El Siglo newspaper reports that 18 inmates will be exhibiting at the Sala Maria Ugarte of the Centro Cultural de España, the Colonial City Spanish embassy-sponsored cultural center. The exhibit/sale of art, clothing and cakes is the result of months of efforts by Monte Plata inmates. When Colombian inmate Julio Cesar Valencia Quintana (one would supposed he was jailed on drug-trafficking charges) entered the jail he convinced the authorities of starting programs to teach inmates artistic painting, sewing and bakery. With the help of the board that assists the jail, friends of those in jail and the military stationed there, the programs were started. El Siglo newspaper points out that the jail has done a complete turn around, from the days of several mutinies to days of productive activities. More than 500 inmates participate in the programs. Don Emilio feels that the transformation of this jail could be copied and implemented at other jails.
