An apparent attempt of The Ministry of Education to highlight its achievements and new raised status within the government may have backfired. The Ministry of Education commissioned the construction of the most costly stand ever at the Santo Domingo Book Fair, estimated by stand builders to exceed RD50 million. The high cost of the stand, which includes a two-floor replica of the nearby marble-covered offices of the Ministry of Education, raised some eyebrows in the media. The Ministry claims that the actual cost of the exhibit is around RD$18 million and the process to design and construct the exihibit (won by the architectural firm of Caro Alvarez) was transparent and in compliance with government regulations. The framework of the exhibit is made of steel and Sheetrock was used to fashion the finished details of the exhibit. In all, the structure measures 16 meters wide by 18 meters long.
The exhibit, which will be only in use for the 10-day duration of the Book Fair, occupies an area of around 500 square meters at Plaza de la Cultura.
Diario Libre reports that inside the stand there is nothing innovative, just a pedestrian mock-up of the unremarkable work that actually goes on at the Ministry on a daily basis.
It seems that the government headquarter replication theme at the Book Fair went viral this year, as the National Police has also built a major replica of its own offices.
Not to be outdone, the Diario Libre reports that The Office of the Vice President Margarita Cedeno commissioned the construction of the second largest stand at the fair to impress visitors.
Educación y Policía realizan impresionantes réplicas para Feria del Libro
http://www.diariolibre.com/revista/2014/04/25/i581441_impresionante-stand-del-mnisterio-educacin-llama-atencin.html