Environmentalists Analyze the Problems of the Massacre River, the Conflict for a Canal

Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), held the 5th Social Affairs Forum titled “The Massacre is Passed on Foot. Conflict of a canal in the river”, a space that led to the debate between experts on environmental issues, in which panelists participated, environmentalist Luis Carvajal, and Engineers Osiris De León and Leopoldo Taveras.

Luis Carvajal stated that the real problem is the decrease of the water available in all the flows and affluents of the Dajabón/Masacre river basin and presented official statistics and measurements on the site, the river in question and its affluents, which demonstrate the existence of a gradual decrease in the flow, which has accelerated in recent years. As a result, there is less and less available water and it no longer meets the needs of both nations, therefore the most important thing is to try to maintain the capacity of rainfall that occurs very effectively on the Dominican side, but that does not happen on the Haitian side. This results in non-real increases in the flow of the Dajabón/Masacre River and its affluents occurring several times a year.

While Eng. Osiris De León agreed with Carvajal’s proposal, he added contextual elements updated through aerial photos, pointing out that many of the technical data that has been presented have not been properly interpreted, causing unnecessary confusion in the public opinion. He mentioned that with a current population of approximately 160,000 inhabitants in Juana Méndez (Haiti), versus about 28 to 30 inhabitants in Dajabón (Dominican Republic), it is possible to recognize that the greatest pressure of need for water is on the side of Haiti, because of a matter of population density and because of the situation of forest and water degradation of the Haitian territory; but that, as the average flows have gradually reduced, the solution must be more comprehensive as proposed by Carvajal. Therefore, he warned, the measures to be taken should not be handled lightly and with “peak flows”, since they are unreal.

For his part, Engineer Leopoldo Taveras, professor at UNPHU for the Faculty of Science and Technology, highlighted how the border with Haiti has different land and water sections, the largest being the first, and that the use of water has been equitable to the extent of their need, expressing that from the Artibonito river the most benefit is Haiti, because in that location on the border Dominican Republic has its needs met by other means, but that in the Massacre/Dajabón river things are different.

Finally, the panelists concluded that peace must be the end of all discussion, with the equitable and consensual use of the common between the two nations, establishing clear and duly respected rules.

The event was attended by journalist Miguel Guerrero, coordinator of the UNPHU Social Affairs Forum, who expressed concern about the current situation. They were present by the university Architect Omar Rancier, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Arts, who oversaw motivational words; Dr. Leonardo Conde, dean of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and the Architect José Antonio Constanzo, as the narrator.

The conversation took place on October 11, 2023, in the Max Henríquez Ureña Hall of the University. 

UNPHU Social Affairs Forum

The Social Affairs Forum of Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña, is a space open to discussion of relevant issues and committed to the analysis and discussion of national problems, to generate answers and solutions from academia, and coordinated by the Faculties of Architecture and Arts and of Economic and Social Sciences.