Santo Domingo.- The mayor of Dajabón, Santiago Riverón, stated that Haitians “are only good for collecting trash,” while asserting that he does not feel hatred toward them, but that he rejects their customs.
During an interview on the program Panorama de la Mañana, broadcast by Panorama FM, Riverón was questioned about his position regarding Haitian citizens and the hiring of them to perform cleaning duties in the border municipality.
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“There are people who think that Riverón hates Haitians. We do not hate Haitians. We hate the customs that Haitians have,” declared the municipal official.
Santiago Riverón
Riverón maintained that the hiring of Haitian labor for garbage collection is because, as he stated, Dominicans do not want to perform that type of work.
The mayor also defended his immigration stance and expressed concern about the possibility of the Dominican Republic facing situations similar to those affecting the neighboring country with Haitian nationals.
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Santiago Riverón and migration
The statements by Santiago Riverón were made amidst the national debate over Haitian immigration and its presence in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and municipal services.
