Dominican Writers Union supports Roberto Ángel Salcedo as Minister of Culture

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Writers Union (UED) has expressed support for President Luis Abinader’s appointment of Roberto Ángel Salcedo as Minister of Culture. In a public statement, the organization also welcomed the selection of vice ministers Amaury Sánchez, Luis R. Santos, Alice Baroni, and Carmen Rossina Guerrero. UED President Avelino Stanley emphasized the need to align the development of the cultural sector with the country’s economic progress, stating that culture must advance in step with national growth. He highlighted Salcedo’s managerial skills as essential for effectively leading cultural initiatives.

Stanley noted that Salcedo has been involved in cultural activities since his youth and expressed confidence that he will strengthen state policies supporting the arts. The UED believes his experience will help implement cultural projects with broad social impact. Among the priorities the organization has outlined is the creation of a national reading plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, aiming to involve Dominican writers and make literature more accessible to all sectors of society.

The UED also proposed initiatives to expand Dominican literature internationally, including translation programs, and called for the establishment of a Literary Training and Research Centre. Other recommendations include reviving the Cultural Bookstore and creating a literary space at Plaza de la Cultura. Additionally, the union stressed the need to increase compensation for the juries of the Annual Literature Awards and address other unresolved issues within the cultural sector. Salcedo’s appointment was made official under decree 48-25.