MIRAMAR – City of Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam initiated a Resolution at Wednesday’s (August 19th) Commission meeting condemning the mass deportation of Haitians in the Dominican Republic. The Commission voted unanimously in support.
The Commission added an amendment to Temp. Resolution #R5897, urging the Dominican Republic to comply with international human rights laws, halting all impending deportations.
“The City of Miramar has a large population of Haitians in our wonderful City and it is important that they know we support the community during this difficult time,” said Messam.
Attending and speaking at the meeting were a number of supporters including Executive Director of Haitian Women of Miami, Marleine Bastien, who spoke passionately stating that Haitians born in the Dominican Republic are not immigrants, they are Dominican and should not be deported. Also addressing the Commission were Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas, President of the Haitian American Democratic Club of Broward County and attorney Marlon Hill.
Miramar’s first elected Haitian American, Vice Mayor Darline Riggs, also spoke in support of the resolution asking attendees to imagine themselves in a similar situation.
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The Dominican Republic opened the doors for all injured Haitians who needed assistance after the earthquake. Our hospitals were literally flooded with Haitians. We provided medicine, clothes, food, temporary sherlters. Haitians decided they don’t want to go back to their country. So we have to do something about it. Hundreds of Haitians are crossing borders to the Dominican Republic with children and new born to say they were born in Dominican Republic. #NotFair ! It has been 211 years since the last time Haitians Government issues Birth Certificate to its citizens. Now they want Dominican Republic to document all Haitians they don’t want, just because they say they were born in Dominican Republic?! With fraudulent documents/b-Cert?! Haiti should stop the lies and slanders against Dominican Republic! #HaitiStopTheLies #BeFairWithDR