Dominican pastors solicit help for quake victims

By Kim Se-jeong

The earthquake that hit Haiti in January this year bore a new victim ― the Dominican Republic ― and five Dominican protestant pastors have come to Korea for help.

They did so by encouraging Koreans to make donations through the Servicio Social de Iglesians Dominicans or Social Service of Dominican Republic, a private organization "dedicated to giving a considerate and good care to Haitians."

After the earthquake, the Dominican Republic is now home to torrents of Haitians who have fled their country.

According to Lorenzo Mota King, director executive of the organization, "The people have established their homes (in the Dominican Republic), used our medical services, and sent their kids to local schools," unwillingly burdening the Dominican domestic economy.

The two economies are closely intertwined with much Dominican money being invested in Haiti.

King said the organization has accumulated resources and people from other local non-governmental organizations and churches, then distributed them to Haitians, who live in both countries.

It is anticipated by the Dominican pastors that the money will create a job market, and activate commerce in their own country.

The pastors also said some donated items are taxed when entering Haiti, another reason why it's better to donate via the Dominican Republic.

But, the organization has an agreement with the Haitian government that waves taxes on goods that travel via the organization.

A staff member at the Dominican Embassy in Seoul said she has received and is still receiving a volume of phone calls inquiring about the possible donation. Some expressed disdain for having to pay taxes on donating goods, she said.

King said money and goods that arrive directly in Haiti are more often than not misused or evaporated.

One reason is that everything was destroyed with very little solid rule of law.

The other reason is found in people in the leadership, who began to see the flow of donations as a business opportunity, and took advantage of it.

The Dominican NGOs aren't completely free from the same question either, and King responded by assuring transparency on accounting.

NGOs in the field are also facing the same question. For example, earlier this month, the Korean Red Cross aid workers in Haiti were found to have used a pool of donated money for a private purpose.

The visit was private, and they met local church representatives in Seoul, for which Ambassador of Dominican Republic Hector Galvan and the Embassy of Dominican Republic were involved.