Smith Augustin: Dominican Republic Denies Any Arrest
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince
· 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
After the Transitional Presidential Council of the Republic of Haiti clarified the facts surrounding the trip of Presidential Advisor Smith Augustin, it is now the Dominican government's turn to provide details.
In a note from the Dominican General Directorate of Migration, the Dominican government denies rumors that Smith Augustin had been arrested in Dominican territory.
According to the government of the Dominican Republic, “Mr. Smith entered Dominican territory via the pedestrian crossing at the Dajabón border post, at 5:30 PM, on Thursday, July 31, 2025, shortly after the closure of the binational border gate.” The biometric registration protocol, required by migratory procedures, could not be completed at that time. Faced with this situation, the presidential advisor was summoned the next day by Dominican migratory authorities to complete the process.
Still according to the statement, “Mr. Smith appeared cordially, with his delegation, at the Dajabón border bridge, at 11:12 AM on Friday, August 1, 2025” to complete the biometric registration process required for his entry into Dominican territory. Once the process was completed, Mr. Augustin retrieved his travel documents and was authorized to continue his journey within Dominican territory.
Although the facts had been established, local media in Haiti had vehemently claimed that advisor Smith Augustin had been arrested in the Dominican Republic because he allegedly crossed the border irregularly.
According to a source close to the government in Haiti, there is a clear desire to tarnish Smith Augustin's image within the TPC. Some political actors are reportedly bothered by Mr. Augustin's growing influence within the Transitional Council, as he is responsible for diplomacy and foreign affairs within the presidential college. Before the Dominican government's note, the Transitional Presidential Council had called on media and stakeholders to exercise restraint and verify facts to avoid the circulation of false information. The Editorial Staff
According to a source close to the government in Haiti, there is a clear desire to tarnish Smith Augustin's image within the TPC. Some political actors are reportedly bothered by Mr. Augustin's growing influence within the Transitional Council, as he is responsible for diplomacy and foreign affairs within the presidential college. Before the Dominican government's note, the Transitional Presidential Council had called on media and stakeholders to exercise restraint and verify facts to avoid the circulation of false information. The Editorial Staff
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