The Dominican Republic’s border wall with Haiti is 84% complete, aiming for a February 2025 completion. The project includes advanced surveillance technology and aims to curb irregular immigration and trafficking. Following this phase, additional construction will extend the wall further along the border.
The Dominican Republic has reported an advancement of 84% in the construction of its border wall with Haiti, primarily along the provinces of Montecristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia, and Pedernales. Scheduled for completion in February 2025, the project, which has so far cost 32 million dollars out of the total 39.5 million budgeted (excluding technological enhancements), was announced during a tour by José Ignacio Paliza, the Minister of the Presidency, accompanied by Major General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre of the Dominican Army.
In addition to a permanent military presence, the wall will feature an advanced surveillance system complemented by radar, motion detectors, high-definition cameras equipped with night vision and infrared capabilities, alongside surveillance drones. The information gathered will be relayed in real time to central control stations.
Furthermore, a tender will be initiated for the second phase, which will extend the wall by approximately 110 kilometers. The overall project encompasses a final structure featuring 170 surveillance watchtowers and checkpoints, complemented by 71 controlled-access gates, with increased fortifications in critical regions.
This construction initiative began in 2021, and it aims to tackle issues such as irregular immigration, drug trafficking, and the smuggling of arms and goods, thus enhancing the territorial security of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic and Haiti share a historically fraught relationship, with a border that runs 391 kilometers in length.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola, have a complex and often tense relationship due to historical, political, and socio-economic factors. The construction of the border wall is a significant security measure taken by the Dominican Republic to manage illegal immigration and trafficking issues that have arisen along this border. The project reflects the Dominican government’s commitment to enhancing national security and may impact the dynamics of border interactions between the two nations.
In summary, the Dominican Republic is nearing the completion of the first phase of its border wall, which aims to bolster security and control immigration and trafficking. The advanced technology to be employed indicates a significant investment in national defense measures, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border. The project underscores the complexities of the relationship between the two nations and the Dominican Republic’s determination to enhance its sovereign security.
Original Source: www.haitilibre.com
