLibre