do business in the Dominican Republic - Pellerano & Herrera

Pellerano & HerreraAttorneys at lawsea level), and Lake Enriquillo, the lowest point in the Caribbean (144 metersbelow sea level) may be found.The country is also proud to have an impressive fauna and flora diversity, whichmainly lives and develops within an important system of protected areas, formedof several natural parks, scientific reserves, wildlife refugees, panoramic landscapes,archeological sites, architectural monuments and submarine zones of historicand cultural interest.The city of Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic, which hasalso other cities of demographic, economic and cultural importance, such asSantiago de los Caballeros, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana, Puerto Plata andBarahona.HISTORICAL OVERVIEWThe Dominican Republic is a free and sovereign country focused towards the sustainabledevelopment of its people, its institutions and resources in a context ofglobalization efforts and the responsible interaction of its agents.It is a young country that proclaimed its independence on 27 February 1844, afeat that had to be defended with courage in order to be kept.When the Spaniards arrived at the island on December 5, 1492, it was inhabitedby a group of Arauaco Indians called “Tainos”, but this population vanished in arelatively short time after the discovery.The hard physical work they were forcedto carry out, the “European” diseases and the poor quality of the food they weregiven, were among the main causes for this.Named by its Spanish settlers “Hispaniola”, the island became the basis for theexpansion of the Spanish empire into the new world, and the main expeditionsto the other American and Caribbean territories started from its shores.The city of Santo Domingo (originally named “La Isabela”) was founded in 1496,and soon became a real cultural center, which saw the light to the first cathedral,the first hospital and the first university of America, among many others.It was in 1966 when started the process of democratic consolidation and developmentof the national economic structures that has contributed to the currentpolitical and economic stability of the country.Since then eleven democratic elections have been held, alternating in power thethree main political parties:Partido Reformista Social Cristiano: Joaquin Balaguer, in 1966, 1970, 1974,1986, 1990 and 1994.Partido Revolucionario Dominicano:Antonio Guzman in 1978, Salvador JorgeBlanco in 1982 and Hipólito Mejía in 2000.Partido de la Liberación Dominicana: Leonel Fernandez, in 1996 and 2004.5