OPINIONS & EDITORIAL

Monday, November 26,  2001 Online Edition 47

Run, run, we're leaving, we're leaving Donita, have your fare ready!

These are the words continuously yelled by the bus and taxi drivers and their assistants in Honduras. It is a social penalty. Directing transportation in Honduras has been the task of individuals who do not use these means of locomotion. Contributing their educational impoverishment, the willful people who earn their living by providing transport have given their profession a disagreeable image.

Those directly involved in the transportation sector: the owners of vehicle numbers, vehicle-owners, the drivers, their assistants, the dispatchers, those that traffic in the vehicle numbers, the friends of the drivers and their assistants, whom are referred to as heavy hands, and the transit police. All of these individuals form part of this important economic sector of the country, and are, by playing with their professions, responsible for the lack of transportation in this country. 

When we think of the professional in this sector we have an immediate association with the failure of educational system on a national level. We understand that these people, apart from managing mechanical things, need to manage human relations, as a result of their necessary contact with the public, and obviously it is this that is putting them in a precarious situation.

As in many countries, to gain entrance into this union, a person should secondarily have a suitable level of culture as well as language skills appropriate to the area. Primarily, for those who have made good use of the opportunity given to them by this country to graduate from educational programs, it would seem that embarking on the aforementioned type of career would be a valid path. Is it not fair that the people who work in the urban and inter-urban transportation systems are educated to a level where they can understand their own rights as well as the rights of others?
The concept of urban and inter-urban transportation should change.

The design of the units being used for this service should be different from that to which we are now accustomed. An example, in the past we believed that the urban transport units needed to have more seats available. Neither does this sector know and or want to know about the value of insurance for automobiles, the cost of accidents, depreciation of vehicles, the laws of their association, maintenance, and criminal responsibility. The things most desired by this group are an easy life and fast money; the bus drivers, only care about the title banner that can be extolled to everyone.

To elevate the cultural level and make modifications in the transport units, there needs to be a permanent group watching over various important aspects of transportation, such as maintenance, cleanliness, music played within the units, the bathrooms, emissions control, and noise pollution. These are issues that should form part of a scheme that protects Honduran citizens.

There are many secondary effects that result from having no control over the aforementioned aspects of transportation, for which Hondurans are paying an indirect price. An example would be, we would guess, the emotional problems and neurosis caused by the effects of noise pollution. In our cities, everyday more people are demonstrating more undesirable traits, such as irritable characters.
The transportation sector is one of the most successful in the country. They do not pay any form of tax. It is hardly possible to make them pay the tax for the circulation of vehicles and other modest fees. The result is that they are the foremost client and beneficiary of the Honduran government, towards which they have the least respect.

One can't organize a city that is prisoner to grave transportation problems.

What would be more attractive and would be more appealing to the eye would be to return to a time when the highways and roads were traveled by horses and mules. In this way, we would improve landscapes for international tourism, and as well as improve the moral of our citizens. Don't forget that an architect, with their various techniques, can deliberately humiliate a person. Right now, imagine a taxi driver with a foreign client, and this driver is serving as the tour guide. What things will this say about our society?

Dear HTW,

In as much as I have a continuing project in my adopted country of Honduras, it is very much a concern of mine that we somehow reduce the violence and apparent lack of care for integrity among my good people. 

Is our crime rate similar in the USA? Absolutely, but ours is more white collar, and lying is totally accepted, hence in God's eyes, and as in written in the Bible, there is no distinction between our crimes in the USA and the physical crimes in Honduras. Our sins are of the same weight as those of the Hondurans.

Let's approach the situation as if we really care, which I do. There is only way to slow the street violence, the stone throwing (mentioned in Jesse Jamison's letter) and the apparent "who cares attitude" by the majority of the police. It must come from a concerted effort by each individual, a total commitment, a resolve to make our situation, our lives better. As teachers present the issue before the students, they must take a positive stand. As kids begin to realize that they can make a difference. They will take it home. The TV stations can work on this ver productively. 

The new media has a great opportunity to instill pride of a clean street, the pride of a better place to live. All will gradually realize that "yes, it does work." The police force is to be re-trained with emphasis on "true caring and protection," not corruption, which is now acceptable. Acceptable because we simply accept it. The individual police would be interviewed to discern how they can have a part in making Honduras the place to visit. Individually. I will not believe that every Honduran policeman is corrupt. Many, sure, but not all.

Each town can have a retired person(s) volunteer to pinpoint areas of concern, point out places where kids need more supervision. Ex: in Tela you have a beautiful potential for a true resort area. It is a matter of the officials working with private enterprise to bring about a solution for each problem. The newspapers can begin a definite plan of printing which town is most improved. Towns will eventually become competitive, schools will become competitive, to achieve that "Best improved" award.

Retired people can teach in night or evening schools, they can inculcate a better way for Honduras to climb up so that as time passes, eventually Honduras will become "the place to go."
As I have grown to know my people in Marion and Tela, I have found these people are truly beautiful people, eager to learn, eager to help. They simply need to be given a small incentive.

The police need to be re-educated so that when they stop you at a checkpoint they are not trying to get a few lempiras. When stopped at a checkpoint, I simply stayed with them, and hold out until they let me go. No man is born without greed. Greed can be removed by education. The education must begin at home, but also at the top. Hondurans must seek out honest mean and women who will take office with integrity and keep it. You have people there who are of such character. You, as individuals must begin, as individuals, to make Honduras a better educated place, a cleaner place, and a place where the criminal and violent persons begin to learn that there is a better way to live. Let's begin today.

Thomas E. Doyle
Maryland and Honduras

Monday, November 12,  2001 Online Edition 45

The arms of Honduras

On this past Thursday October 25, the Municipal Corporation of Tegucigalpa decided to close the establishments known as SLOT MACHINES, money takers, the machines, or the good arms of Honduras.  There are 10 such establishments in the capital city, and they are dedicated to the business of plucking the citizens without pity, as this is the design of the business.  The rule is that they must give to the Metropolitan Board of the Central District the trifling sum of Lps. 28 million.

Several months ago we made the observation in an article that the aforementioned activity is incredibly damaging and dangerous to one’s health.

It is well known that amongst the various compulsive disorders, this is one from which the rescue of a person might not be possible.  A gamboling compulsion is a sickness that can remain with a person for their life.

We had made these observations, and at the same time suggested that the development of our own country requires new ideas.

Outstanding in the aforementioned types of activities is that we have a long history in this country of involving ourselves with pirates and buccaneers, and truly we can make a triangle of the current pirates territory, starting in Port Royal in Roatan, moving to El Fuerte de Santa Barbara in Trujillo, and finally El Castillo de Omoa.  Passengers can make a stop along the way at Tela, so they can enjoy the shows offered by the casinos.  Tela is said to be more than simply a place to loose ones money, but as well has shows of artists, and perhaps cooking demonstrations, conventions, an open port, and some sports, such as golf and sailing, etc...

While we feel that the current decision to close these businesses is a good resolution, there are aspects to this resolution which may cause various problems at the same time.  Basically, we have seen that the casino owners have been greatly involved in promoting both national and international tourism, benefiting greatly for example the Telenos.  Of course, the Municipality of Tela will be now in control of enforcing controls over this group.

The fight against investors involved in this type of business has been violent in every part of the world.  In El Salvador, which sought all possible solutions, it has been very difficult to control gambling. 

In the middle of the gaming economy, their’s is hidden a world of crime, robbery, disgrace, and human degradation like prostitution and drugs.

The politicians of the day, changing like a pair of tossed dice, have allowed these establishments to proliferate in the past several years until they now number more than the pupuseras.

Apart from the fact that the casinos have total control over the gaming in their establishments, one must tolerate as well their evasion of their financial responsibilities, as well as the ill that has befallen various Honduras enterprises which have fallen as victims of the sickness that is gambling. 

We are happy with the authorities of the capital community, and hope further that their actions don’t simply serve as cheap advertising for the gaming business.  And that their measures will not be like their cleaning the streets of vendors, but rather will be permanent.

Problems off the highway too

Dear HTW:

Regarding Mr. Kurt Gruen’s letter “Problems on the Highway,” in the October 27th edition.  I have never seen any incidents of containers slipping off flatbed trucks on the highway myself, but I find it all too credible.  The story of the transit police and bribery, is as common as dogs having flees.  So what else is new?

There are certain things here that drive me crazy as well.  For example, the streets of Copan are litter with trash.  Why?  The problem is easy to solve.  All the Municipality would have to do is to impose fines on the litterbugs.  The statue already exists.  If the litterbug can’t pay the fine, he or she can spend the day, under supervision, picking up trash on the streets.  By adopting such a program, the Municipality could both gain revenue and stop this eyesore, which ahs a negative impact on tourism.

Behind my house stands an abandoned military barracks.  It has neither lighting nor police patrols, which makes it an ideal gathering place for our local delinquents.  They bring their girlfriends there, take drugs, make lots of noise, and throw stones at my roof.  I installed lighting with protective cages around the outside of the wall, protecting the rear of my property, and they promptly robbed the bulbs.

Am I going to speak to the Municipality about either of these issues?  No, it would make more sense to howl at the moon.   Instead,  I collect the trash in the front of my house each day, replace my roofing tiles, and plan to electrify the cages protecting the new bulbs that I will install.

Most foreigners do not enjoy life in Honduras and cannot make the adjustment due to the language and cultural differences, problems with corruption, crime, pollution and poverty.  No one that I know of, however, is being held hostage here by the Honduran government.  If anyone is not happy here, I can think of three alternatives, accept the good with the bad, try to improve the situation, or look for somewhere else to live.  Complaining, I assure you, will not help.  Personally, I’ve been here for seven years now, and I’m not going anywhere.  Even with all the problems, I say thank God for Honduras!

Jesse Jamison
Copan Ruins

Investor woes

DEAR HTW:

As a former investor in Honduras I agree with your article this week in regards to investing in Honduras. The violence and union actions though, are just part of the problem. The Country has no infrastructure to properly support industry. There is no dependable electrical source, potable water, telephone or mail system, roads and bridges must now be rebuilt after “Mitch and “Michelle”.  

The envious nature of many Hondurans also has a detrimental effect once a foreigner invests there.  Many people will strongly declare to a possible investor; “Yes, we can do this or that, don’t worry about it” and then try every way possible to destroy your efforts to help the local economy once you have put your money into the project. I found that at every level there were those in positions of authority that put the “bite” on the company. I was even forced to purchase raw material from La Ceiba and transport it all the way  back to the factory, because I refused to pay in US dollars for locally available material. We use the Lempira here, declared the bank teller when money would be transferred from the US to Honduras and converted into Lempira prior to being deposited in the account, when I would request Dollars instead.  

This action resulted in my material being stopped every time and held for over a week by the “authorities” while they attempted to put more of a “bite” on me and in the end, I was not able to meet contract deadlines in the USA, which was costing me another $10,000 for every month delay, past the contract deadline and destroyed my credibility in the US market as a dependable provider to builders. I can say with pride on behalf of the local people of Olancho, who worked for me; that they were wonderful people; dedicated to ensuring they done their part to try to help keep the factory open and not one item was stolen by the workers, during the three years I was able to survive. 

I have seen some changes during the last few years in how Honduras is trying to change some of these things and am considering another project there. I will wait to see how things go before making the final decision to locate once again in Olancho, Honduras or go to Costa Rica. I love Honduras and its wonderful people, however the “Bite”, Violence and Hostage taking must change before anyone in their right mind would ever invest there again. I at this point, am not sure where I fit in the “right mind” category.

Everett Grundon, Former Owner, “Fabrica La Puerta” Olancho

Monday, November 5,  2001 Online Edition 44

The clothing industry - on the wings of cockroaches

For about half a year the garment industry in Honduras has had substantial losses in the number of factories located here.
For various reasons, Honduras has started to become disadvantageous for two reasons; the labor code, and the high level of crime in our country.

The initiation of the garment industry in our country came with great anticipation. We needed this business. And we have committed ourselves to various international treaties, to the detriment of both investors and workers given the boomerang effect at work. 

Good investments have two characteristics. First is that the capital is invested up front. Second is that the investment is made with serious intent, and not as a swindle.

How can we know if a person does not have real intentions of installing a business? When he does not...it’s a cruel riddle.
In fact the harmony between money and work is broken from the start, as when time passes there is a growth of necessities and social realizations. This is not an antagonistic position. It is a natural situation based on consumption.

All of us have the potential to have our own start by means of originality, opportunity and our education. It is said constantly, and in a denigrating manner, that money is badly distributed, that is to say that the poor cannot become rich. There is not, in writing, a law stating that everyone can potentially be rich. And such a rule would not be acceptable. When investments are healthy, it draws new workers to the table, some of whom can manage the opportunity better than others.

The relation between worker and patron begin when the worker does not want to install an industry and leaves it to another worker to install it for him. There are thankful workers, who maintain faith in the company, while there are others who continually plot against the ingenuous business through their manners and conduct.

The case is that in some circumstances, the garment industry by virtue of unloyal investments encounters excuses such as the need have their horizons open, for abandoning this country in the search for new routes that have a better work force, less local taxes, and more earnings with less losses.

The creation of harmony between workers and patrons of the factories has not been possible in Honduras nor in any part of the world. What is sad about the aforementioned is that we are learning very slowly about this. The businessmen on the North Coast who have learned this are few. 

Honduras has a modest team of promoters for our export commerce. Their efforts are limited and their enthusiasm is bad. Few want to participate in the promotion of our capacity to export, only doing so because it is an obligation.
The Honduran Private Enterprise Council (COHEP), the National Industrial Association (ANDI), and the Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports (FIDE) our chambers of commerce, chambers specializing in Germany, the Honduran American Chamber of Commerce (HAMCHAM), the departments of business of the chancellory of Honduras, are half dedicated to business, and are part of the specialized groups that can without doubt protect national business; if they don’t want to export, protect them equally.

Counties with better industrial potential and development, like Mexico, have endured laws regarding the garment industry, to their own advantage. In Guatemala, marketing giants like Silvia Sandoval are supporting their local industries without mercy.

We have few specialized executives in our own bouquet, and they themselves don’t want to take off their ties to work a little harder, perhaps loosing the restaurants, executives trips, the magazines like “Jet Set.”

The garment industry requires the understanding of the international acrobatics, like those of the Japanese, parading their boats full of auto in front of Argentina. 
In the past 15 years, the people here have started to push and hurl insults in the line for a taxi. Now it is the most natural of behaviors in our principle cities. This implies that, yes, their is volition here to do things well, and that we can learn new things. 

Then we should form interdisciplinary teams that have knowledge of industrial opportunities. To equip our people, and more to find work modalities to satisfy the necessities and their patrons is something difficult but not impossible. Specialized tribunals can settle all of the contingencies beforehand, and afterwards maintain a dynamic acceptable for both parts.

Today is a day where we loose a great deal when we react slowly to occurrences worldwide. At this point in the game, we should be working with European clients in the wake of the effects of the hostilities with the Taliban. At the same time, to prepare a permanent course should be a daily job, not yearly. Our economic information should be centralized, and done with speed, confidence and daily.

Many times business consists in sleeping less when others are resting, talking less, demanding less, and being more creative.

U.S.: Alert for What?

Dear HTW:

Once again the nation stands on high alert, responding to credible but nonspecific information suggesting potential terrorist attacks. The President reasonably advises, “go about your normal life, and stay alert, but people understandably wonder: “Alert for what?”

When hidden dangers approach, people trained in handling extreme risk know that pure intuition often reveals the “what” needed to spot and avoid disaster, especially when the threat isn’t very specific. Even if we cannot deduce from existing intelligence what the terrorists will try next, we are not helpless to catch them before they do further harm, if we use more than logic in the process. By relying on the subtle signals intuition often supplies, ordinary people can provide crucial information needed to foil the terrorists’ next attempted atrocity.

The Unabomber’s unusually heavy package, mailed to the California Forestry Association, attracted more than one person’s attention on arrival. Addressed to the association’s prior president, wrapped with excessive tape, and covered with far too many postage stamps, the package prompted Bob Taylor to joke: “I’m going back to my office before the bomb goes off.” Joining a debate on whether to open the package, Taylor’s boss, Gilbert Murray said: “Let’s open it.” The huge explosion that killed Murray occurred just as Taylor arrived at his office, saved by his intuition.

A funny feeling, a hunch, suspicion, apprehension, a sense that something’s “just not right,” can provide much-needed clues in crucial circumstances. Unfortunately, many people ignore intuition when they need it most because they consider intuition irrational.

No one knows for sure how intuition works. The division of labor between the left and right lobes of the human brain may explain it. Both sides think, but in different ways. Since the left side thinks in verbal terms, we call its results “rational,” “logical,” or “analytical.” The right side can produce equally rational, logical and analytical results, but not in verbal terms, which leads us to label right-side thinking “intuitive.”

Intuition may at first appear irrational because it emerges unexpectedly in the form of “gut feelings,” but intuition is neither irrational nor random. Knowing, without at first knowing why you know, does not make what you know wrong.
Just as valid as any conscious, verbal thought, intuition is a response to something, and that something may be just what we’re looking for in the hunt for a cunning, morally unrestrained enemy.

So, go about your normal life in the coming days, as President Bush advises, and remain alert. Pay attention to your intuition as you do your physical senses and logical thoughts.
If something appears strange or out of place, and you feel you should report it to police, do so, even if you would not normally speak up. If someone says or does something unusual, setting off intuitive alarm bells, report your experience to authorities.

Of course, you might be wrong, but don’t let fear of embarrassment squelch your intuition. Give the police, the FBI and others the benefit of your thinking, and let them decide its importance in light of the larger body of information they possess.

Alert for what? Remain alert for intuition’s subtle cues that may reveal the clues needed to save the nation from further serious harm.

Honorable Charles W. McCoy, Jr.

Dear HTW:

I am a frequent traveler to Honduras as my wife and I visit her family two or more times a year. I am also a weekly reader of the online edition of Honduras This Week. For those who complain of the high air fares a bit of shopping at expedia.com, travelocity.com and sidestep.com pays. Currently (mid November reservations) we can fly Miami to La Ceiba round trip on TACA for $417 per person, taxes included, which is one of the best fares I’ve seen in a long time. When all else fails we have always been able to get lower price tickets through Star Tours out of Orlando, Florida (toll free within the US 800-466-6069). 

Additionally, as an American Air frequent flyer you can use your American miles through American to book on TACA, one of its partners. When talking to American representatives it’s best to know exactly which TACA flights you want and point them in the right direction. 
I hope this information may help your readers save a bit of money.

Charles Meador
via internet