A view of the canal under construction, with the pathway leading from the Rivière Massacre / Dajabon River that flows between Haiti and the Dominican Republic as workers and bystanders mill about on the Ouanaminthe, Haiti, side of the shared island in September 2023. Photo by Pierre Michel Jean

The world is abuzz about the Haiti-Dominican Republic canal conflict after it led to the closure of the entire border between the two countries and suspension of visas to Haitians. This week, the ongoing controversy led to protests against Dominican President Luis Abinader, viral moments from his appearance at Columbia University and a show of support and solidarity with the builders from people inside Haiti and in the diaspora.

Yet, not much is known about the canal itself. Here’s what The Haitian Times has gathered from available documents and Joseph Moïse, a construction coordinator based in Ouanaminthe.

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Email me at onz@haitiantimes.com
Onz Chery is a Haiti correspondent for The Haitian Times. Chery started his journalism career as a City College of New York student with The Campus. He later wrote for First Touch, local soccer leagues in New York and Elite Sports New York before joining The Haitian Times in 2019.