Haiti - Why are the Haitian border cities and towns so far from the border?

If you ever travel on land from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, you may be surprised to see that the Dominican Republic has fully developed cities and town right on the border while, on the Haiti side, you have to go quite a distance inland to find a sign of life... Why is that? I wondered... A friend of mine gave a brief explanation that makes sense...


Haiti Dirt Roads - Boc Banic, Near The Dominican Border

"Sometimes you have understand to the history of your country in order to better comprehend why things are the way they are," my friend says. "When Haiti won its independence, our forefathers feared that the enemy would return. So, they decided to locate Haitian cities further inland to better protect them."

I understand that it may have been good strategy back then but i am wondering... Will it work for Haiti in the 21st century?

A Haitian person living along the Haiti-Dominican border can get all the goods and services he needs by walking across the border to the Dominican Republic including food, fuel, banking services, medical care, building materials, etc...

For that same person to get the same goods and services from Haiti would probably require him to travel an extended distance inland on UNPAVED roads...

Would it not be financially beneficial to our Haitian economy if Dominicans could cross the border into Haiti, have a good time, enjoy our goods and services for a brief moment, then go home leaving their pesos behind? Haitians do it all the time since their Colmados are right across the border, loaded with cervesas (dominican beer) and waiting for us...

The "maronage" is over folks, and Government leaders... It is time we place a welcome mat at our front door... And by that i mean each and point of entry a foreigner will use to enter our country, by land, sea or air...

What do you think about that?

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Ricart says...

"It's only right for them to think that they can just invade our territory."

When was the last time Dominican Republic invaded Haiti?

ha ha. It is the other way around...hordes of Haitians are peacefully invading the Dominican Republic.

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Roosevelt says...

This was a very good question, and I can accept the protection answer, which the forefathers addressed that issue 200 years ago, but what is the excuse today, to understand the reality facing this issue, one need to visit a border towns and immediately it will hit you, MISMANAGEMENT, NEGLIGENCE, and lack of respect on the Haitian side, by local Haitians, you can't demand respect from the Dominicans, when you don't respect yourselves, you need to clean your house prior to inviting visitors, yes I said it, I'm from Belladere, and there are many spots on the road where asphalt was once laid in 1948 by president Stenio Vincent, so therefore we had the capability, resources and will power to accomplish this, why in 2014 the roads are in this condition, basically instead of moving forward, we went backwards, I will always Love and visit Belladere and hope one day to move there and contribute in any capacity that I can, however, I'm tired of making excuse for my countryman, when you do that, you are setting the bar to low, and that is a recipe for

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Ricart says...

This article solicited opinions about the possible economic benefits of building Haitian cities and towns near the border with the Dominican Republic, perhaps for trade purposes.

But Haitians immediately started making asinine and off topic comments about lands in DR belonging to Haiti, babies dying in Haiti, Haitians being mistreated in DR, and proposing that Haiti should rebuild its army.

Haitian Nationals should stop obsessing with the Dominican Republic and concentrate instead on rebuilding and fixing their country.

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Ricart says...

"Our babies are dying while their babies are growing with the concept of Haitians Being their Number One Enemy."

Your babies are dying and I do not see how that is a Dominican Problem (actually, it is a Haitian problem).

The Haitians babies that do not die are being dumped on the Dominican Republic.

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Ricart says...

"Actually many of the so-called Dominican border towns and cities were once Haitian territory."

Go ahead, take it back if you can. CESFRONT, a specialized Border Security Corps finance by the United States will be waiting for you. Sorry, but we are not going to allow Haitians to turn the Dominican Republic into a failed state like

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Ricart says...

"We need to rebuild our Army and take full control of our borders."

Take full control of your border?

What the hell are you talking about?

Haitians are the one conducting a peaceful invasion of the Dominican Republic thru the border.

Therefore, Dominicans should take control of the border and keep Haitians illegals in their

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Joel Price says...

wow I RED YOUR MESSAGE AND I AGREE WITH YOU AT 100/% HOW TO TELL THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE WE SHOULD HAVE A BRIDGE LIKE US/CANADIAN AND CHARGE A FEE TO COME TO HAITI I WENT BY BUS TO THE DR SOME SCARY SHIT THE LAKE IS TOO CLOSE AND THE ROAD TOO

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Sem Moise Philippe says...

Bravo fellow Woodring! You nail it right on the spot. You may remember my last week comment to your article showing some building renovation work across the border.

During my preparatory researches for my BAC in Haiti I came across this type of thought: " Until the far reaching mountains of the Eastern part of Hispaniola, Dominican teaches to the young compatriot a villain and negative image of Haitian.

moreover, no mercy for been occupied for more than two decades".

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Sem Moise Philippe says...

Bravo fellow Woodring! You nail it right on the spot. You may remember my last week comment to your article showing some building renovation work across the border.

During my preparatory researches for my BAC in Haiti I came across this type of thought: " Until the far reaching mountains of the Eastern part of Hispaniola, Dominican teaches to the young compatriot a villain and negative image of Haitian.

moreover, no mercy for been occupied for more than two decades".

Reply  ... More

Maurice says...

Yeah that's the exact thing that should happen to us. As a Nation we are too irresponsible.

It's only right for them to think that they can just invade our territory.

We need to rebuild our Army and take full control of our borders.

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