THE Dominican Republic is to start massive deportations of Haitians who are alleged to be living in the country illegally.

Authorities say their massive clampdown will lead to the explusion of about 10,000 Haitians a week.

The government took the decision after noticing an “excess” of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, spokesman Homero Figueroa told reporters on Wednesday.

He said officials had seen an increase in Haitian migrants as the US-backed intervention in Haiti flounders.

The authorities also agreed to strengthen border surveillance and control, according to Mr Figueroa, who did not provide details.

Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 174,000 people it says are Haitians, with at least 67,000 more expelled in the first half of this year.

Activists have long accused the administration of President Luis Abinader of violating the human rights of Haitians and people of Haitian descent born in the Dominican Republic. 

Mr Abinader denies the allegation.

Meanwhile, Haiti’s Unit for Combating Corruption accused three members of the country’s transitional presidential council of bribery.

In a scathing report published on Wednesday, Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire and Louis Gerald Gilles are said to have demanded more than $750,000 (£560,000) from the director of the government-owned National Bank of Credit to secure his job.

“The message is clear — no-one is above the laws of our republic!" said unit director Hans Joseph, as he detailed the corruption allegations at a news conference.

The council members have yet to respond to the accusations.

The transitional body was appointed earlier this year after targeted gang violence forced then prime minister Ariel Henry to resign, leaving Haiti without a leader. The council appointed Garry Conille to replace him.