DR: When your neighbor's house burning, wet yours

Foreign Relations Minister Frank Guerrero Prats is concerned that the aggravation of the political crisis in Haiti could affect the entire Caribbean region. The minister urged the international community, multilateral credit organizations and friendly governments to act urgently to assist Haiti. According to Guerrero Prats, the Dominican Republic is a firm believer in the resolution of disputes by way of dialogue and would be willing to collaborate in any solution-seeking effort to resolve the Haitian problem. "We have been keeping in close contact with our embassy in Haiti, which in turn keeps us in close contact with other embassies in Port au Prince," he told Hoy newspaper. Likewise, close contact has been kept with international organizations, such as OAS and CARICOM, which could help to find an institutional solution to the Haitian crisis. Guerrero Prats said that during a ministerial meeting of the Association of Caribbean States in Panama recently, Cuba presented a motion to insist that the Dominican Republic not be left alone to deal with the deteriorating situation on the other side of its border.

And this:

Meanwhile, border trade with Haiti has been halted, adversely affecting the economy of the frontier communities and lessening food sources for Haiti. Dozens of cargo-trucks laden with poultry, eggs, plantain and other produce were prohibited from traveling into Haiti.

The Dominican Association of Exporters expressed its concern for the Haitian crisis, which has affected Dominican exports to Haiti, which continue to be shipped in freighters, "but could be discontinued completely if the situation worsens." Horacio Alvarez, executive vice-president of Adoexpo, estimated a trade value between the DR and Haiti of US$100 million, including formal and informal operations. "Everything that happens in Haiti, whether we want it to or not, affects us," he said. Alvarez explained there are many Dominican exporters that send their shipments by ground and if there are disturbances along the border, these operations are affected.

Meantime, businessman Oliver Clarke of Jamaica says jettison Haiti from Caricom.