Haitian ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Smith Agustín, said he will not interfere in the country’s internal affairs when asked about President Luis Abinader’s position that no Covid-19 vaccines will be used for immigrants.
However, he claimed that Abinader was not referring to the fact that he will “not vaccinate any Haitians”. “You cannot comment on the internal affairs of the country, it is a decision of the president, of the government, but the president has never said that no Haitian could not take the opportunity to settle in the Dominican Republic. vaccinated, “said the diplomat. Listin told Diario.
Regarding the Dominican president’s allegations about his countrymen’s difficulty getting vaccinated due to lack of identity documents, Smith Agustín said that “not all Haitians living in the Dominican Republic lack documentation.”
“Not all Haitians in the country have no documents, because to say that those who have no documents will not be vaccinated does not mean they will not have access to vaccination,” said the neighbor’s ambassador.
At the insistence of this reporter, Agustín was cautious, saying, “We will wait for what will happen, but I remain optimistic.”
It is recalled that the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Francisco Ozoria, rejected President Luis Abinader’s position that he had only obtained vaccines for Dominicans, so applying it to immigrants was not considered, saying that the person was worth it. for what he is, not because he is a foreigner, or for medicines or for vaccines ”.
The government is in control
Regarding the political conflict in Haiti and the pressure that President Jovenel Moïse is getting from the opposition to leave power and claim his term has expired, the ambassador says a group of opponents are trying to confuse both inside and outside their country. the specific.
He recalled that his country’s constitution is clear about a president’s time in government, which is five years and, “if it starts in 2017, it must end in 2022 and that creates confusion, even two coup attempts per condition. . “.
Agustín said, however, that his country’s authorities are in control of the situation in Port-au-Prince and “little by little, the government is gaining more control over the country.”
Sensitization
The diplomat was interviewed at the end of a meeting he had with his fellow countrymen living in communities in the provinces that make up the Enriquillo region: Pedernales, Barahona, Bahoruco and Independencia.
The meeting was held at the Haitian Consulate, located on Duvergé Street, near the headquarters of the Republican Army’s Fifth Infantry Brigade, and was supervised by Therese Longchamp, minister adviser to that diplomatic legation. Agustín said the purpose of the meeting is to raise awareness about the constitutional reform process being promoted by President Jovenel Moïse’s government.