[eliniaguilefp7m]

DR1 has a number of people on it who seem to enjoy being unhappy, and making others feel the same. They were dissatisfied with their lives back home, and discovered it didn't get any better when they moved to a third world country.

Or, they wanted the illusion of "unlimited freedom" (usually meaning abundant and willing sex partners less than half their age), and get frustrated with the extreme unemployment, poor infrastructure and issues related to deep poverty. It's most interesting to watch them complain apparently unaware the former is directly and inextricably related to the latter. After all, if he/she can make Toronto money working as an engineer, he/she probably won't be "in love" with some 70 year old who looks like they're about to give birth to a Buick.

Tambo's point, I think, is to tread lightly. Lots of people with big plans wind up going broke here very, very quickly. It's not about other people "stealing" your idea. That really doesn't happen very often, especially with something that's labor or bureaucracy-addled (such as an importing business with a storefront). The main concern is people putting obstacles (i.e. hands out) that impede your progress and reduce your funds. That happens a lot, especially when expats deal with the (unfortunately abundant) shadier expats out there.

If you're interested in an import business, why not do something online where you can fully understand the rules, deal in first-world currencies, and do lots of drop-shipping (minimizing your overhead)?

Here's the key: if you have sufficient capital, key Dominican contacts and work experience (in DR) that you don't have to ask for help on a general board, then you MAY be ready. Otherwise, your chances are not as good as you'd probably like them to be.