The Ministry of Culture says it is responsible for the construction of the Ibero-American Park amphitheater in Santo Domingo. Students and staff at the National Music Conservatory are opposed to the open-air theater saying it interferes with their studies. Residents in the area also protesting that the events organized at the park, now under the City of Santo Domingo, disturb their peace with traffic jams and noise.
The Ministry of Culture asked the City Government of Santo Domingo (ADN) to build the amphitheater that will be used to stage performances by groups that are part of the Ministry’s Bellas Artes system, the Ministry told Diario Libre.
Minister of Culture Jose Antonio Rodriguez argued that there is ample space in the park. Opponents to the construction say that Decree 333-91 establishes that no building can take place in the area without the consent of the National Conservatory of Music. Rodriguez says that work would stop from 3 to 6pm to allow music classes to take place at the conservatory.
Carmelina Alcantara, president of National Conservatory of Music students association pointed out that there is already a natural amphitheater in the Cueva de Santa Ana. She said that the government should invest in repairing the Manuel Rueda hall at the Conservatory where performances would not cause any inconvenience.
www.diariolibre.com/revista/2014/03/15/i526181_ministerio-cultura-fue-que-pidi-construccin-anfiteatro-conservatorio.html