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For the third time, the U.S. extends TPS one more year
By BLANCA MORENO
TEGUCIGALPA -- The news was received with joy everywhere. The United States government decided to extend for one more year the Temporary Protection Status, thus benefiting all Honduran immigrants who are currently living in that country with that status.
Economically, the decision allows millions of dollars to keep flowing from the U.S. to Honduran territory. President Ricardo Maduro announced the good news on a special radio address held on May 1st, International Labor Day.
The United States first granted an 18-month migratory program, which was later extended to 24 months. Although it seemed almost an impossible mission to achieve, the third approval came after a joint effort undertaken by national authorities, the media, and the Honduran consulates and immigrants' associations.
During his speech, Maduro thanked the President of the United States, George W. Bush and his government, as well as U.S. Ambassador Frank Almaguer and his staff. He congratulated all the Honduran people that worked collectively and individually for this purpose, while recognizing that this time it was even harder to find support for this initiative given events occurred on September 11, 2001.
As part of his message, Maduro urged the cabinet to take two important measures: First, to work at establishing closer ties between Hondurans in the U.S. with those who have stayed home. Secondly, he requested speed in completing the ongoing study related to the reduction in the price of money orders that now cost up to 15 percent of the total amount sent.
According to Maduro, money orders add up to between US$500 to US$600 million per year, a major source of income for Honduras, along with the clothing manufacturing or maquila sector.
Statistics indicate that this income represents 10 percent of the country's gross national product, and benefits two out of five Hondurans directly or indirectly.
In addition to providing currency exchange stability, it offers a solid platform for future growth with social stability.
Bay Island municipal police stationed in Coxen Hole
By EVA BROOKS
Special to Honduras This Week
ROATAN - Yes, Roatan is fighting crime. No question, Roatan wants to carry out President Maduros' mandate of zero tolerance. All intelligent people know, however, it takes more than just motivation and good will. It takes educated manpower, vehicles, guns, and other ammunition, communication systems, and more.
Here is an example how a well-organized, motivated small organization, led by a totally honest and eager to serve, experienced and resourceful commander, is stymied and frustrated daily, by lack of adequate resources. He can only partially perform the comprehensive service that his organization was set up to perform and which the community of Roatan desperately needs.
The commander, Joseph Salomon, serves in two capacities. He is both the municipal police chief and also a judge. As judge he is accessible to everyone as described below.
The municipal police force has a small office in the municipal building in Coxen Hole. It does have one (1) telephone and the Commander, Joseph Salomon, does have his own cell phone. The phone is manned 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Salomon's office is open during the week and folks with all manner of complaints and grievances drop in all day to voice various frustrations and complaints about a variety of situations and also, sometimes, to record crimes and misdemeanors perpetrated against them or their families. No forms are available to record the event, but Salomon's secretary in a logbook keeps a very brief record (one line).
The office is busy most of the day and functions for the many that need to let off steam. But the real task of this police department is somehow hidden and it took this writer several interviews with Salomon to get to the heart of the matter.
The municipal police is charged with maintaining law and order for most of Roatan: Flowers Bay, West End, Sandy Bay, Coxen Hole, and French Harbor. Their mandate includes, for example, picking up vagrant children, accompanying Roatan's two fire trucks, (looters work their trade during such emergencies) inspect businesses to make sure that licenses are current -up to date permits are often an issue- inspect food products of various vendors to make sure each one is properly packaged and that the merchandise is fresh. Further, the police spends time on Roatan's dock as cruise ships discharge passengers, and finally, they must be available for emergencies, such as a murder, theft, robberies, rapes, family quarrels that get called in at any time during the 24 hour period. The phone is manned at all times and this is what happens: The police officers available jump into a cab, paid for out of petty cash, and often out of Salomon's private wallet, and try to get to the destination as soon as possible to pursue the perpetrator.
Speed is of essence and fortunately Roatan boasts excellent main roads. Unfortunately though many residences, homes, or shacks are off the main road, in somewhat hidden locations, often with poor roads, especially during heavy rains. Furthermore, to find someone's location on one the various bights and keys etc. often presents another problem.
What then are the recourses provided, the staff, people and tools that would make it possible to fulfill this mandate?
There are 15 police officers in this organization. (There are ten functioning as this is written and five additional men are expected on May 2nd)
What are the minimum, required qualifications? Each officer must have completed sixth grade, and they must be able to read and write. They must be motivated, intelligent enough to understand the processes involved.
They must cooperate with their group and its leader. Each of them works an eight hour shift, but each one must be available for emergencies twenty-four-hours a day. They are also required to live within the vicinity of the office.
Part of Joseph's mission is - he explained at great length - to motivate, encourage, and educate each of his men. He daily makes a plan for each of his three groups and Joseph emphasized that this plan must be implemented.
The group must show that they understand it and each man must "stick to it." The plan covers the itinerary, arrest tactics, human relation approaches.
Each group has a leader, and one in each group must be able to speak English. Thus the plan provides structure, and includes directions as to be helpful, polite, courteous with victims and how to apprehend a criminal offender, (arrest tactics) even though he or she might be the police officers' cousin or best friend! No bribery is permitted. It is cause for immediate dismissal. This practice was formerly very prevalent. Today, they can't even accept a bite, or a soda! However, Joseph assured me that frequently he takes a group for a treat, which he pays for out of his own pocket.
How is a policeman compensated? Their base salary is Lps. 3,000 per month with increases, based on time served and know-how accumulated. No other job (moonlighting) is permitted. As an aside, Joseph explained that this salary does not meet the requirement of islanders, who, if they are capable, are now used to a higher standard of living. Consequently mainlanders man most of this police force. Frequently these individuals, do know how to shoot, but have no training in human relations, appropriate arrest tactics, assistance with first aid and all the finer points Joseph wants to teach his men. Thus Joseph is constantly engaged in training sessions.
What this police organization needs (desperately) are vehicles. There is one truck, owned by the municipality and then there is Joseph's own car, often employed. But there are no police cars, no motorcycles, and not even a horse. There are some broken down and unusable bicycles.
As a deterrent, this writer would like to see one or two policemen covering various neighborhoods intermittently on horses, bicycles, or motorcycles. Even a minimal police presence might, if not eliminate certain crimes, surely minimize some. Moreover it would give the people of Roatan some confidence in the police. People at this time appear not to have any trust in the police service.
A second crucial requirement is of course weapons. There are a total of four pistols, two electric gun stingers, and that is it! Hardly adequate! Joseph has a wish list. It includes such items as flashlights, raincoats, uniforms, holsters, gun belts, handcuffs, first aid kits, etc. U.S. police departments with whom Joseph has long time connections donated some of these items.
Is Roatan adequately protected? You be the judge.
There is a second police department on the island. This is the national or preventive police with a new commander and Spanish-speaking troops. Reports on this organization will be forthcoming.
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Seatbelt law in effect
As of Monday, April 29th, a national seat belt law went into effect. The new law requires that vehicle drivers wear their seatbelts at all times. A fine of
Lps. 80.00 will be imposed on those drivers caught by police not wearing their seatbelt. -El Heraldo
CONPAH demands land titles for Garifuna lands
The Confederation of Autochthonous Peoples of Honduras (CONPAH) denounced this week to the national and international communities violations to the individual and territorial rights of the Garifuna people.
They stated that at this time, much of their land is being usurped by persons with political and economic power; and that these people, in complicity with civil authorities persecute, jail and even murder Garífuna leaders to intimidate them. For this reason, they are demanding the Government Issue communal land titles for the Chachauate and Bolanos Cays that were previously denied on claims they pertain to the Bay Islands. The new land title should be given to the Garifuna community of San Juan and is vital to their survival, they stated. -El Heraldo
13 companies refuse to pay income in taxes
Approximately 13 north coast businesses of the north coast are refusing to pay taxes amounting to more than half a billion
lempiras. The companies state that they are still operating at a loss from damages caused by Hurricane Mitch because they did not possess insurance prior to the disaster: and claim that decree 232-2001 passed by Congress provides them tax exemption.
Meanwhile, authorities from the tax bureau (DEI) stated that these companies would be responsible if the government cannot meet tax collection required by the national budget. The director also stated that the DEI must credit any losses sustained before tax exemption can be applied. On the other hand, the Minister of Finance, Arturo Alvarado, annoyed by the announcements, sent a petition to Congress for the re-interpretation or annulment of the decree. The companies that are refusing to pay taxes are the following: Cocodrilo Continental,
S.A.; Empacadora Continental S.A.; Cacao Continental S.A.; Camping
Agroindustrial, S.A.; Camping Bananas, S.de R.L.; Agroindustrial Mantecales, S.A.; Aqua Corporation de Honduras; Distribuidora
Ferretera, S.A.; Agricola Inmobiliaria Chotepe; Zonas Industriales Continental,
S.A.; Azucarera Chumbagua; S.A.; Azucarera Chumbagua, S.A.; Bimbo de Honduras,
S.A.; and Trefica, S.A. -El Heraldo
U.S. will deport Honduran ex-Colonel accused of torture
Juan Evangelista Lopez Grijalba, an ex-Colonel in the Honduran army accused of forming part of the famous 3-16 death squad during the 1980's will soon be deported back to Honduras from the U.S.
After a two-year investigation in Honduras concerning his past, Lopez Grijalba, 63 years old, was arrested on Tuesday in Miami after immigration cancelled his temporary permanence status when he went to renew it. Lopez Grijalba was chief of the 3-16 Battalion trained by the Central Intelligence Agency during the contra war against the Nicaraguan Sandinista government, and is held responsible for the disappearance of more than 100 left wing revolutionaries in Honduras. -El Heraldo
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According to the daily La Tribuna, the National Emergency Committee announced last week it had received a prediction of an earthquake in Honduras from the Seismograph Station in Bratislava, Slovakia. The information was confirmed by the Center and was also sent to other specialized organizations around the world. 
By PILAR THORN
Recently, due to several savage dog attacks on people and other dogs caused by irresponsible, heartless and greedy owners trying to make money from the suffering of innocent animals in cruel and primitive dog fights; ASHAA along with several of its members, like veterinarians Drs. Allen Herra and Nadienhka Casco have been helping the mayor's office tattoo traditionally aggressive dogs like pit bulls and Dobermans.
