The Ministry of Culture will convert the recently closed prison of La Romana into a Cultural Village

The Ministry of Culture will convert the recently closed prison of La Romana into a Cultural Village
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, December 17, 2012

The National Army handed over the old building which housed the now closed Santa Rosa de Lima prisonto the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez,received the keys to the building from the local military command and informed that the now defunct prison will be immediately converted into a Cultural Village.

Colonel Víctor A. Mercedes Cepeda, commander of the Sixth Infantry Brigade of the National Army, handed over the structure at a ceremony that was held in front of the building, which is located in La Romana.

Colonel Víctor A. Mercedes Cepeda, commander of the Sixth Infantry Brigade of the National Army, handed over the structure at a ceremony that was held in front of the building, which is located in La Romana.

Colonel Mercedes Cepeda and Minister Rodríguez signed the transfer of the property, an initiative that received the immediate support of the provincial governor, Mr. Juan José Santana; Luisa María Ortiz, the provincial director of culture; the deputy commanderin charge of the fortress, Army Colonel Clemente de Jesús Peralta Blanco; and Mr. Enrique Seijas.

As a symbolic gesture, the military officer offered his back to Minister Rodríguez to sign the document formalizing the delivery of the old prison, which dates back to 1910.

Colonel Mercedes Cepeda, very briefly expressed his pleasure to handing over the old prison to a state agency that really needs it to develop new cultural projects.

The transfer had been approved by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez, and by the Attorney General of the Republic, Francisco Domínguez Brito.

The prison, built at the beginning of the last century, was in operation until less than a month ago. At the peak of the prison population it came to house some 800 inmates of both sexes, in several pavilions that will now be used as educational classrooms and for cultural exhibits.

Announcing the plans, Rodríguez explained that schools of fine arts and music will be housed there, and thatother elements of the Dominican culture that are attractive to tourists will also be offered.

The official stressed that, instead of finding a prison as it has been the case until recently, now tourists visiting La Romana will find a cultural center in which they will be able to appreciate the elements that identify Dominicans.

“Cruise ships, instead of finding a prison, the first thing that they will discover is the cultural center, a cultural village, which, because of the Coral road,will now be a must see tourist place,” he said.

He reported that the cultural village will be the first of several to be converted around the resorts in the Dominican Republic, as established in the cultural guidelinesthat will be delivered by the President of the Republic, Mr. Danilo Medina.

Rodríguez thanked the willingness of the district attorney of La Romanaand of Minister Pared Pérez, who were so diligent in making possiblethe transfer of the penitentiary to the Ministry of Culture.

He added that in other parts of the world where prisons have operated they are only converted into museums, and that the former Santa Rosade Lima prison will function as a cultural centerthat will include an onsite theater.

The installation of a naval museum will add to this initiative. The installation of the museum,where the tobacco culture will be highlighted,will receive advice from a group of citizens, among whom we can mention José Joaquín Puello.

After receiving the building, the Minister of Culture visited the installations and cells and announced that design and technical teams will immediately begin the assessments so that the demolition of some areas will proceed while respecting the facade of the fortress because it is a historical monument of La Romana and of the country.


Army Colonel Clemente de Jesús Peralta Blanco offers his back to the Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez,so that he can sign the agreement. Colonel Víctor A. Cepeda, María Luisa Mercedes Ortiz and Commander Mercedes Cepeda observe the ceremony.


José Antonio Rodríguez opens the doors of the prison for the first time.


Facade of the La Romana Fortress.