In its better days, the Caribbean Sea-bordering Malecon of Santo Domingo was known as the longest disco in the world. But today, the Malecon appears to be abandoned to its own fortune. In contrast with the lively well-lit Colonial City, this boulevard, especially the stretch in front of the Jaragua Renaissance, Melia Santo Domingo and V Centenario InterContinental hotels and the Ministry of Culture is kept pitch black every evening. El Caribe newspaper today points out that the reason is that the bulbs in 57 of the 184 light posts from Abraham Lincoln Avenue to Avenida del Puerto are burnt out. El Caribe newspaper highlights that the darkness begun to set in since early summer last year. The newspaper says that only four Politur agents patrol the area, thus tourists are discouraged to walk the avenue at night. The newspaper points out that the lighting problem has not been resolved despite this being the peak tourism time of the year. The situation seems worse now that the giant Christmas tree decorations around one of the avenue’s obelisks, sponsored by Verizon, has been turned off.