Dominican Architects Society disputes Senate eviction notice

The Society of Architects of the Dominican Republic (SARD) has rejected a notification from the Senate of the Republic ordering the organization to vacate its institutional headquarters within 15 calendar days. The building, located in the Centro de los Héroes in the National District, is the former Venezuela Pavilion, currently known as the Emilio Brea Pavilion.

SARD president Lucirys Mateo characterized the eviction attempt as illegal, stating that such actions against professional guilds weaken institutionalism and violate legality. The organization maintains that its occupation of the site is legitimate, noting that the property was formally transferred to the guild by the Venezuelan government in 1995 as a gesture of international brotherhood.

The guild further defended its right to the premises by citing Decree 751-04, issued on August 5, 2004, by then-president Hipólito Mejía, which consolidated their presence at the location after previous attempts to dispossess them in 2001.