Bust of Dominican Republic founder unveiled in Cairo

The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Cairo held a celebration on Monday 4 September 2023 to unveil a bust of Juan Pablo Duarte in Cairo’s Hurriya (Liberty) park on Gezira Island in the Nile. The official bust is the first to be set up in Africa.

Following both French and Spanish rule from as early as the 16th century, the Latin American island nation of the Dominican Republic declared itself an independent nation from neighboring Haiti in 1844.

Juan Pablo Duarte y Díez (1813 – 1876), a Dominican military leader, writer, activist, and politician was the foremost of the founding fathers of the Domincan Republic and today bears the title Father Of Patria and founder of the DominicanRepublic, Father of the Nation.

Andy Rodriguez Durán, Charge d’Affaire of the Dominican Embassy in Cairo, lauded the support of the Domincan Foreign Ministry and the facilities granted by the Egyptian Government for this landmark cultural move which, he said, ratifies the brotherhood and strengthens harmonious relations between the two nations.

He said that the unveiling of the bust of the Father Of Patria represents the culmination of work that included construction of the foundation; installing a granite floor; upgrading and beautifying the surroundings with grass, gardening restoration, painting of benches and lighting posts; and other details.

“Let’s elevate the homeland with this tribute in Africa to our illustrious Juan Pablo Duarte, who along with so many heroes gave their lives to forge the free, sovereign and independent nation we have today,” he called.

Mr Durán pointed out that the beautiful sculpture of Patricio was donated by the Instituto Duartiano RD, which the Embassy received in April in Santo Domingo.

“This bust will also be the main stage for the commemorative activities of patriotic dates of Dominican history, and also a new tourist attraction for our compatriots, foreigners and Egyptians in Cairo,” he said.

Mr Durán highlighted the activities of the Embassy to promote patriotic and cultural values, commercial exchange, tourism, political position, leadership and influence in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East. This was actively supported, he said, by President Luis Abinader and Chancellor Roberto Alvarez through the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.