Marcus Boereau’s Bet on the Dominican Republic
By LJ Cange | Opinion | The Haitian Pulse | June 4, 2025
At The Haitian Pulse, we don’t deal in fantasy—we confront the hard truths. And few things have sparked more emotional fire recently than Haitian-born entrepreneur Marcus Boereau’s decision to invest hundreds of millions in the Dominican Republic.
For many Haitians, the news struck a nerve.
How could one of our most successful sons—a man raised with full awareness of the discrimination, abuse, and dehumanization Haitians face across the border—choose to build in a land that treats our people as disposable?
But to others, this wasn’t betrayal. It was a seismic wake-up call.
Understanding the Logic Behind Boereau’s Decision
Marcus Boereau is not a sentimental businessman. He’s a data-driven, infrastructure-focused entrepreneur who has built a powerful name in global tech and logistics. His recent investments span smart city developments, high-end real estate, and a logistics hub intended to make the Dominican Republic a dominant Caribbean trade portal.
Yes—those investments could have brought transformation to Haiti. But Boereau isn’t investing based on emotion. He’s investing based on feasibility. And Haiti, at this moment, offers little of it.
Let’s be brutally honest: what Boereau sees in the Dominican Republic is what Haiti fails to offer—basic security, functional infrastructure, enforceable contracts, and a somewhat predictable regulatory environment.
No patriotic slogan can cover up the stench of dysfunction.
This Isn’t About Marcus. It’s About Us.
If Marcus Bo’s decision hurts, good. Pain is the first step toward healing—if we learn from it.
This isn’t about defending him. It’s about interrogating ourselves: why is Haiti so broken that even its most brilliant minds choose to build elsewhere?
And Boereau is not alone. A growing diaspora of educated, passionate Haitians—from engineers to financiers—are sidestepping their homeland for countries that simply function. They’re not traitors. They’re pragmatists.
Business is not about pity. It’s about possibility. And in Haiti, possibility is suffocated daily by gang violence, bureaucratic extortion, and institutional decay.
The Oligarchs’ Silence: The Loudest Betrayal of All
What’s worse is the hypocrisy from Haiti’s own oligarch class—those who monopolized entire industries, crushed innovation, and exported their fortunes abroad after gutting the economy. Many of them have also quietly funneled their wealth into—you guessed it—the Dominican Republic.
Where was the outrage then?
Boereau didn’t break Haiti. The oligarchs did. They destroyed competition, bought off governments, and helped turn the economy into a cartelized graveyard for independent entrepreneurs.
Haiti’s Real Battle Is Not Over Investment—It’s Over Vision
If we had a functioning government, honest institutions, and a commitment to the rule of law, Marcus Boereau would be competing to build in Haiti. Instead, he—and many others—are building elsewhere, because Haiti is still locked in a cycle of misrule and mistrust.
So let’s stop wasting energy debating his motives. Let’s start rebuilding the nation that visionaries like him could actually believe in.
We need leaders who love the country more than they love control. We need a culture that rewards transparency, innovation, and shared growth—not bloodlines, bribes, and backroom deals.
Final Word from The Haitian Pulse
Marcus Boereau is not the problem.
He’s the mirror.
If we don’t like what we see, we need to change the reflection—not smash the mirror.
Let this not be a moment of outrage—but a catalyst for reform. A demand for accountability. A rally cry for those of us who refuse to watch Haiti rot while others build elsewhere.
Because at the end of the day, this was never about Boereau.
It’s about us.
Your voice matters.
Drop your thoughts, reactions, and solutions in the comments below. The pulse of a nation is not measured in silence—but in action.
—LJ Cange, Opinion Columnist, The Haitian Pulse
Comments