Personalities mourn the passing of former minister José Rafael Lantigua

Santo Domingo.- Upon learning this morning of the unfortunate passing of journalist, writer, and former Minister of Culture, José Rafael Lantigua, figures from the public sphere have expressed their sorrow at the death. Former President Leonel Fernández highlighted Lantigua’s legacy and emphasized the creation of the Santo Domingo International Book Fair and the Regional Book Fairs.

“Fue maestro, fue poeta, fue historiador. Fue el mejor ministro de Cultura que ha tenido el país. Era en el fondo un erudito. José Rafael Lantigua organizaba talleres de escritura, de cuentos, de novelas y de reportajes periodísticos en el interior del país. Fue un gran intelectual y un gran amigo. Tenemos tareas pendientes”,

dijo el ex mandatario.

He also revealed that the cause of his death was due to complications from poisoning suffered in Turkey, without explaining exactly the cause of his death.

You can also read: José Rafael Lantigua: life and legacy of a cultural pillar RD

José Mármol, National Literature Award, highlighted “we lose a true pillar of the arts, education and above all the projection of Dominican culture internationally. He held public functions and exercised them in an exemplary manner”. While, the jurist Carlos Salcedo, highlighted that José Rafael from a young age undertook a work of support for culture, to energize and make visible both traditional and modern culture.

“Desarrolló todas las cualidades de un escritor profundo. Si debemos definirlo, es uno de los más fervientes actores de la cultura dominicana”,

destacó Salcedo.

José Rafael Lantigua was a numerary member of the Dominican Academy of the Language and a key figure in the Global Democracy and Development Foundation (Funglode), and a columnist for Diario Libre.