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Monday, October 29, 2001 Online Edition 43 |
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Honduran elected bishop to Episcopal Church
By JOHN H. PARK The three hour-long service combined elements from the varied traditions of the Diocese of Honduras. While most of the service was in Spanish, the service leaflets were printed with English and Spanish on facing pages, and the Gospel was read in Spanish, English and Garifuna. The Lessons were read by Bp. Allen’s daughter Karitza and the Rev. Osmundo Ponce of the Presbyterian Church. At the offertory, besides traditional music in Spanish, a group of Garifunas, also known as Black Caribs, danced up the center aisle of the congregation to present offerings of their culture, including casava and coconut, to the deacons, who placed them in front of the altar. They were followed by a group of Ladino campesino dancers, who presented coffee, cacao, pineapples, corn and flowers to the deacons. The Ladinos entered a second time during the singing of the Sanctus, bearing typical clay braziers full of incense. Music included traditional hymns, both from the English and Spanish traditions, popular Spanish hymns and renewal music. The song of praise was the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, sung in Spanish. The sermon was preached in English and Spanish by the Reverend Canon Carmen Guerrero, Director of Jubilee Ministries of the Episcopal Church. Canon Guerrero was ordained to the priesthood in Honduras in 1985, the first woman to be ordained in Latin America. She had been Bp. Allen’s first professor in the theological education program which she started in Honduras. The list of consecrating bishops demonstrated the links that Honduras has with neighboring countries. The consecrating bishops were the Rt. Rev. James Ottley, Interim Bishop of Honduras and former Bishop of Panama and Anglican Representative to the United Nations; the Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, currently Bishop of Southeast Florida, and until September of last year Bishop of Honduras; the Rt. Rev. Frank Lyons, Bishop of Bolivia, who until he was consecrated bishop had served as priest in the Diocese of Honduras for eight years; the Rt. Rev. Julio Murray, Bishop of Panama; and the Rt. Rev. Sylvestre Romero, Bishop of Belize. Also laying on hands were Bishops Armando Guerra of Guatemala, Martin Barahona of El Salvador, and Francisco Duque of Columbia. Bishop Allen, 44, is the first Honduran to serve the diocese as bishop. He was born in Tela, Honduras, and is a product of the Episcopal Church’s bilingual school system. He was elected by a wide margin on the first ballot at a special convention held at El Buen Pastor Cathedral in San Pedro Sula on July 30. When elected, he was serving as Dean of Tegucigalpa and vicar of 11 churches in the deanery, 10 of which he himself had founded. He is married to the former Rosa Martinez, and they are the parents of three school-age children.
Delivering mother turned away from Mario Rivas 21 year old mother
to be Karen Janeth Mejia gave birth to her daughter while lying on the sidewalk
in front of the hospital Mario Rivas on Monday, five minutes after being turned
away from the public hospital, reports La Prensa.
Karen and her mother arrived at the hospital at 7:15PM, with the young
woman already having severe labor pains. She
was seen by the on call obstetrician, Dr. Díaz, and at 8:25 she was discharged
by Dr. Diaz with a note instructing her to go to the hospital Leonardo Martinez.
Karen gave birth
to her daughter in front of the emergency room of Mario Rivas five minutes
later. Attending the delivery was a
security guard and several passerby. Pleas
for assistance from an exiting doctor, as well as for help from the emergency
room, went unheeded. As well,
following the delivery the same Dr. Diaz was asked to assist in clamping and
cutting the umbilical cord and evaluating the newborn.
Her response was to sit writing in a patients chart.
According to Karen’s mother, they don’t know why they were being sent
to another hospital. The security guard
for the evening reported that while he has attended several deliveries during
his nine months working at Mario Rivas, this night was special, as he delivered
two babies within half an hour, one on the sidewalk, and one in the waiting area
of labor and delivery. Nicaragua to receive Russian military aid Nicaragua and
Russia signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday, through which the Nicaraguan
government will receive military aid, according to El Heraldo on Thursday.
The agreement was signed into effect by Jose Adan Guerra, Minister of
Defense of Nicaragua, and Anatoly Petrovich Kuznetsov, the Russian ambassador to
Nicaragua. According to the
agreement, Russia will help Nicaragua to upgrade its military equipment, will
provide technical assistance to the country, and will help with the training of
specialists over the next five years. The majority of the military equipment
currently owned by Nicaragua is of Russian make, dating back to the Sandinista
era. Free trade with Mexico to generate Honduran
jobs The Free Trade
Agreement with Mexico will generate more than 20,000 jobs in Honduras, according
to Jaime Najarro Elvir, the General Director of the Productive Sector for the
Department of Industry and Commerce. In
the past several days, Mexican investors have stated their intent to locate
several clothing factories in Honduras, although at the current time are not
able to give the exact starting time for the installation of these factories.
The clothing
manufacturing business in Honduras has recently been experiencing severe
difficulties due to unfavorable changes in the economy of the United States,
according to authorities. Since the
closing of factories in Choloma, La Lima and San Pedro Sula, almost 20,000
persons have lost their jobs. While the US market has not been good, Mexico is
looking favorably on the low cost of labor in Honduras as well as the already
available infrastructure. -El Heraldo
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Conference on Honduras held in Washington, DC We had 30 speakers who participated on seven panels and gave presentations on a wide range of topics related to education and health care in Honduras, including: educational exchange and scholarship programs; school and library construction; university-sponsored projects; support for orphanages and homes for children; volunteer medical missions; HIV/AIDS; empowering women through breastfeeding and micro-credit business loans; and fundraising. Following an event such as this, the temptation is almost always to ask...”So what were the conclusions?” It is as if it’s not enough for people to come together, talk, and get to know each other. There has to be some sort of “report” to validate the meeting. Actually, the conclusions are very simple. Private citizens are doing a wonderful job with their creative projects to help Honduras and they should continue their work, but perhaps focus more on finding ways to coordinate with others of like-mind. The Conference on Honduras is really all about encouraging individuals and organizations to identify synergies and find ways to complement each others efforts. Working in isolation is counterproductive. And there is no use in re-inventing the wheel if you don’t have to. There was a general consensus that the Conference is a good thing, and that it should be repeated annually. People who are communicating daily through the projecthonduras.com network on the Internet want to meet face-to-face at least once a year to discuss their successes and failures in Honduras, and see how they might resolve some problems or expand their projects. There is clearly a desire to be a part of a larger but de-centralized, citizen-led “unconventional movement” aimed at making a difference in Honduras. It is impossible to write a definitive report that would adequately represent the value of the Conference on Honduras because the true value of the event lies more in the relationships it spawns in the future and the immeasurable results of those relationships. In other words, the report on the Conference on Honduras is constantly being written by the hundreds of individuals who are exchanging e-mails via the network (see
www.projecthonduras.com/ Whenever someone receives an e-mail message which begins, “Hi, we met at the Conference, and I just wanted to follow up.” ... well then, that’s a nice enough validation. Having said this, I realize that curious minds will still want to learn what went on during October 12-13, 2001. So I do plan to write a series of articles on the panel presentations and some of the issues that were brought up during the subsequent open forum periods. Stay tuned. US to continue aid to Honduras Frank Almaguer, United States
Ambassador to Honduras announced this week that his country’s aid for Honduras
will not decrease. This statement
was a response to questions that have been raised since the September 11th
attacks on New York and Washington, DC. According to the daily El Heraldo,
Almaguer held a meeting with directives of the Honduran Private Enterprise
Council (COHEP) this week. The
meeting dealt with all of the adverse effects that Honduran-US commercial
relations are suffering as a consequence of the terrorist attacks. Although the costs of reconstruction
in New York and Washington, along with the fight against Anthrax and the
expenses of the campaign against Afghanistan are running high, this will not
keep the United States government from any prior economical aid commitments they
have with the rest of the world, including Latin America, and especially with
Honduras. The diplomat pointed out that United
States President Bush, along with the U.S. Senate, have categorically announced
that at no point in time would cooperation programs be modified because of the
war. The difficult situation that the United States currently is experiencing requires that it strengthens its relations with the rest of the planet’s countries. Frank Almaguer concluded his remarks by stating that the U.S. needs, now more than ever, the support of its allied nations. |
Monday, October 22, 2001 Online Edition 42 |
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Germany assumes the G-15 Pro-Tempore presidency
Karin
Jahr, Ambassador Thomas Bruns and Wilfried Liehr By SUYAPA CARIAS Three years after hurricane Mitch unloaded its merciless fury over Honduras, it is time to fully move from the reconstruction phase to the transformation phase, said Thomas Bruns, German Ambassador to Honduras, during a press conference held this week in Tegucigalpa. The event was organized with the purpose of formally announcing the Federal Republic of Germany as the new Pro-Tempore president country of the Stockholm Declaration Follow-up Group for the coming six months. The Stockholm Declaration Follow-up Group was created in 1999 as part of the Consultative Group of the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America, better known as G-15, which was organized by the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB). Transition period Bruns, along with Delegate Counselor of the International German Cooperation Karin Jahr de Guerrero, and the director of the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), Wilfried Liehr, pointed out that their presidency will be different than others, as it will take place in a time marked by three relevant phases in the country: the pre-election period, the transition to the new government, and the beginning of the work with the new authorities.Throughout March 2002, the members of the Follow-up Group will focus its efforts on four main areas. One of them is the analysis of the reconstruction and transformation process over the past years, in order to make recommendations for the coming government. As well, the group will formulate the main issues to be included in next year’s agenda, and it will fortify the work of the multiple-sector working tables.This is one of the operative levels of the group. The other two are regular meetings with ambassadors of countries which have made donations to Honduras, and with representatives of international financial and cooperation organizations, as well as meetings with a technical group that has been formed through several agencies. Integral participation Meanwhile, the group will keep working towards incorporating the principles of Stockholm in the execution and follow-up of the recently approved Poverty Reduction Strategy for Honduras. The German functionaries has said that monitoring this is a challenge, but also a great opportunity to reinforce international and national efforts to improve development in Honduras. The Follow-up Group was first organized by Sweden, Canada, USA, Spain, Germany and Japan, and it was called the G-6. Since its initiation it has grown and had thus become known as the “G-15” in Honduras. “The Follow-up Group has always been characterized by its permanent interest in generating an open dialogue with the government and the civil society in Honduras,” said Bruns. “That is why the coordination process of the international cooperation has always been a valid instrument for the adoption and execution of governmental policies committed with the country’s reconstruction and transformation." Hopeful perspectives he German Ambassador took advantage of the opportunity to publicly condemn the tragedy that occurred September 11 in New York and Washington, as it was a sign of an attack on democracy throughout the world. However, he made assurances that these events would by no means affect the cooperation offered by his government to Honduras, even when such facts “have imposed new demands to both donating and recipient countries.” At a bilateral level, the Federal Republic of Germany has been providing financial assistance ranging from $20 to 25 million bi-annually, however, this amount does not include the aid offered during the Post-Mitch period, where the European nation dispersed another $42 million. Finally, Bruns congratulated the Honduran government for the advances observed in the reconstruction process, yet he affirmed that at this point, there is still needed transformation.
University of New Orleans to conduct national energy conservation program This demonstration will be conducted using a state-of- the-art, handheld infrared camera, advanced thermographic techniques, and digital reporting software. The UNO team is working in Honduras as part of the Louisiana Alliance/ Presidential Program for Investments in Honduras (Alianza). The project is a partnership between MetroVision, the economic development arm of the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, and three Louisiana Universities (Loyola, Louisiana State University and UNO). The university partners work through MetroVision’s International Division to provide disaster assistance and professional technical advice in areas effected by Hurricane Mitch, which hit Central American in October, 1998. Infrared thermography, the mapping of infrared heat, is one of several tasks that UNO’s Energy Conversion and Conservation Center is providing to aid the Honduran reconstruction effort. “Thermographic analysis of electric power systems, power plants and distribution lines provides a cost-effective, and quickly implemented means for analysis and preventive maintenance which could save Honduras hundreds-of-thousands of dollars yearly,” said Fabio M. Pinho, Project Engineer for the energy management component of the Alliance. The camera that UNO’s team will demonstrate in Honduras is manufactured by Mikron, a leader in infrared technology. This camera provides powerful, high performance infrared imaging and comprehensive digital reporting software to accurately detect an array of industrial problems. In addition to the infrared demonstration, the UNO team will make a trip to one of two Honduran villages it has chosen as potential pilot sites for distributed power generation (DG) in rural areas of the country. DG aims to provide power to rural areas that are not connected to a power grid. UNO engineers are considering DG options such as diesel engines and microturbines (small internal combustion engines with less moving parts than diesel engines) to provide power for Honduran farming villages, which currently lack electricity. Today, almost 40 percent of Hondurans live without access to safe, reliable electricity. UNO engineers are working to provide solutions to this problem. Affordable, clean, and reliable electricity is a primary component to improve family health care, schooling and free-market infrastructure in developing countries. It is UNO’s goal to help Honduran farmers and its poor communities to improve their standard of living.
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New supreme court tainted with past vices Unfortunately, the new court begins already tainted by politics. Evidence of this was first seen in the election of the members of the Nominating Committee. The group is made up of representatives from the current Supreme Court of Justice, the Bar Association, the Human Rights Commission, the Honduran Private Enterprise Council (COHEP), the Organization of Judicial Sciences Faculty Professors, the Civil Society and the Worker’s Confederation. Each one of the member institutions will present a list of twenty candidates to the Nominating Committee. Out of the 140 initial candidates, the committee must choose 45, and then hand the list over to the National Congress so that the ultimate 15 can be chosen. It is a candidate proposed by the Judicial Science Faculty that has caused an uproar. Numerous committee members disagreed with the choice of Renan Sagastume and expressed much more dislike for the twenty magistrate candidates proposed by Sagastume’s organization. In another incident, COHEP delegate Juliette Handal Castillo had to quickly return from a trip to Europe when businessman Adolfo Facuse tried to remove her as a committee candidate. Still, it did not take much effort for the powerful businesswoman to assure her spot again. The rampant politicking of the new Supreme Court of Justice began with the candidate lists. Amongst the candidates proposed by the current Supreme Court of Justice is President of the Bar Association Jorge Rivera Aviles. In turn, the Bar Association nominated the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Miguel Angel Rivera Portillo. Rivera Portillo has already held his position in two previous Liberal Governments, providing an indifferent administration. In actuality, he has been the subject of public scrutiny for possibly interfering in certain very delicate cases and also for employing most of his relatives as part of his staff. Several other lawyers that aspire to become magistrates already hold public offices or are already magistrates. Among the contenders are the Minister of Education, Ramon Calix Figueroa, who is retiring as a teacher and receiving a minister’s salary. He expects to be nominated by the Supreme Court of Justice. Honduras currently seeks international support in implementing its new Penal Processing Code, hoping it’s new Supreme Court of Justice will be an example of its willingness to have a clean slate. But the process of selecting magistrates has so far only demonstrated that the new Supreme Court will be awash in the vices of the past, run by people who, far from administrating justice, manipulate it. Previously, Supreme Court magistrates were chosen by the National Congress and depended on political party affiliations. This problem was supposed to be addressed with the creation of a Nominating Committee to elect the candidates of the new Supreme Court of Justice. The problem appears to be the same, if not worse. National Congress condones law-breakers In this new law, the congress has also extended the tax payment period. Instead of an October 31 deadline, tax payers now have a grace period, until the end of the year, to deliver their tributes to the government. The new bill includes a clause whereby all persons that have already paid fines, surcharges or interest will have a fiscal credit in their favor for the monies spent. These benefits will continue lasting until the year 2004. According to the daily La Tribuna, Liberal Party congressman Xavier Sierra believes that the new law has negative connotations. Sierra says the new decree goes against the principles of those who pay taxes on time, and advocates those irresponsible enough to not pay their dues. The Association of Municipalities of Honduras (AMHON) widely lobbied for the passing of this new bill. The organizations argument is that, with the penalties waived, tax payers will now be motivated to pay their taxes. The results of this are yet to be seen. National Party members in opposition to the new bill say that it is purely a political move on the part of the President of the National Congress and Liberal Party candidate Rafael Pineda Ponce to gain quick votes in the upcoming November elections. The meeting that passed the bill was headed by replacement Congressional President Rodrigo Castillo Aguilar. Pineda Ponce did not attend as he is busy running a political campaign elsewhere in the country. |
Monday, October 15, 2001 Online Edition 41 |
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Insecurity in Honduras While Honduras has always proclaimed itself to be against terrorism, the behavior of the authorities in this country has done little to build public trust in this respect. Security is an issue that has yet to be addressed in any serious manner in this country. The effect of proposing a surveillance of bank accounts has caused feelings of alarm on the parts of some members of the population, although not because they engage in terrorism. It is impossible for the government to exercise control over banks because they are sheltered by a secrecy in banking law. As well, the bank system is in a state of disarray. Many financial institutions have gone or are on their way to going bankrupt, which has driven some people to return to the custom of hiding their money under their beds or in their couch pillows. Tourists are recommended not to board public buses. Aside from the risk of robbery, they have to stand and get pushed towards the back and are packed in like sardines in a can. Quality control of customer service is unheard of. Airport controls are for strangers only. If you know someone (or even know someone who knows someone) at the airport, chances are your bags will not get checked. Jokes about airport security are common, like the one about the guy that tied himself to an airplane wing and almost froze on his way to Miami. Insecurity and feelings of vulnerability within the population has reached such heights that homes are now looking more like prisons, being surrounded by tall concrete walls topped with barbed wire. Even these seemingly heavy defenses are not enough to stop some thieves. They'll bring down a gate or two and empty a household in seconds. The growth of gangs has worsened the situation in the past few years. The gangs are spreading throughout the cities, charging war taxes to the people living in their territories. The police in reality seem to fear these organizations. Gang reprisals streak the news with bloody headlines. Some individuals now drive around in cars with tinted windows, sniper-shooting gang members and leaving their bodies twitching in the streets. Decapitation is another form of reprisal. The discovery of a dog chewing on a girl's head in a neighborhood was reported passively by the media. In the political arena, the presidential candidates have declared themselves against the insecurity that rules over Honduras. The most serious proposal is by National Party candidate Ricardo Maduro, who offers zero tolerance for gang members and delinquents. The September 11 attacks against the United States should act as a wake up call to Honduras, baring the countries lack of security and preparedness against both internal and external forms of terrorism, and forcing change.
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The disease also is being passed to the newborn children of parents with AIDS, causing a recent increase in cases of pediatric AIDS. Of those with HIV/AIDS, 83.5% are were infected by heterosexual relations, 3% by homosexual relations, 4.5% by bisexual relations, 0.6% by transfusions, 0.1% and by intravenous drug use. The disease is not transmitted by casual contact. -El Heraldo Currently the United States has postponed legislation aimed at legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already residing in the United States and, states Pino "...we hope the anti-immigrant feelings won't be extended to Latin Americans." He went on to say that while there may be some deportations of Hondurans from the United States, he does not expect these numbers to be massive. Hondurans already appear to be reacting in response to the events in the United States, as there is little demand currently for passports, either in San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa. The ambassador believes that both potentially legal and illegal immigrants are putting their travel plans on hold. |
Monday, October 8, 2001 Online Edition 40 |
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Popular Bank troubled by political implications Pineda Ponce is the Liberal party candidate for the presidency. With the Popular Bank announcement, he hopes to gain votes because the financial entity would grant loans to farmers, even without collateral. The Central Bank declared its opposition to the formation of the bank because it does not meet established prerequisites. The bank's "creator," Nelson Avila, asserts that the bank will have plenty of money, that will come from alcohol and tobacco taxes. CCIT President, Antonio Tavel Otero, warns that the project will go broke because it is purely a product of politics, insinuating a lack of sound financial planning. The National Party presidential candidate, Ricardo Maduro, as well considers the creation of the Popular Bank a rash decision. The Popular Bank intends to get its capital resources for its first 10 years of operation through five sources of income: Those originated by a greater tax on alcohol and tobacco; those coming from local stock holders; those coming from foreign investors and investments; those derived from a multilateral or bilateral loan and finally, income derived from the investments of a multilateral or bilateral source. The institution will work in three different areas; two of which will deal with loans, with the remaining one dealing with technical support. If the ambitious project is passed, it might benefit some 153,000 people, or 7% of the population, in its first decade of operation. It might also reactivate the production sector of the nation. "We believe that the best way to contribute to the reduction of poverty and sustainable development is by promoting production. This makes it necessary to create and develop institutions that count on the most modern instruments to meet those goals," said Pineda Ponce. He expects his project to be discussed and approved by the Legislative Chamber within the next few days. Ricardo Maduro, his main adversary, reacted by saying, "the Popular Bank implicates billions of Lempiras. This alone suggests the need for ample studies before this thoughtless motion is passed."
Cases of hemorrhagic dengue triple Symptoms include fever, headache, and pain in the joints, eyes, bones, and muscles. With hemorrhagic dengue there is typically bleeding from the nose and pallor. -La Prensa Causes for this likely include a recession in the United States, and possibly the influence of the recent terrorist attacks. According to Medardo Galindo, head of the Federation of Agroexports of Honduras, the exportation of shrimp represents 60 to 70% of Honduras’ income from “non-traditional” products. US tourists cancel flights to Honduras According to Juan Antonio Sosa, head of the airline Sosa, the airline industry is in agreement with the need for enhanced security, and states that the public can count on the aeronautical industry to participate in forming a rigorous security system.
Kaffati is currently recommending that growers in the areas of Honduras which have been most effected by the dwindling coffee market should look for alternative uses for their land. The International Commerce Organization is currently searching for ways to alleviate the current problems in the coffee industry. |
New loan to reduce poverty According to the daily La Prensa, the loan will start a program that will be based in the public administration. The new program will be unprecedented in Honduras' history, revolutionizing decision-making processes, monitoring for transparency and allowing for a constant re-evaluation of the ERP. It will be based on coordinated efforts between all participating institutions of the government and the civil society. If the Strategy for the Reduction of Poverty is successfully implemented, Honduras will become qualified for a reduction of their debt. According to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative (HIPC) the nation's international debt can be cut down if the poverty level also drops. The IDB loan will go to the creation of new financial and budgetary mechanisms that include a Fund for the Reduction of Poverty. It was granted at a 30-year term with a ten-year grace period. Interests will be 1% per year for the first ten years and 2% per year for the remaining period.
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Monday, October 1, 2001 Online Edition 39 |
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French Harbour community cleans up its act
By SANDRA SAMPAYO Gillian Notton, a dive master from Subway Watersports, the dive operation at Roatan's Dive & Yacht Club, approached many people before finding a kindred spirit in Victor Flores, a primary school teacher from Escuela Ruben Barahona in French Harbour. Together they planned a clean up day, which was initially supposed to involve the school children from Ruben Barahona, but when the community saw the children filling bag-after-bag of rubbish, they soon joined in. "It was an incredibly uplifting sight to see so many adults come out of the their homes to help the children," said Notton. "Cleaning the rubbish in a polluted waterway is no fun, but the children were happy and I think it had a lot to do with pride in seeing their community looking spick-and-span." According to Notton, the clean-up that took place last Friday (Sept. 21) was the first part of a much bigger environmental awareness project that will include activities such as the integration of environmental awareness in school programs, community cleanliness awareness campaigns and competitions, and a variety of projects that will be supported by local community leaders.
"Although the clean-up day was extremely successful, we believe that long-lasting effects will come from educating the communities and installing a sense of pride," Notton added. "We only scratched the surface by clearing only a small part of French Harbour point, but the intention is to bring together all aspects of the community and local municipal government to enable the residents to be well-equipped to help themselves in maintaining the cleanliness and trash levels around their homes." Victor Flores, the school teacher responsible for involving the children, has big plans to integrate environmental policies into the schools curriculum. "We may be one of the poorer schools on Roatan, but we are incredibly proud of where we live and want to make it different for our children," he said. Some of the businesses in the community, such as Eldon's Supermarket and Agua Azul, assisted the project by donating rubbish bags and gloves. Mayoral candidate Emilio Silvestri provided a truck and some laborers to assist in the clean-up. PADI Project Aware, the aquatic environmental association, donated funds, publicity and trash collection bags. For more information on this and future projects, please call Gillian Notton at 455-5707 (x222). New archaeological site found Archaeological experts from the Honduran Institute of History and Anthropology (IHAH) conducted investigations and concluded that a 5-acre area near the commnity of El Cacao was inhabited by a yet undetermined civilization. The archaeologists were reported to have found some 37 to 40 structures arranged around two central edifices in a plaza surrounded by 10 buildings.
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Allegations by Quezada off the wall Quezada, a militant of the Liberal Party and representative of the Supreme Court on the electoral board, on Monday accused presidential hopeful Ricardo Maduro of being a terrorist for attempting to set fire to the TNE's offices last November when that agency refused to register his candidacy. A controversial figure in Honduran politics well-known for his off the wall remarks, Quezada said he will formally denounce Maduro in letters to the United Nations and U.S. President George W. Bush. "Maduro is a terrorist," Quezada said in the El Heraldo report, "he set fire to the Tribunal and almost burnt me to a crisp, begetting weeds in a cemetery. I did not denounce him before because terrorism wasn't in vogue. It was necessary for the Panamanian's colleague, Osama bin Laden, to act in order for everyone to realize that terrorists do exist and are a threat to the world." The names of the alleged spies will be turned over to the First Criminal Court Judge of Tegucigalpa who is hearing the current espionage case. Previously, two Honduran women were arrested for handing over military secrets to two diplomats of the embassy of El Salvador in Honduras. Telma Iris Aguilar, who is pregnant and under house arrest, and Doris Oliva are charged with treason. Financed by the government of Japan, the bridge will replace the old structure that was washed away by Hurricane Mitch induced flooding in October 1998. A second, temporary Bailey-type bridge built by the U.S. military collapsed in March 2000, prompting authorities to seek funds for a permanent structure. Japan is also financing the construction of the new El Chile Bridge near the Social Security Hospital, which will be ready in August 2002; and the Rio Hondo Bridge, which will be completed in March 2002. The total cost of the three bridges is approximately US$19 million. Authorities immediately evacuated the 11-story building in front of the Central Park in downtown Tegucigalpa. However, the evacuation of the upper floors was slow due to the fact that the building's only elevator was out of order. |
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Newly
elected Bishop Lloyd Emmanuel Allen (2nd from left) flanked by diocese members
and family
School
children from Escuela Ruben Barahona work hard to clean their community.
The
reality of a clean-up day.
