Center for Dominican-Haitian Research Opens

Center for Dominican-Haitian Research Opens
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 05/23/2011

The Dominican Churches Social Services (SSID) and the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC) have launched the Center for Dominican-Haitian Research (CEDH), which will carry out research and educational activities through the Academic Business Area (AAN), part of INTEC.

At the signing of the agreement, the main executives from both institutions welcomed the start of the work to be done by the new organism, which will consolidate good relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the SSID Public Relations Unit.

The new institution started functioning this Monday when an inter-institutional agreement was signed and endorsed by the Rector of INTEC, Miguel J. Escala and the Director of SSID, Lorenzo Mota King. It will be coordinated by a mixed commission of research professors from the Apolinar Veloz Academy of Higher Education including Edwin Croes and Luis H. Vargas. José Alberto Díaz, Lidia Esther Santana and Vasthy Jael Diaz from SSID will also be involved.

The Research Center’s mission will be to coordinate and develop activities such as investigation, research and training while providing services in the area of human and immigrant rights for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It will also consolidate the good relations between the two countries.

At the signing of the agreement, the main executives from both institutions welcomed the start of the work to be done by the new organism, which will consolidate good relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the SSID Public Relations Unit.

In addition, both parties agreed that scientific and technical publications produced as a result of projects generated under this agreement, will be implemented by mutual agreement and will be carried out under the rules that have been established for them.

The agreement will be in effect for five years, voluntarily extendable by both parties. During this time-period, they will endeavor to collect information, carry out research and studies, disseminate analyses, hold activities and formulate proposals for the solution of bi-national problems and challenges facing both nations including those affecting their economies and societies.

They will elaborate diagnostics, plans, programs, policies and strategies for the solution of the economic-financial, societal and national problems and issues facing Haiti, both countries as a whole and problems in the Dominican Republic of Haitian origin. The criteria for this research will be based on gender, multidisciplinary science, Caribbean insularity, international context, multi-institutional organizing and popular self-determination.

The organization seeks to construct a database with information about the most important problems and projects for development in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the fields of economy, finance and natural resources.

The CEDH will promote a space for brotherhood and dialogue between Haitians and Dominicans where they can talk about proposals and recommendations, brainstorm about solutions to issues and share common aspirations based on mutual respect for personal opinion,

It will also monitor economic, financial, social, legal, cultural and migratory relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the geopolitical and international framework of the Caribbean Basin, Latin America and the rest of the world.

The organization will study problems, bi-national agreements and programs at local, regional, sectorial and national levels, focusing on contradictions and cooperation between businesspeople, workers, towns and the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

It will investigate racist, xenophobic or discriminatory practices and perceptions against blacks, mulattos, immigrants, the poor, women and different social strati or minorities both in the Dominican Republic and Haiti as well as in the Caribbean and other countries.

The CEDH will promote a space for brotherhood and dialogue between Haitians and Dominicans where they can talk about proposals and recommendations, brainstorm about solutions to issues and share common aspirations based on mutual respect for personal opinion, popular sovereignty and national independence. They can forge these links through civic institutions, Evangelical Christian entities, popular organizations and governmental entities.

The goal is to incentivize the coordination of organisms, efforts and resources directed towards research, teaching and promoting issues related to Haitians, Dominican-Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian origin in the business area of INTEC. It also seeks harmonization among national, bi-national and trans-national institutions, in particular among research centers, academic institutions, Evangelical and Christian groups, business organizations, official public offices, cooperatives and civic association networks.

It also intends to assure that the results of any scientific studies and educational and training workshops will be published and disseminated by the media, Internet, informative pamphlets, scholarly journals, research magazines, newspaper columns, reports, essays and books.


The moment when Executive Director of SSID, Lorenzo Mota King and Rector of INTEC, Miguel J. Escala signed the agreement.


Executives of INTEC and SSID as they exchange the signed agreement.