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During a media conference in front of the Presidential Palace, the Union of Theater Actors of the Dominican Republic (SITEARD) denounced the cancellation of more than 400 million pesos in awards and achievements received by the independent cultural sector over the past four years.
The union points out that the Ministry of Culture, under the current leadership of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), has adopted a classist and exclusionary approach, which is reflected in the reduction of investments and the cancellation of initiatives that benefit dozens of communities, managers and creators.
The disappearance of 14 key projects supporting the independent sector and people’s groups reflects the country’s lack of vision and commitment to the country’s diversity and cultural wealth.
The Patronage Law, which was introduced as a solution for cultural sustainability and promotion, was pointed out as the biggest failure of the current government, which undermined the trust and credibility of state institutions, especially the Ministry of Culture.
These statements were made when a document was presented to President Luis Abinader containing a proposal for the next government to be governed by five fundamental axes.
Furthermore, SITEARD denounces the persecution of the cultural sector by the Directorate General of Internal Revenue (DGII), which has hindered incentives through malicious interpretation of the law and authoritarian practices, leading to the failure of the Patronage Law and intends to replicate the Cinema Law.
Likewise, they speak of the reduction in funding for cultural non-profit organizations, which indicates elitist behavior, without understanding social realities and regional work dynamics, at the expense of the interests of the popular sector.
“While the President of the Republic has neglected us for four years, we are now threatened with a new tax burden that further increases pressure on a sector that does not support growth.
President, but DGII pursues everything that smacks of culture,” the union claimed.
The document submitted to the President includes six SITEARD proposals aimed at promoting efficient and strategic public management.
These axes aim to improve conditions and democratic access to cultural workers, the general public and the community sector, stressing the importance of an inclusive and accessible culture for all.
The union finally asked President Luis Abinader to restore the P40-million-a-year Independent Creation Support Fund and the P100-million-a-year Program to Support Project Management Competitions.
They noted: “We hope that he will fulfill the commitment he made as a PRM candidate to develop a strategic vision for culture over the next four years and that this proposal will reverse the emergency in which management has placed culture.”
In the Dominican Republic, nearly a million people are dedicated to art, culture, traditions, memory, animation, artistic training and entertainment.
These workers, entrepreneurs and managers create jobs and boost the local economy, while also contributing more than P11 billion to GDP.
The sector is vital for tourism and education, and also promotes a culture of peace, social cohesion, the country’s international influence, strengthened identity, innovation and creativity.
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