DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Penitentiary system expert Roberto Santana disputes President Abinader’s statement that RD$1.6 billion are needed to finish Las Parras jail. President Luis Abinader responded to criticism of negligence in the handling of the La Victoria jail issues and announced a follow-up committee for the jail issues. The newly appointed woman-in-charge Police colonel at the La Victoria Jail has been removed, after less than a month on the job. A new jail director, Colonel Roberto Nivar has been named.

The actions follow a major fire in an area of cells at the jail that resulted in the death of at least 13 inmates, many of whom have yet to be identified. A second blaze at a store inside the jail happened in less than 48 hours.

Once the first fire at La Victoria occurred, Abinader justified the not opening of the RD$7 billion Las Parras jail in Guerra on grounds that RD$1.6 billion were needed to fix the jail as it was built on a swamp area.

Roberto Santana, the former rector of the...