Friday, the powerful National Federation of Dominican Transportation (Fenatrado), which brings together 200 unions representing over 90% of Dominicans carriers (over 6,500 members), who initiated Thursday the complete blockage of the commercial ground transportation in Dajabón https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15405-haiti-economy-trade-totally-paralyzed-at-the-border-of-dajabon.html , extended the blockade to the four official crossing points of the border. Moreover, the markets of the border allowing trade between the two countries : Jimani, Pedernales, Elías Piña and Dajabón, have also been suspended indefinitely...

Blas Peralta, the President of the Fenatrado, said that the border remains open but no truck driver enters or leaves the Dominican territory. He recognizes that the decision of the Haitian government, to limit access by land to 23 Dominican products since 1 October, causes important daily economic losses for its members without specifying the importance, he says that this blocking measure, will be maintained as long as Haiti did not soften its measures.

Measures whose effects are already being felt in Haiti, where prices began to flare. Thus in the Central Plateau, the prices of essential commodities and building materials already displayed in two weeks, the price increases of 8-15% among others: 50kg bag of flour increased from 1,700 gourdes to 1,850 gourdes (+ 9%); brown sugar 25kg bag of 850 gourdes to 950 gourdes (+ 12%). The gray cement bag increased by 8% while the price of the metal sheet increased from 195 to 225 gourdes gourdes (+ 15%)

Traders explain that because of this measure, they are now forced to supplies in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien, which increases costs for consumers. Many think that the Government should have started by implementing strict customs control, at border rather than taking transport restriction measures, which encourages smuggling. A decision that more than one qualifies as electoralist.

SL/ iciHaiti