Christopher Columbus brought the sugarcane to Hispaniola on his second voyage to the island. By 1527 the sugar industry was well on its way with 18 fully operational sugar mills, and 12 more under construction. The sugar industry has played a central role in the economy of the Dominican Republic during the past 500 years. During the Trujillo regime, the strongman wasted no time in monopolizing one of the country’s most profitable sources of revenue. At the time of his death, Trujillo controlled 63% of the sugar industry’s revenues.