I am O.K. with free trade and international franchises, as they force the local businesses to improve thier services and product quality. My only concern is that some of those franchises forget that they are operating in a Spanish -speaking country, I noticed from the pitctures that Quizno's keeps information boards in English only, Starbucks keeps its cups printed in English and Hooters' promotional boards are completely in English. Our government should regulate this, or at least charge a special tax in US$ for those who stick with the idea of English only publicity.

I was just about to make the same comment but you took the words out of my mouth(hands).

They try that in Quebec with English it sux ....let the marketplace decide what it wants keep the government out they will screw it up for sure and the public will be the loser

In DR the official language is Spanish so the people have already made the choice a long time ago. To me the quick way of doing it is by simply allowing people to file a lawsuit i.e. at the Starbucks they could burn their hands and say they didn't understand what the cup said on the message printed because according to the law this is a Spanish speaking country but I'm sure things like this won't happen to Starbucks in DR so the Gov. will have to step in for the people one way or another.

It's nice to see all these new beautifully design restaurants.

But I have a big concern about the long term, nutrition impact they will have in DR society.

Normally DR staple food is very basic, use fresh ingredients, and cooked cooked everyday. That is why our girls, mostly do not have the cellulite or at least have very little even though they do not kill themselves in the gym.
All I can say, DR girls what out, whatch what you eat, all these international food chain meal ingredients are cellulite bombs on your legs, plus the tons of preservatives and color ingredients trigger so many allergies and brain fug to kids and even adults.

Why? What would that serve aside from another right being trampled on?

Who are the people?
Maybe Starbucks is marketing their coffee to a certain clientele(Probably are)

Where do you draw the line? Should all Italian restaurants stop serving "pasta: and start serving "espegettiss"?
How about a French Restaurant selling Babosas instead of escargot?

The people are the Dominican people who's constitution declares our country as a Spanish speaking country and as the Official language so if they want to print it in English that's fine but it must be printed in the local language above any other language period. No the names of a specific item is not the problem but having something fully printed in English in a Spanish speaking should not be allow and Yes the government should step in to make sure the locals get to read stuff in their own language and if business wants to market to an extra language then they are in their own rights to print it in that language also which would be no problem.

AnthonyC,
How many Dominicans do you think are able to understand this?...
"Quiznos - Classic Subs: Served on your choice of Artisan bread: Italian white, 9 Grain Artisan Wheat, Rosemary Parmesan, or Italian Herb."
Let me guess...1.2% of the population.
In Mexico, same Franchises are established and all of them have translated their menus, nutritional and promotional information for the 99% customers to understand.
The tax is a way to enforce the businesses to be in compliace with the normative and ultimately to protect the consumer who has the right to know what he/she is eating or using.

By the way if you didn't know this is a law in DR to print nutrition facts so people know what they are eating. In fact there was a big discussion on this because many people complained about imported products no being labeled correctly which force them to print extra spanish labels next to the English ones and they want to modify this law to where the Spanish label takes place of the English(any other language) one and then give the importer the option to add a extra label in another language if he choose to. Maybe they should extent this law into local business in general.