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Haitian Government denies "slavery" in Dominican Republic

May, 24 - 7:09 AM

SANTO DOMINGO.- Haiti's representative in the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), Marie Denise Jean, denied in Paris that her compatriots are subjected to slavery in the Dominican sugar industry.

Jean spoke on the topic during a roundtable held in the French Parliament under the subject "The two faces of globalization: the case of Dominican Republic," in which more than 80 participants discussed Dominican Republic's socioeconomic reality and the country's current relations with its Caribbean neighbor Haiti.

After Jean's words, the ex- Dominican ambassador in the United Nations, Cristina Aguiar said "it was strong proof that the offensive started the previous week by two disgruntled priests and certain confused organizations didn't make an impression on a large extent of the public opinion and especially among the Haitians themselves."

Whereas the ambassador Carlos Antonio Carrasco said the alleged exploitation of Haitian citizens in the Dominican sugar plantations has been promoted by people with shameful interests, and for that reason the prevailing reality in the island needs a cold analysis and to be debated.

"My people and the Dominican people are brothers. We live in one same piece of earth and have a common history. I, as a Haitian, am indignant with the manipulations which we have been object of by the most egomaniacal and perverse interests," said the Haitian student Guy Jean.

After intense debates between Haitian professionals and intellectuals and Dominican residents in Paris, as well as delegates from other nationalities who expressed their points of view on those topic, ambassador Carrasco said brotherhood and friendship prevails among the Dominican and Haitian governments and both peoples.