PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC—Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille met with officials from the neighboring Dominican Republic on Friday during a visit to the illegally constructed canal on the Massacre River, also known as the Dajabon River.
Civilians built the canal to redirect water into Haiti. “I am here today to see, listen, and understand,” said Conille.
According to local media reports, it’s unknown whether the Prime Minister will support the expansion of the Haitian canal or what agreements he may have reached with the project’s committee.
Conille was on a tour addressing insecurity and other national problems in the North and Northeast regions of this French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state.
In response to the canal’s construction, the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, urged Haiti to abandon the diversion project, advocating for applying the 1929 treaty, which outlines resolving conflicts over transboundary waters.
Legislators from various political parties have also opposed the project, which seeks to divert Dominican water resources to Haiti.
The Massacre River has been a source of controversy- In 2023, a dispute over the river led the Dominican President to close the border with Haiti.
Disputes between the two countries over the use and management of the Massacre River’s water resources are continuing this year.
Border delimitation, river navigation, and environmental preservation have exacerbated these tensions.
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