Culture Minister Jose Rafael Lantigua said that the government has purchased a new air-conditioning system for the National Theater. The unit cost US$925,000 and will be installed in time for December’s performances. Several significant presentations have had to be cancelled at the theater for lack of adequate ventilation after the previous government spent millions in supposed repairs to the old system.
Lantigua also said that a major overhaul is underway at the Plaza de la Cultura, where the National Theater is located. He said that the 2005 National Book Fair this year would take place on the Plaza de la Cultura grounds.