PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – Former Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph says the leader of the neighboring Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinader Corona, understands nothing of the social and political crisis in Haiti.

In a statement posted to social media, Joseph said that Abinader is taking advantage of the absence of leadership in “Haiti to pursue his own agenda.”

The former Haitian official also said he disapproved of Abinader’s “totally selfish and opportunistic approaches” regarding the “Haiti dossier.”

Joseph’s statements come after Luis Abinader spoke recently before the Organization of American States (OAS), where he called for a redoubling of efforts to curb the situation in Haiti, that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.

“Haiti cannot wait any longer, the current situation can be defined as a low intensity war. We must act now, thousands of people are dying,” said Abinader.

The president then stated that “the border crisis in Haiti is a threat to the national security of the Dominican Republic” because the authorities of that country do not have “control” of the monopoly of force and organised crime “tries to alter order” in Dominican territory.

Joseph’s comments came as the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on Friday said he is “deeply concerned” at the current situation in the French speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) member state where civil unrest has brought the country to a standstill.