Prominent Dominicans are concerned with the influx of Haitians into the country. They express fears that the exodus of Haitians into Dominica does not spell good for the country. The concerned citizens make it clear that they are not xenophobic or anti-Haitian, but the situation may soon get out of hand if not checked by the authorities.
One of the outspoken activists over this issue is Alex Bruno, a political scientist, and social crusader. Bruno, who emphasized the fact that he is full-blooded Dominican and not a Haitian, said the numbers of Haitians coming into the country and obtaining Dominican citizenship is worrisome. He said Dominica is his native land, and cannot afford to remain silent in the face of potential threats to his father-land.
It’s not that I don’t like Haitians or people who are just like me, Or not that I do not appreciate what they have done in terms of the history of liberation and revolution. But the fact is that Dominica is my native land, not Haiti.
Alex Bruno
He Bruno went on to add that at the rate the Dominican government is issuing Dominican passport and citizenship to Haitians before they actually qualify for it, the foreigners may soon outnumber Dominicans inside Dominica. He lamented that the country faces imminent peril if people wait for the government to safeguard their interests. He said Dominica as a country is bigger than its ruling party, prime minister or government.
“If we do not do or say something about the atrocities taking place in our country, we lose our country,” Bruno cried. “People, we are going to lose our country if we do not do right by our country. We are going to be okay today, but for how much longer are we going to be okay when the country goes down in decay. If you live or exist in a country that is not politically strong, guess what, your existence is not politically firm. And if we all have the same persuasion, we should do something to save our nation.”
According to Bruno, no one wants to lose the dignity, the love and the strength they currently enjoy in Dominica at the moment and these must be protected at all costs.
Loftus Durand, president of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), decried the “floodgate mentality” where thousands of Haitians flood into Dominica because the government can’t seem to keep their border gates shut. He said Haitians remain brothers and sisters to Dominicans but the government must regulate the influx and citizenship being granted outsiders or Dominicans may soon face national threats or conflict of interests in their own country.
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