Dominican Republic's president stands resolute on his closing of all borders with Haiti

The president of the Dominican Republic on Sunday defended his decision to close air, sea and land traffic with neighbouring Haiti in their dispute over construction of a canal targeting a river that runs through both countries.

The president of the Dominican Republic on Sunday defended his decision to close air, sea and land traffic with neighbouring Haiti in their dispute over construction of a canal targeting a river that runs through both countries.

President Luis Abinader said in a televised speech that the border closures begun Friday will remain in place until construction is halted on the canal, which seeks to use water from the Massacre River to alleviate a drought in Haiti's Maribaroux plain.

"We do not desire or seek confrontation, but we are confronting the uncontrollable people who keep Haiti insecure, and who, due to their private interests, now also conspire against the stability of their government and the security of our water resources," Abinader said during his brief speech, referring to gang violence that has engulfed Haiti.

Accusing Haiti of violating a 1929 treaty between both countries, he said that the Massacre River is a key resource for Dominican farmers and that construction could damage the environment, including a wetland.

"The precedent of an irrigation project built unilaterally can lead to an escalation of constructions that would destroy the river," Abinader said.

The river is named after a bloody battle between French and Spanish colonizers, and it was the site of a mass killing of Haitians by the Dominican army in 1937.

The full border shutdowns came four days after Abinader announced that his administration had stopped issuing visas to Haitians and had closed the border near the northern town of Dajabon.