the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Jun 23, 2025
This article is translated from the May 24 issue, #1351 of Combat Ouvrier (Workers Fight), the paper of the Trotskyist group of that name active in Guadeloupe and Martinique, two islands that are French overseas departments in the Caribbean.
On Saturday, May 17, over 200 people marched through the streets of Fort-de-France to protest against violence against Haitians in the Dominican Republic.
During the demonstration, the crowd chanted “Stop massacring Haitians in Santo Domingo!”
The mobilization was the initiative of a group of political organizations, unions and associations. It brought together many Haitians as well as activists from various political groups such as Palima, Peyi-a, GRS, Combat Ouvrier, as well as the Martinique Women’s Union (UFM) and the CDMT trade union.
Since October 2024, President Luis Abinader and his government in the Dominican Republic have been implementing a plan against Haitian immigrants. Thousands of Haitian nationals have already been expelled to Haiti, often in an atmosphere of pogrom and manhunt, led by militiamen in the pay of the rich. As of April 21, a number of additional measures against illegal aliens have been put in place. One of these is to demand identity papers from people presenting themselves at the hospital, in order to prove their legal status in the country. A revolting measure, which has the effect of preventing migrants from accessing healthcare.
This racism against Haitians is revolting and must stop! The workers and the working population of the Dominican Republic have nothing to gain by taking the path of the government’s extreme right-wing and divisive policies. This division only serves the capitalist bosses, who take advantage of it to exploit more ferociously a foreign workforce that is paid less, housed worse and given the toughest jobs. On the other hand, the workers and working population of the Dominican Republic have everything to gain by joining forces with Haitian workers against capitalism, a system that exploits migrant workers as well as legal workers. Proletarians of all countries, unite!
The results of this anti-migrant policy can be dramatic, as in the case of Lourdia Jean-Pierre, who died on May 9, 2025. On that day, she gave birth at home, without medical care, for fear of being deported on her way to hospital. Following this tragic event, the authorities arrested the father and newborn and deported them.