The danger that poverty represents for the country, the failure of its State, the generalized instability and the total chaos of the Republic of Haiti, have become one of the main challenges for the Dominican authorities, based on an expression that comes from the Golden Age: “Who puts doors to hunger!” That is the hard task of the Dominican State. Better late than never.
So many years of civil-military mafias, lawless goating, smuggling and corruption everywhere, plus the irresponsible neglect of all governments in improving the living conditions of the inhabitants of the five border provinces, have left their marks. For this reason, now – when Haitian society is the sum of all failures – the Dominican State will try to put doors to Haitian hunger. May God inspire you and Magdalena protect you,” Mr. President.
To explain the government’s response to such a challenge, on Tuesday, President Abinader presented to a group of journalists the Strong Border Plan, which seeks to strengthen the area, promote investment as a mechanism of social cohesion, build fundamental works, promote sustainable production, break the historical isolation of border communities and intensify the fight against transnational crime. To achieve this, Defense Minister Fernández Onofre told us when presenting the Plan, more binational markets will be expanded or built, the border fence will be expanded, while the FF. AA., will be in charge of strengthening its action and protection capabilities, in addition, supervision will be made more efficient, a vocational school will be installed in Montecristi, and the 9-1-1 system will be integrated into the border provinces, among many other actions.
Now, the next presidential invitation is pending to present to us in details what, in the Plan, has to do with economic and human development, which should start from an improvement in public services, and the expansion of opportunities for entrepreneurship, and work, a lot of work.
Poverty does not rhyme with sovereignty, and only serves to unify the poor and merge culture and customs, especially in practically binational areas. I am talking about communities linked by deprivation and geography and, therefore, forced to understand each other and overcome the plans of sowers of hate that they promote on both sides of the border.
Start yesterday, Mr. Government! Poverty does not rhyme with sovereignty.
