The National Security Council is boosting military security at the Dominican Republic’s border with Haiti.
They aim to make the existing one-month border closure stronger. The focus is to keep out gang members who are running from UN forces.
On September 15, President Luis Abinader Corona ordered a full border closure. He did this because Haiti kept digging a canal that takes water from the Massacre River.
The Dominican government is also worried about Haiti’s unstable politics and rising crime.
Other New Steps
The council also decided on more actions. One action is starting a fund for more farm machines.
This can reduce the need for undocumented workers. The border closure will continue to stop people from Haiti for an unknown time.
Visas for Haitians are also suspended indefinitely. The export of construction items to Haiti is banned.
The council sets up special trade areas with strict military checks and required fingerprinting. These areas will make it easier to trade food and medicine.
Smart Fence
This year, the Dominican Republic began building a “smart fence.” The fence will have 19 control towers and 10 gates.
Over 10,000 soldiers will patrol here. The fence will also have gadgets like motion sensors, lights, and video cameras.
Military Gear Update
Last month, President Abinader talked about upgrading the military’s equipment. The army got new armored cars and anti-riot trucks from Spain.
They also got two helicopters as gifts from the United States. The navy and air force are getting new gear too.
New Buildings
They are also building new military bases to make the border stronger. The new fence will be 164 kilometers long, adding to 23 kilometers already built.
In total, it will cover about half of the 380-kilometer border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.