Spanish philanthropist Don Pedro Álvarez granted Dominican nationality for outstanding contributions

Santo Domingo.- The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, has granted Dominican nationality through privileged naturalization to Don Pedro Álvarez Pastor, a Spanish citizen who has rendered exceptional services to the Dominican community in Spain. The event took place at the National Palace, where he was joined by the Dominican Republic’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Juan Bolívar Díaz, who advocated for this initiative.

Born on February 23, 1941, in Segovia, Spain, Don Pedro Álvarez Pastor holds a degree in Theology and Philosophy. President Abinader commended Álvarez as a “friend of the Dominican Republic,” emphasizing his longstanding connection with the country. Álvarez served as the director of Cáritas International for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, contributing to Cooperation and Development projects for Latin America.

In 1980, he married Dominican doctor Bernarda Jiménez, with whom he had two children. The couple has been instrumental in providing support for Dominican political leaders in Spain for over two decades. They founded the Volunteering of Dominican Mothers in Spain (VOMADE) in 1987, dedicated to assisting the substantial immigration of Dominican women for domestic and tourist services. Their efforts contributed to the regularization of over 40 thousand Dominican immigrants.

Don Pedro Álvarez’s significant contributions also include his role as the director of the radio program “Vereda Tropical” from 2002 to 2012, broadcasted in Spain and the Dominican Republic through Catholic stations in Santo Domingo. The program focused on guiding Dominicans on issues related to legalizing their residence, finding employment, and integrating into Spain.

Ambassador Juan Bolívar Díaz highlighted Álvarez’s dedication to strengthening relations between Spain, Latin America, and especially the Dominican Republic, aligning with the values shared by Dominicans. The provision for this special naturalization is outlined in Decree number 665-23, dated December 29, 2023.