200 years ago, on September 15, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica chose to step forward and become independent from the Spanish Empire.

Central America's closing of its colonial history meant closing the doors to subordination, to poverty, to the abandonment of the Spanish crown and that the provinces of the then Kingdom of Guatemala began to build new forms of government as well as their fundamental laws. A search for identity began in that moment, for a North so that each region could exploit its potential, orient its capacities and strengthen each of the nascent countries.

In 1812, the future nations of Latin America had already drafted their first constitution in Cadiz, which not only remained in force after independence, but already incorporated the ideals of the separation of powers. But the Act of Independence laid the foundations for a new regime. The seeds of our legal systems emerged then. In 1824, the provinces approved the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Central America, which remained in force until the Central American Federation was dissolved. Then, the legal developments of each country would take their own course, all permeated by a desire for the rule of law and with checks and balances to the powers.

From those dates until now, the region has sought to consolidate itself as a cultural melting pot, using a strategic geographical position in the world and facing major challenges that force it every day to get up to move forward.

Developing the region so that it responds to the needs and capacities of its citizens, adhering to the principles of cooperation, progressivity, complementarity, solidarity, legality, and justice are challenges in which we invest every day, as individuals and as a company. Our goal is to make Central America great and to consolidate, day by day, the rule of law throughout the region.

May the 200 years of Independence that we celebrate today be a reflection of all that our ancestors risked, of all that needs to be worked on and all that can be achieved when we pursue dreams of freedom, justice and progress.

Happy Bicentennial of Central America's Independence!

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