Above: Santo Domingo

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A recent visit by Haitian Interior Minister Thierry Mayard-Paul to the Dominican Republic led to discussion about potential collaboration on a public security initiative between the two countries.

Mayard-Paul held talks with Ramon Fadul, Minister of the Interior and the Police in the Dominican Republic, who spearheaded the Dominican’s Democratic Security Plan.

“In exploring regional best practices that can be applied in Haiti, we were impressed with the Democratic Security Plan implemented by our neighbours in the Dominican Republic,” Mayard-Paul said.

The Dominican Republic’s public security plan is called the Barrio Seguro, or “Safe Neighbourhood” plan, which Mayard-Paul said had lowered crime rates over the past eight years.

Given the Dominican Republic’s support in helping Haiti recover from the earthquake, the Interior Minister said the Haitian government was interested in further strengthening mutual cooperation between the two neighbours on the island of Hispanola.