Dominican Republic and Haiti: A Comparison of How One Island Has Two Complete Different Ends
Dominican Republic and Haiti: A Comparison of How One Island Has Two Complete Different Ends The Hispaniola is a small island in the Caribbean which is currently composed by the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti. These two countries despite sharing an island and historical institutions are completely different. While the Dominican Republic enjoys the beauty of the Caribbean and its weather, Haiti suffers the consequences of it. These two countries share certain similarities, but within these similarities there is a big difference. The Dominican Republic and Haiti have a similar economy, environment, and education system, but in
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The rates of unemployment are extremely high, that is why Haitians migrate to the Dominican Republic to perform the lowest job positions at a minimum wage jobs that Dominicans will never do. (Minority Rights Group International, 2008)
The Dominican Republic gets its wealth from the exportation of sugar, tobacco and coffee, but recently they have grown in the agriculture and telecommunications field. Another important part of this country’s economy is the tourism and remittances that are sent from the US or Europe. Haiti’s economy, on the other hand, due to corruption and poverty hasn’t been able to grow like the Dominican Republic’s. Part of this country’s economy beside the exportation of clothing to the United States, is remittances and agriculture (Dominican Republic vs. Haiti, n.d).
Figure 1. GDP per Capita in Latin America Although, Haiti’s economy hasn’t been able to grow due to poverty and corruption, their vulnerability to natural disasters and deforestation has also influenced. The border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is what best reflects the amount of deforestation occurring in Haiti. Even though, they share the same climate, ocean access, and location, there is a huge divergence of growth between these two countries.
According to Diamond (2005), the rapid deforestation in Haiti is caused by lower rainfall compared to the Dominican Republic. The
Haiti is a prime example of how human needs in one area of the world are interdependent with social conditions elsewhere in the world. Haiti, for most of its history has been overwhelmed with economic
The Dominican Republic is situated on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The remaining one third of the Island belongs to the country of Haiti. While it is not the intent of this essay to discuss the complete history of the country, it is important to mention that the Haitian side of the island was colonized by France while the Dominican side was colonized by Spain. The Spanish oppressed the indigenous native population that was on the island for a long time and after three centuries of occupation by the Spanish, the Dominican Republic
The Republic of Haiti has a unique and vibrant culture. It was once hailed as the "Pearl of the Antilles" for being the wealthiest colony in the world. This small Latin American island tells a story of slaves enduring resistance to the some of the most dominant forces abroad. In 1804, Haiti became the first free black republic and the second post-colonial country in the Americas. However, the days of being the wealthiest colony have since passed. Haiti is now considered to be the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. The proud history of this country is overshadowed by alarming rates of poverty, violence, and inequality. This island nation’s government has been plagued with numerous military staged coups and misfortunes. I
Haiti is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It occupies one third of the Hispaniola Island, the other two thirds belong to its neighbor: the Dominican Republic. It measures 27, 750 sq km, just a little smaller than the state of Maryland. It is unfortunately located in a highly active hurricane area prone to storms and flooding between the months of June to October. Haiti is the poorest country of the western hemisphere. Political turmoil is part of the country’s history. Currently it counts with a democratically elected president, Michael Martelly, as Chief of State and a Prime Minister, Laurent Latmothe, as head of the government. A new president is elected every five years and the president cannot serve consecutive periods. The Prime Minister is appointed by the president and ratified by the National Assembly. The National Assembly is made up of 30 senators, elected by popular vote for six years terms and 99 deputies, also elected by popular vote, for four years terms; a little bit complex
Purpose: To understand how Haiti became what it is and all the trials it has endured
We can begin by talking about migration and its effects on a global scale. Migration is one of the main areas of focuses in Latin America and Latino Studies. It helps us understand the effects of globalization on Latin American countries, the global relationship between the United States and Latin America, and how this relationship affects the Latin American people. This article goes through explaining the push and pull factors of why Haitians are being both pushed into the United States and pulled away from their home country. With the 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti, economic as well as political factors pushed Haitians to migrate. They started with Brazil but as their economy worsen, Haitians looked furthered to the United States. And the United States allowed them to do so as a humanitarian provision that came as the result of the 2010 earthquake. This pulled further struggling Haitians with the promise of a better life to make the dangerous journey. But with the abrupt change in policy, this shatters the already struggling Latin American countries with several displacements. We can go even further, analyzing other areas of study such as how the displacement of these immigrants will affect Latin America itself. Or how, on a national scale, the displacement of the migrating Haitians will affect
Haiti was once the first black independent republic in the world and the richest island in the Caribbean. Today Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world. What could have happened to Haiti in almost two hundred years of history? The country experienced repeated civil war and foreign intervention. Haiti is not isolated from the international world. Thus, it was not out of concern for ordinary Haitians that the United States intervened in Haiti. It was out of concern for profit and stability within the United States' own backyard. The purpose of this paper is to show the negative aspect that the United States had played in the government of Haiti.
The Dominican-Haiti border looks somewhat unnecessary to someone who doesn’t know of the countries histories. Both countries are exceptionally poor and there is no way the two countries could ever come together as one. They were inhabited by different countries, and ever since then, the two countries fluctuate in race, language, economics, and culture. These differences are too deep-rooted for the two countries ever consider themselves as one. However, I do think there is optimism for the countries to work together and make each other better. For the Dominican, I think it will take a leader that is open and enthusiastic to collaborate with other countries and reach out for assistance. Each leader they have had in the past contributed to at least one beneficial thing to the country, Trujillo aided the economy, and Balaguer abetted the environment, now they need someone to support strong international relations.
The Haitian revolution had tremendous repercussions in the social, political and economic arenas of the world, but especially for the relationship with the neighboring nation of the Dominican Republic. In order to understand the development of the Dominican-Haitian relationship after the Haitian revolution one must examine how the two colonies of Hispanola dealt with each other before it. Throughout history there has been constant stress between the interactions of these nations, yet there is no easy explanation for what has caused it. In effect, it has been an accumulation of events which has allowed for the present relationship to evolve.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti are two countries that share an island. The difficulties of two ethnicities sharing an island bring forth conflicts that stem from colonial times. Race, economics, politics and stigmas all play a role in ethnic conflict between these won cultures that have very different views on their roots. Prejudice, cultural identity issues and resentment towards Haitians is the reason why Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo massacred thousands of unarmed Haitians. This is why the two cultures still clash today.
Haiti is the second largest Caribbean Island. It occupies a third of the western part of the island it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is also made up of several islands that surround the main territory. The capital is Port-au-Prince. It rains between November and March in the North of the island and between May and October in the South. “Once covered by forest, the country has been heavily logged for wood and fuel and to clear land for farming, and is now largely deforested.” Haiti is divided into “nine administrative departments.” Besides the capital, other important cities are Cap-Haitien and Gonaives. “Haiti is the most densely populated country in Latin America and has the lowest per
For the most part, the interaction between the colonizers of Haiti—the Spanish and the French—was negative, and lastingly so. Haiti has remained a turbulent and impoverished landscape. Social and economic indicators remain doggedly low, year after year. Haiti, although technically independent as of 1804, has never been able to support itself. There is a lot of heartfelt sympathy for Haiti, and the hope is that the legacy of colonization is not unending fate. But it will take a lot of work to get Haiti to a place of true freedom and independence, and sometimes outside help, however well intentioned, only unwittingly fuels the legacy.
Imagine yourself as a businessperson on a trip to the island of Hispaniola to check on how production is faring. You land in Santo Domingo to transfer to a short commuter flight to Port-au-Prince. During the flight, you gaze outside your window to admire the breathtaking view of the Sierra de Baoruco, with its luscious forests. As the plane approaches the Haiti-Dominican Republic border, you notice that the land has been completely denuded of trees directly on the other side of the border, creating a clear demarcation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Haiti has long been known for its major export of Haitian migrants in search of a better way of life. It is an exodus that goes back several decades, however with recent times the numbers have increased dramatically. In fact, that numbers of Haitians fleeing Haiti in the early 1990's far exceeds the numbers recorded in earlier years. Between 1972- 1979, some 8,000- 10,000 Haitians arrived in the United States. Compare this number with the 14,443 Haitians interdicted between September 30, 1991 - January 1, 1992. By early 1994, this number totaled over 41,000 (Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Haiti, 1994). Economic deprivation has always been the predominant influence for the migrating of Haitians, yet in the
The caribbean is where a small island, contains two countries within its borders and a long history of conflict. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are two different country, with completely different cultures, from religion, to the food they eat, Two countries, with two different, yet correlating stories. A story of conflict is what unites these two countries. This paper will attempt to analyse that story, and answer how this small island came to be divided into two countries, and inhabited by two peoples of such different cultures. This paper will also take a small look at the results of this history, and it’s effects on both countries.