Central Romana Corporation
{{Short description|Dominican agro-industrial and tourism company}}
{{Sources exist|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Central Romana Corporation
| logo =
| type = Private
| foundation = 1912
| defunct =
| successor =
| predecessor = Gulf and Western Americas Corporation
| location = La Romana, Dominican Republic
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| industry = Agriculture, tourism
| subsid =
| products =
| owner = Fanjul Corp. (35%)
| revenue =
| homepage = https://centralromana.com.do/en
}}
Central Romana Corporation, Ltd. is an agro-industrial and tourism company based in the Dominican Republic.[https://centralromana.com.do/ Estructura Corporativa], Central Romana Corporation, Ltd.
History
Central Romana Corporation was established in 1912 as a subsidiary of South Puerto Rico Sugar Company.[https://centralromana.com.do/memorias/], Central Romana Corporation, Ltd. In 1967, South Puerto Rico Sugar was acquired by Gulf and Western Industries, becoming part of its Gulf and Western Americas Corporation division.{{cite news|title=G. & W.'s Role in the Caribbean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/24/archives/g-ws-role-in-the-caribbean-company-is-vital-in-many-ways-to.html |publisher=The New York Times|date=June 24, 1975}} In 1984, Gulf and Western Americas was sold to a group of investors including Carlos Morales Troncoso and the Fanjul brothers.{{cite web|title=Sugar Sale By G.&W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/06/business/sugar-sale-by-g-w.html|website=The New York Times|date=October 6, 1984|access-date=2023-06-15}}
Controversies
In 2022, the government of the United States sanctioned Central Romana Corporation after investigating the company and concluding that it had been using forced labor on its sugarcane fields.https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-issues-withhold-release-order-central-romana-corporation The company denied the allegations.{{Cite web |title=Central Romana rechaza acusaciones de Estados Unidos sobre trabajo forzoso|url=https://www.diariolibre.com/amp/usa/actualidad/2022/11/23/central-romana-responde-a-comunicado-de-estados-unidos/2149672|access-date=2023-05-20|website=diariolibre.com}} In 2025, the Trump administration lifted the ban on Central Romana. The New York Times noted that, the Fanjul Corporation gave a million dollars to a PAC supporting Trump, as well as $413,000 to the RNC.{{Cite news |last=Swanson |first=Ana |last2=Wagner |first2=James |date=2025-03-19 |title=Trump Administration Quietly Lifted Ban on Dominican Sugar Company Over Forced Labor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/business/economy/trump-sugar-forced-labor-ban-lifted.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250327150836/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/business/economy/trump-sugar-forced-labor-ban-lifted.html |archive-date=27 Mar 2025 |access-date= |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=Fanjul Corp Profile: Summary |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/fanjul-corp/summary?id=D000066714 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=OpenSecrets |language=en}}