Dominican Senate Honors Seven Figures in Art, Culture and Philanthropy

The Dominican Senate honored seven people for their contributions to art, culture and philanthropy, four of them posthumously.

The Dominican Senate on Wednesday recognized seven figures who have contributed to the country's development through art, culture and philanthropy. Among the living honorees are philanthropist Lucy Doughty, sculptor Juan Trinidad and fashion designer Luis Menieur.

Posthumous recognitions went to Henry Hierro, a composer, singer and arranger; Iván Tovar, a visual artist; Iván García, a playwright; and Felipe (Lipe) Collado, a writer and journalist.

The ceremony took place in the institution's Reinaldo Pared Pérez multipurpose hall and was attended by lawmakers, diplomats, and the honorees' relatives and friends. Senate President Ricardo de los Santos said that the legacy of these Dominicans serves as a guide for those seeking success through effort and dignified work. "The Senate takes pride in recognizing their merits, and at the same time I urge them to keep building the path of good and giving everything for our country," he said.

Senator Franklin Romero, who presented the resolutions for several of the honorees, stressed that their works will remain in the collective memory of the Dominican people. Senator Rafael Barón Duluc Rijo, author of the resolution for Juan Trinidad, argued that a nation's greatness is also measured by the sensitivity of its artists and the generosity of those who make solidarity a way of life.

According to a Senate press release, the upper chamber approved the resolutions after presenting each honoree's career in audiovisual productions created by its Communications team. Lucy Doughty was described as a philanthropist who turns urgent needs into real solutions, and Juan Trinidad as one of the country's most important cultural ambassadors abroad.