The Dominican Republic on Sunday began constructing a wall that will cover more than half of the 392-kilometre (244 miles) border with Haiti, its only land neighbor.
The declared intention behind this project is to stop irregular migration and the smuggling of goods, weapons and drugs.
The two nations - French speaking Haiti and Dominican Republic, Spanish speaking - share the island of Hispaniola.
The commonality of sharing the same landmass does not mask the disparity in the development of the two countries however, with Haiti remaining one of the poorest nations on earth, in contrast to the relative wealth and stability achieved by its Spanish speaking neighbour in recent decades.
Many Haitians cross the border clandestinely in search of work in the fields or in the construction industry in the Dominican Republic.
“The benefit for both nations will be of great importance,” said Dominican President Luis Abinader shortly before the official start of the project in the province of Dajabón, 230 kilometers northwest of the capital.
About 500,000 Haitians and tens of thousands of their descendents live in the Dominican Republic.
Abinader estimated the border wall will reduce the smuggling of commercial goods, weapons and help fight organized crime in both nations.
He said the project, which aims to build a 164 kilometer wall, ahead of the anniversary of the Dominican Republic’s independence from Haiti on Feb. 27, 1844.
Abinader said the first phase of the project will be completed within nine months at the latest.
The 20-centimetre-thick concrete wall topped by a metal mesh will be 3.9 meters (12.8 ft) high and will have fiber optics for communications, movement sensors, cameras, radars and drones.
The project also includes the construction of 70 watchtowers and 41 access gates for patrolling.
SOURCE: Dominica Today
All feeds
