Today, many Haitians living in the Dominican Republic find themselves in a precarious situation. Since 2023, the Dominican authorities have suspended or severely restricted the renewal of visas and residence permits, even for those who have been in the country for decades. As a result, many live in fear of expulsion or harassment.

A past marked by injustice

Haiti’s population is largely descended from enslaved Africans, deported to the island by French colonists in the 17th century to work on sugar plantations. But before that, Haiti, then called “Ayiti”, was inhabited by the Taïnos, an indigenous people with a rich culture, decimated after colonization.

In the Dominican Republic, the majority of the population is descended from Spanish colonialists, with a mixed cultural heritage blending European, African and indigenous roots.

Independence at a high price

Haiti was the world’s first independent black republic, proclaiming its independence in 1804 after a revolution led by freed slaves. But this freedom came at an exorbitant price: To obtain diplomatic recognition from France after independence in 1804, Haiti was forced in 1825 to pay an indemnity of 150 million gold francs – a colossal sum for a young country. This debt, contracted under military threat, weighed heavily on the Haitian economy for over a century, until its final repayment in the early 2000s.

Subtly constructed economic dependence

Over time, Haiti became increasingly dependent on international aid. The United States, for example, massively imported unsold white rice and chicken scraps from the USA for free distribution on the Haitian market. As a result, local agriculture has been wiped out, making the country dependent on foreign imports.

Haiti has also become fertile ground for a “poverty market”. Haiti has a huge number of NGOs – sometimes as many as one for every 1,000 inhabitants. While some do essential work, others have unfortunately taken advantage of poverty to generate funding. Some orphanages, for example, take in children who still have parents, feeding a kind of “humanitarian market”.

The consequences of deforestation

The independence debt has had a major environmental impact. To repay it, Haiti had to exploit its forest resources on a massive scale, leading to catastrophic deforestation. In the absence of trees, torrential rains gradually washed away fertile soils, making agriculture increasingly difficult. Today, erosion, a more arid climate and lack of water further complicate the country’s situation.

Haitian labor indispensable in the Dominican Republic

Ironically, despite the tensions, many Dominican companies rely on the Haitian workforce, often renowned for their perseverance and discretion. Their role in the Dominican economy, particularly in construction, agriculture and services, is crucial.

But the history between the two countries is not without conflict. Haiti occupied the Dominican Republic from 1822 to 1844, a period still taught in Dominican schools and commemorated each year by an “Independence Day” in early March. This collective memory still fuels tensions and discrimination today.

What does the future hold for Haiti?

Can we really be surprised that the Haitian people are seeking to free themselves from these strangleholds and injustices? More than ever, they aspire to true independence, not only politically, but also economically and socially.

We have learned to love this country. Let us pray for this country, its people and its leaders.

Over the course of 1 week, we spoke to leaders from the Dominican Republic’s 8 spheres of influence.

With this special delegation, we launched a strategic project for transformational leadership development at national level, entitled Dominicana se transforma. The aim is to reach up to 250,000 members of the Dominican population by equipping them with values-based principles (Values Journey) that they can learn, live and pass on in their social and professional environments.

Find out more:

https://humanvalues.global/transformation-dominican-republic/