The lack of funds or perhaps many other reasons have brought about the creation of an un-official cemetery in Los Alcarrizos, in West Santo Domingo. Just one year ago, the first person was buried in the vacant lot that today holds the remains of 562 persons.
Lourdes Maria Hernandez, 82, had to be buried in the grounds that were once part of the State Sugar Council (CEA) after her family tried everything in order to have her interred in Cristo Redentor and Los Casabes cemeteries, as well as La Cuaba, Manoguayabo and others where allegedly there was a lack of space or some RD$10,000 were required.
Community leaders came together and formed a Patronage or Sponsorship to lead the fight to create the Los Alcarrizos Municipal Cemetery. They have obtained topographical studies of the area, and the area has been divided into sections where families arrive on a daily basis to bury their loved ones.
Don Carlos Lora, one of the promoters of the idea of the municipal cemetery, told reporters from the Diario Libre that they have worked for over a year to obtain the 400,000m2 of land needed for the park. The interments are carried out in accordance with the law: three copies of the Death Certificate, a copy of the deceased person’s ID (cédula) as well as one of the persons representing the deceased and the persons are encouraged to go to the Central Electoral Board and follow their procedures.
The governmental authorities have not declared this to be an “official” cemetery because of legal issues with the property owners.
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Diario Libre
22 January 2019
