The president of the Dominican Republic has publicly responded to the tragic death of Stephora Anne-Mircie Joseph. an 11-year-old Haitian student, which occurred recently during a school activity.
The case, which has deeply shaken public opinion on both sides of the island, is under investigation by the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office and has already led to several arrests among school staff.
During a press briefing, the head of state expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fully clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“It is a very painful, very sad case that has affected all of us in this country,” he said, noting the strong emotion felt throughout the Dominican population.
The president emphasized the central role of the justice system in handling the matter.
“We trust the work of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office has already taken measures in this regard,” he stated.
According to him, these initial actions demonstrate the authorities’ determination to move swiftly in establishing responsibility.
He also noted the involvement of the Ministry of Education, explaining that preventive measures are already being implemented.
“The Ministry of Education is acting to prevent future cases and to ensure better oversight and regulation,” he added.
President Rejects Allegations of Racism
Amid strong reactions from the Haitian community and several local organizations, which fear discriminatory treatment, the president firmly denied that racism played any role in the case.
“This is not a racist country. This is a country where more than 85% of the population is of mixed heritage, and such a situation has never been observed here,” he declared, urging the public not to politicize or exploit the tragedy.
The child’s death comes amid heightened tensions over migration between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as national debates on the protection of foreign students and the responsibilities of private educational institutions.
Authorities have so far released only limited information, stressing that the investigation is ongoing and that all conclusions must be based on verified evidence. No further details regarding the exact sequence of events have been made public, in accordance with judicial caution.
The Haitian community in the Dominican Republic, along with human rights advocates, is now waiting for the investigation to clearly identify accountability and to ensure that effective measures are implemented to prevent similar tragedies.
The president concluded by reiterating his commitment to transparency and justice, assuring that the authorities “will do everything necessary to protect all children, without distinction.”
In both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, criticism continues to mount over how the case has been handled by authorities, who have not released video footage from the location where the incident occurred.
According to several Dominican journalists, all security camera recordings were erased from the system — a claim strongly denied by the Abinader administration, which insists it is committed to ensuring a thorough investigation and determining responsibility.
Stephora Anne-Mircie Joseph drowned in a swimming pool during a school activity that was supposed to be supervised by staff members.
Four officials from the Da Vinci School were arrested over the weekend by Dominican judicial authorities.
