sugar industry, the interior regions of the island were largely
             exploited. For example, foreign investors attained cheap raw materials and labor, while
             increasing the exportation of manufactured goods to Cuba. Consequently, investment was
             never directed at the development of the internal markets. Thus Cuba was forced to
             borrow high interest loans to purchase the manufactured goods necessary for the
             While Cuba became known for its strong sugar industry, Puerto Rico was viewed
             as a small producer with a weak sugar industry. The variations found in the sugar industry
             were attributed to differences in the development of these countries. Since Cuba was the
             main defense center for the Spanish Empire, a large oligarchy of political power
             developed. This large oligarchy assured that capital from the service market was made
             available for the agroindustrial sector. In addition, wealthy Cubans invested in the
             development and management of sugar plantations. However, the growth of the sugar
             industry required larger amounts of labor than capital investments.
             The limited amount of access to labor was a major obstacle in the development of
             the sugar industry. Since work on sugar plantations was portrayed as "brute," plantation
             work was highly stigmatized. Therefore, free laborers were unwilling to work on
             plantations. According to Juan Bautista Bestrer, "one cannot employ free laborers in the
             cultivation of cane because generally they do not like to work, and if they do it's only for
             two or three days; they accomplish little and there are tasks which slaves do and free
             laborers don't want to do...thus I prefer slaves." The lack of motivation and incentive
             ...