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National
theater authorities did not
expect a negative response
from legislators.
/ National theater courtesy
photo.
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Deputies
reject $31.4 million loan
to improve National Theater
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
In the final vote 30 legislators
rejected a $31.4 million loan from
the Central American Bank for
Economic Integration to remodeling
the National
Theater*. The loan won
support from 21 lawmakers.
Approval required at least 38
votes.
June 19, the first time the
measure came before lawmakers, it
won initial approval.
Theater officials had said they
intend to make improvements in the
building following the current
construction regulations and
technology to ensure the
preservation of the building
considered as cultural heritage.
Among the most important
improvements would be in
electrical wiring, new fire
prevention systems, an annex
building for use as a warehouse
and administrative offices.
One of the votes against the loan
came from Mileidy Alvarado Arias
of the National Restoration Party.
She said that during the
discussion of this loan there was
insufficient information about
credit conditions.
According to Alvarado, the other
deputies focused on the need to
approve the loan without analyzing
certain considerations and trying
to silence any question about it.
“I clarified that my opposition is
not against the restoration of the
National Theater, but it is
against the details of the loan
itself," she said.
In response to the loan rejection,
Karina Salguero, the new director
of the theater, said: "We received
this news with great astonishment.
We did not expect a negative
response for such an important
project."
In April Fred Herrera, former
theater director, and officials of
the Ministry of Culture announced
they were submitting the loan to
the deputies of the congress for
study. Legislative approval is
required for such loans.
The theater construction began in
1891, and it was inaugurated in
1897. The Legislative Assembly
declared it a national symbol of
historical-architectural heritage
and cultural freedom in September
1998.
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Should theater authorities look
for another way to increase income
to cover the cost of
remodeling? We would
like to know your thoughts on this
story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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