The Listín Diario newspaper reported that the project to light up the Colonial City of Santo Domingo is advancing. Now lit up, old Santo Domingo is one of the most attractive and romantic sites in the Caribbean. The project is a joint effort of the Agencia de Cooperación Española and the Dominican government. José Manuel Lausín, in charge of the project for the Spanish government agency, said that the first studies of what should be done began in July 1997 and that the implementation of the program got underway in January of this year. The project has been divided into three stages. The first stage calls for the lighting of the Calle El Conde and Columbus Park area. In the future, explains architect Saturnino Cisneros of the Agencia de Cooperación, the lamp posts will guide visitors by indicating the most important sites. More so, the lighting will contribute to the sense of security in the tourist areas, and will be an encouragement to businesses to open more shops, restaurants and bars which, in turn, will liven up the old city. The project has a cost of RD$14 million, of which the Spanish government agency is contributing 50%.
