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Monday, November 24, 2003 Online Edition 46 |
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Japanese state visit to Honduras
By LISA McKIDDIE Princess Sayako of Japan arrives in Honduras today for a five-day state visit. She is the first member of the Japanese Imperial Family to visit the country. President Maduro invited the Princess, the only daughter of the Japanese Emperor and Empress, to make an official visit in honor of the strong friendship between the two countries. According to the Japanese Embassy in Honduras, Japan’s program for Official Assistance for Development (OAD) has provided Honduras with more than US$ 1,319 million in bilateral aid since 1975. Japan’s OAD program consists mainly of non-refundable financial and technical cooperation. Japan has given Honduras US$ 240 million in financial and technical aid since Hurricane Mitch struck in October 1998. Most of this money has gone into infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, the environment and culture. The Japanese have helped construct eight bridges in the country. During her stay in Honduras, the Princess will visit Tegucigalpa’s Juan Ramón Molina bridge, built in 2003 with Japanese cooperation. She will also attend Congress for the launch of a commemorative postal stamp in honor of Japanese cooperation in post-Mitch reconstruction. The Princess will visit San Pedro Sula, Copan Ruinas, Valle de Angeles, Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela. She is expected to dine with Maduro, his daughters, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports Mirella Batres, the Mayor of Tegucigalpa Miguel Pastor and the Mayor of San Pedro Sula Oscar Kilgore. She will visit the Planetarium of Little Sula Museum while in San Pedro Sula and the archaeological site near Copan Ruinas. In Tegucigalpa, she will attend the Presidential House, the National school of Music, the Cultural Salon of the Banco Atlantida, the Manuel Bonilla Theatre and the Congress. The Princess came to Latin America in 1995 to visit Brazil, and again in 1999 to visit Peru and Bolivia. On this occasion, she is visiting Uruguay and Honduras for the first time. The Japanese Ambassador to Honduras, Mitsuro Donowaki, will accompany her on her tour. Latin American Summit against poverty yields cooperation. By Paola Uberti The leaders of 21 Latin American countries gathered last week in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to participate in the 13th Ibero-American Summit. Also present were the Spanish and Portuguese prime ministers, King Juan Carlos of Spain and United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan. The topic of the summit, “social inclusion as a key to development,” assumed particular relevance for this year’s host country due to social protests which swept across Bolivia only a month ago. During mass demonstrations against a highly controversial plan to export gas, workers and indigenous groups led by Evo Morales forced President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada to step down from office. At least 80 people died in clashes with police forces. The protests culminated with the Bolivian Presidency being handed over to Carlos Mesa. Morales, leader of the Bolivian cocaleros (coca farmers), was invited to attend the summit opening. All participating countries expressed strong support for Mesa and praised Bolivia’s commitment to maintaining its democratic institutions. The government representatives, including Honduran President Ricardo Maduro, signed a final declaration of 45 points. The first point acknowledged that the fight against poverty is essential to consolidate and promote democracy. The leaders agreed that social exclusion has many historical, economic and cultural causes. They also agreed that an essential factor in eradicating poverty is the redistribution of wealth. “We are all aware of how urgently we need to confront the problem of poverty,” said Maduro, as reported by El Heraldo. “We want these summits to become an instrument to achieve that goal.” Other points in the declaration included a reaffirmation of the United Nations’ role in maintaining world peace and security. The summit also highlighted the importance of foreign market access for developing countries. One declaration point stated that enduring commercial barriers hinder exports and that subsidies distort the market. One of the most significant results was the creation of the Permanent Ibero-American Commission, based on proposals formulated by the former President of Brazil, Henrique Cardoso. The goal of the new commission is to provide future summits with the executive power needed to implement agreed measures. The commission secretary will be elected at next year’s summit in Costa Rica. Foreign debt, which represents a combined burden of US$ 800 million for Latin American countries, was another summit issue. Government representatives stressed that any plan for economic adjustment must take into account principles of social justice and equality. To this end, representatives nominated a technical commission to conduct talks with members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank. The commission will be responsible for reminding these agencies of the importance of social issues in regards to economic adjustments. During a meeting with Kofi Annan, Maduro discussed the talks currently taking place between the Honduran government and the IMF. “He (Annan) is very aware of the fact that the IMF must take into consideration social needs and the ability of each country to make its own adjustments,” Maduro said, according to El Heraldo. In the course of the same meeting, the UN secretary general formally ratified US$ 40 million in financial aid to Honduras. The funds have been designated to assist AIDS patients and to purchase expensive retroviral drugs needed for treatment. Among topics discussed by Maduro with other heads of State was the opening of the European market in order to establish a free trade agreement with Central America. He also talked about the possibility of Spain joining the Central American Bank of Economic Integration, as an extra regional partner.
Casa Alianza, making a difference one child at a time
By Nicole Dunas Casa Alianza can turn lives around. Just ask Junior Herrera. Junior, 17, has been living at Casa Alianza’s crisis center for street children in downtown Tegucigalpa for two years. He had been permanently living in the streets for three years, and occasionally sleeping in parks for four years, before he decided to stay. He had often come to the center’s doorstep and stayed for a couple of days, after which he would return to the streets.
Junior learned of Casa Alianza when an outreach counselor came to speak to him in Tegucigalpa’s Parque Central. The counselor suggested he come to the crisis center. Though Junior did go to check it out, it would be seven more years before he would decide to stay permanently. He was eight years old. According to the Casa Alianza web-site, only about half of the children who enter the crisis center stay for more than a couple of nights. Junior said he did not stay as he did not feel comfortable at first. “It did not feel familiar, I rejected it at first... as I started to familiarize myself with the other boys here, I liked it more and more,” he said. Casa Alianza’s outreach teams work in the streets to provide children with counseling, emergency medical care and an open ear. In Honduras, Casa Alianza employs seven educators who work as outreach counselors in the streets. According to the web-site, the Casa Alianza outreach team works with around 1,000 street children a year in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Junior left his home for the streets due to family problems. One night, when his father was drunk and hitting his mother, Junior-only 12 at the time and very small-hit his father over the head with a bottle. After that, he did not feel safe in his home. That’s when he moved onto the streets for good. The web-site states that often children begin spending time in the streets, cutting off links with their families progressively until they are in the streets full time. Reasons for moving into the streets include abandonment, death of parents, family abuse, lack of parental attention and fulfillment of basic needs for food and clothing. “I used to hang out in the park, other kids gave me drugs,” Junior said, “I didn’t know what they were, I didn’t dare try them.” Later on a teacher told Junior that drugs were harmful and he shouldn’t take them as they would ruin his mind. Junior abstained from the glue sniffing so common to kids living in the street. He was a rare street child. According to outreach team statistics, there are between 1200-1500 street children in Tegucigalpa and nearby Comayagüela, 90-95 percent of whom inhale Resistol, a solvent based shoe glue. The glue is sold to children in small Gerber jars. It comes in pure form for about Lps. 10-12 (US$ 0.55-0.70) or mixed with thinner for about Lps 6-8 (US$ 0.30-0.45). When kids do not have money to buy the glue, they resort to other options, such as sharing with other children or thievery. Casa Alianza statistics show that kids sniff glue to numb the cold, hunger and the anxiety of living on the streets. For a child who is heavily addicted, one jar of glue will last for about two hours. Casa Alianza’s doors are open to all Tegucigalpan children in need. Junior says that when kids come to the center for the night, counselors speak to them the next morning and take them to visit their families, if they have them. If families agree, the children then have the option of staying at the center if they choose. Once they have decided to stay, children are asked to follow basic rules, such as attending the activities planned for the day and respecting Casa Alianza’s mission and principles. Most families are supportive of Casa Alianza, though not all agree to let their children stay. Junior’s mother, who sells sandals in the market, is happy he is living at the center. She has a large family, with 13 children in all. She had 14 until last month, when one of Junior’s sisters was accidentally run over by a truck. She was about to turn 13. His other sisters live with his mother. “My mother is very happy that I am at Casa Alianza,” Junior said, “she has advised me to stay here.” Since coming to Casa Alianza, Junior has made many achievements. He has just successfully completed the sixth grade, and is in his second year of vocational training. He is studying metal construction. A typical day at the center includes a variety of activities, such as working with computers, art, physical education, and religious services. Junior is also a member of Casa Alianza’s soccer team, which competes with other local teams. He enjoys seeing professional soccer games at the stadium with Casa Alianza staff on Saturdays. He will stay at the center until his eighteenth birthday. Once he reaches adulthood, he will work with the center’s over-18 program, which helps youth between 18-22 years old find a safe place to live, a job, further schooling as needed, and food for the week. “I am very grateful to Casa Alianza,’ said Herrera, “they have helped me a lot.” One day, he hopes to own a house and have a good job. There are still too many street children in Latin America who sniff glue, suffer abuse and hunger, prostitute themselves to get by and have no place to go. In the midst of this suffering, Casa Alianza staff work steadily to pick kids up one by one and offer them the chance they deserve, knowing every life is priceless.
Afro America XXI speaks out for rights By LISA McKIDDIE A plethora of representatives from 17 countries will come to Honduras November 22 - 29 for a conference on the Third Meeting of the African Family in the Americas. Congressmen, diplomats, politicians, researchers, artists and representatives from Hispanic communities of African descent will gather in the municipality of Tela, to discuss the situation of 150 million African Americans living in Latin America. Representatives of Afro America XXI, which organized the event, hope investors from Canada, the United States, Jamaica and other American countries will also attend. Afro America XXI was created to continue a process begun by the Inter-American Development Bank (BID), which conducted the First Meeting of the African Family in the Americas 1995-1996. This study found that human rights abuse was consistent in African American communities of Central and South America, at great social and economic cost to their inhabitants. The economic and social status of Hispanic groups of African descent is lower than average in their countries. Many live in conditions of poverty. Their vulnerability stems from their invisibility, their lack of political and economic power and their location in the most remote and poor areas of their countries, or in the most miserable urban areas. Afro America XXI operates as an open forum for institutions and communities aiming to prevent the social exclusion of Afro-Latin-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans. Roy Guevara, Afro America XXI’s Secretary General for Latin America and the Caribbean, said that so far, international politics have not favored this population in Latin America. “We can no longer permit people to say they have no information about these communities,” he said. “Nor are we going to allow governments to say they are doing things when they are not.” Afro America XXI plans to address the exclusive nature of the political system by inserting new laws and structures to permit more political participation for Hispanic African Americans. The organization also aims to create structures for investment in African American communities and secure the optimum usage of resources in each country. He said African American communities are contributors to development in their countries, particularly in tourism, eco-tourism and culture. As a valuable source of human capital with great artisan production capacity, African Americans have the potential to contribute even more. At the conference, a series of projects will be presented to demonstrate this potential. Guevara said the role of youth, who make up 70 percent of the Hispanic African American population, is vital to the continuation of their strategies. The education system must meet their needs. He also said obtaining equality for African American women, who suffer both ethnic and gender discrimination, is a priority. |
IMF media frenzy By LISA McKIDDIE The climax of negotiations between President Maduro’s administration and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has dominated the Honduran media this week, despite IMF reluctance to talk to the press. IMF representatives arrived in the country Nov. 10 for the final stage of discussions on Honduras’ participation in their Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), a low interest lending facility for poor countries. To qualify for this program, the IMF wants the Honduran government to reduce its fiscal deficit from 5.5 percent to 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2005. To achieve this, the fund is pressuring Maduro’s administration to cut public salaries, which rose from 6.9 percent in 1997 to 10.7 percent of the GDP last year. Consequently, previous IMF visits to Honduras have been met with widespread resentment. Doctors and teachers, angered by the adverse effects the proposed Law for Equal Salaries would have on their wages, have held a number of public protests over the last few months. Police dispersed one such protest, held outside Congress Aug. 26, when it escalated into violence. Doctors and teachers, in alliance with the anti- IMF reform group “Bloque Popular,” have taken strategic bridges around the capital and grid-locked the city on several occasions. Head of the economic cabinet, Luis Cosenza, said shortly after IMF representatives arrived in Honduras last week, that reaching an agreement with the Fund will help relieve Honduras’ external debt and reduce the fiscal deficit. “I estimate that this agreement means at least US$ 300 million per year,” he said. El Heraldo reported Monday that the World Bank has frozen US$ 70 million destined to help balance Honduras’ fiscal deficit, in order to pressure Maduro’s administration to reach an agreement with the IMF. The newspaper labeled this the “crossed conditioning,” a customary practice used by international organizations to oblige other countries to sign economic agreements. World Bank representative Joseph Owen told El Heraldo that the World Bank would release US$ 45 million of this money as soon as Maduro signs the IMF agreement. It is not only the Honduran press who is castigating the government for courting IMF proposals. Congressmen from Maduro’s own party, the National Party, reacted with anger to the suggestion that the Fund wants Maduro’s government to increase revenue by hiking sales tax from 12 to 15 percent. “The Congress will not approve any new taxes of any kind,” said Gilberto Goldstein, Vice-President of Congress, to Honduras This Week. “We feel that to reach an agreement with the IMF, the government has to downsize, cut expenses and also be more effective in the collection of standing taxes.” Goldstein also said Congress will only endorse the Law for Equal Salaries if its terms are acceptable to teachers. Nationalist congressmen debated the political cost of approving fiscal measures opposed by the Honduran population during a four-hour meeting Monday. According to La Prensa and El Heraldo, Congressman Oswaldo Ramos Soto called on members of the administration’s economic cabinet to resign. He said Congress had already passed two packages of measures designed to address the fiscal deficit, and would not pass a third because congressmen should not have to suffer the results of cabinet inadequacies. The Catholic Church in Honduras, led by Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez, has criticized the IMF’s handling of the situation. The Vatican’s newly appointed Ambassador to Honduras, Antonio Arcari, took the opportunity Tuesday to re-iterate the need for IMF flexibility when he presented his credentials at the Presidential Palace. He said rich countries must “truly” help those in need, with help coming from the heart and free from self interest. La Tribuna’s coverage included different aspects of the negotiations. Former Vice Minister of Finance Hugo Castillo told the newspaper that Maduro’s administration is discussing a Code of Ethical and Fiscal Transparency with the IMF. This code institutes reforms of laws and information systems, which facilitate transparency in the management of public resources. It also helps bring those responsible for bad investment or abuse of public funds to justice. Castillo also told La Tribuna that the IMF has not suggested a tax hike to Maduro’s administration. Instead, he said negotiations include a Law of Fiscal Responsibility, which seeks to limit tax exemptions for the wealthy. IMF representatives were supposed to leave the country Thursday but have delayed their stay. Maduro is expected to broadcast details of the general conditions agreed with the IMF once they are concrete. When Honduras This Week went to press, no such announcement had yet been made; Honduras waits in suspense.
Reforms are needed to protect domestic child workers The conditions of slavery and marginalization of domestic child workers must be reformed in a series of codes and Honduran laws proposed to guarantee their rights, concluded a seminar on the subject “Domestic Child Labor in Honduras” yesterday. Jessica Sanchez, external collaborator with the International Workers Organization (OIT) indicated that the lack of regulation of domestic child labor causes minors to be subjected to extended hours, from dawn until 11:00 p.m. in some cases. Furthermore, they are paid the lowest possible wages. Not only does their work border on slavery, many are sexually harassed, even seduced or abused by their patrons. They are also exposed to humiliation, such as not being allowed to leave their home or being strip-searched when they do succeed in leaving. This, considered to be among the worst examples of child labor, must be eradicated. The public attorney for children, Sara Aguilar, said that she did not know the extent of exploitation and mistreatment of minors in domestic labor because the statistics only focused on the type of crime and not on the circumstances. According to Sanchez, efforts must not be focused exclusively on the process of legal reforms. Equally important is the creation of a social conscience and the education of workers in relation to their rights. However, funds needed to carry out studies on the subject have so far been provided by the OIT. The government has done very little for this sector of society. -El Tiempo 2700 Nicaraguan soldiers in the zones bordering Honduras Managua (AFP) - The Nicaraguan army deployed 2700 soldiers inside the country and at border zones to combat delinquency, drug and arms trafficking, illegal immigrants, and the smuggling of natural resources, said an official. The operation is part of the permanent security plan developed by the army in conjunction with rural police. In an official communication, the army stated that the aim of the plan is to reinforce vigilance in areas of coffee production, cattle raising and in other areas subjected to incursions by delinquent gangs. The mobilization is centered mainly in the departments of Nueva Segovia, bordering Honduras, which were targeted in recent months by armed criminal groups coming in and out of the country. Soldiers are also present in Rio San Juan, bordering Costa Rica, attempting to neutralize drug, wood and wild species trafficking. The army also reinforced its presence in the north provinces of Jinotega and Matagalpa, which specialize in coffee production, in Boaca and Chontales, which are dedicated to livestock, and the three mining municipalities of Siuna, Rosita and Bonanza (in the north Caribbean district), which serve as a refuge for numerous delinquents operating in the area. They are also prepared to step up control measures on the country’s Atlantic and Pacific ports, at border areas and in airports, to control “immigrant traffic, pirating , illegal fishing, natural resource smuggling and the traffic of arms, ammunition and explosives,” said the military corps. The military mobilization is using the Nicaraguan Army’s regional funds and resources, and with the help of police, judicial authorities and local residents. -La Tribuna Pop star Michael Jackson faces fresh sexual abuse allegations. Californian Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of pop star Michael Jackson and are negotiating with his lawyers over conditions of his arrest, revealed by the Las Vegas Police Department Wednesday. A spokesman said that Californian authorities communicated with the Las Vegas Police Department, as Jackson is in town making a music video. Spokesman José Montoya said that the department of bailiffs in Santa Barbara had not specified the charges that were pending against Jackson. Media have indicated that the 45 year old singer is being investigated for supposed charges of sexual abuse against a 12 year old boy who had been staying at his Neverland property for about three months. 60 police investigators searched Jackson’s property in California Tuesday taking dozens of boxes with them. Television company NBC said “Michael Jackson’s family lawyer has confirmed that the commanding sheriff of Santa Barbara has issued a warrant of against Michael Jackson.” “Already having experienced this matter before; our reply is: Michael has 24 hour supervision for the specific purpose of protecting him from these accusations,” said spokesman for the Jackson family, Brian Oxman to NBC. - El Tiempo.
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Monday, November 17, 2003 Online Edition 45 |
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Multiplaza celebrates expansion
By Susannah O’Grady The eagerly anticipated second stage of The Multiplaza Mall in Tegucigalpa was officially opened Tuesday morning by President Maduro. Hundreds of businessmen, industrialists and government officials gathered to witness the grand inauguration of 40 new shops, which included a blessing from Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez. The first lady Aguas Ocana de Maduro also attended the lavish ceremony. Stage two of the mall introduces more international retail chains to the city, including Mango, Nine West, Nike and a new and expanded Benetton. It includes a 325 space multi-story parking lot built in anticipation of an increased number of visitors. The extension is a response to increased demand from consumers for more stores and signifies support and confidence from investors in the Central American community. About 3000 new jobs were created in various sectors, including construction and retail. The arrival of stage two marks the rapid expansion of the Roble Group in Honduras. Ricardo Poma, head of the Roble Group, which constructed the Multiplaza Mall and Hotel Intercontinental, also attended the inauguration. He took the opportunity to announce the construction of a third Multiplaza Mall in Comayagüela, which was greeted with much enthusiasm. He said the third site will be located next to the intersection of Boulevard Fuerzas Armadas and Boulevard Comunidad Economica Europea. It is set to open in three stages with the first due in 2005. The group’s first mall in Honduras, located in San Pedro Sula, has already been extended twice with their second in Tegucigalpa now following suit. The first stage of Tegucigalpa’s Multiplaza Mall, originally planned in two stages, was completed in 1998. The Hotel Intercontinental followed a year later. Vanessa Peraza, Head of Marketing for the Roble Group, said the second stage arrived on schedule and there are no further plans to expand this site. Construction of the extension began in January this year and finished this month, with the car park completed November 2002. The Multiplaza Mall’s success has been evident with demand for more shop space by stores Benetton and Jetstereo. Market research also confirmed the need for more shops. The Roble Group is a subsidiary of Popoma Group, which was started by the El Salvadorean Poma family 41 years ago. Initially a real estate construction company, the business now owns 18 malls across Central America. The Roble Group also owns the franchise to The Intercontinental Hotel, which is managed by another subsidiary of the Poma Group, the Real Group. One famous shareholder in the Roble Group is President Ricardo Maduro, although exact details of stakes remains undisclosed. The cost of the construction of stage two of the mall and its revenue are also under wraps. Maduro was eager to express his support during the inauguration. He said Pomas business and private life represent principles and values that the government should promote and society follow. “The government takes enormous pride in being involved in the second development of the Mall Multiplaza and in hearing the announcement of other big investments. What is most important is poverty reduction and fortifying the rights of the state,” he said. He added that this investment exemplified the increased interest, confidence and acceptance of the Honduran people within Central America. President Maduro was also keen to take the opportunity to announce a large reduction in kidnaps and robberies, highlighting one of the most appealing aspects of the mall, its safety. Close circuit security cameras operate throughout the area with a panic button in each store for emergencies. This new way of shopping has been embraced by the Honduran people, making the mall successful and enabling it to continuously provide high levels of comfort and security. Ricardo Poma thanked investors at the inauguration by expressing his positive outlook for the economic community adding that Honduras has the potential for development “The businesses behind this investment are patriotic and proud of the Honduran people, proving they want to do good.”
Old bones raise new questions
By LISA McKIDDIE New archaeological discoveries are now challenging long-held beliefs. Skulls and pottery found in a cave in Guayape, Olancho, may provide evidence to challenge traditional perceptions of Honduras’ ancient pre-hispanic inhabitants. Locals found the artifacts two weeks ago. Believing the bones belonged to missing persons, the Olanchans reported them to the authorities Nov. 3.
Honduras is traditionally divided into two areas of pre-hispanic settlement. The Maya region lies in the western part of the country, and the intermediary region - which contained settlements influenced by both Mesoamerican and Andino culture - is in the East. Archaeologist Carmen Julia Fajardo, who works at the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH), said experts have suspected for two years that a third region may lie between the two. But until now, they lacked scientific proof. Theories about Olancho’s original location in intermediary pre-hispanic Honduras are now being questioned in light of evidence suggesting Olmec influence in the region, said Fajardo. The Olmecs, a Mesoamerican indigenous group, typically deformed their skulls into a conical shape, much like those found in Guayape’s caves. According to Fajardo, the skulls were altered during early childhood when the bones were fragile and easy to mould. Skull deformation was a symbol of beauty in pre-hispanic culture and traditionally indicates high social status. “We know very little about the eastern part of the country because we have had very little investigation of it. Discoveries in Olancho are very isolated,” said Fajardo. “These findings will contribute to our knowledge of what happened in the pre-hispanic history of the region.” Skulls found in 1994 in caves at Talgua, also located in Olancho, were unaltered. Fajardo said archaeologists still do not know if there is any connection between the two findings. However, experts believe the Guayape skulls may be older than those found at Talgua, which are dated to 1000 B.C. “We don’t know exactly, but preliminarily, we would say that due to the characteristics they have, the skulls are at least dated to 1500 B.C.,” said Fajardo. IHAH archaeologists are planning to investigate the caves, though no start date has been set. Meanwhile, Guayape was recommended as a protected area Friday. The Public Ministry’s Official Department of Ethnicity and Cultural Patrimony (FEPC) will monitor the caves until the IHAH investigation is complete. A meeting was held Friday to explain the danger of looting archaeological sites to locals. It is possible that some Guayape artifacts have been lost through looting, said Jany Del Cid of FEPC. Anyone who has taken artifacts from the caves without reporting them will be investigated, she said. Fajardo said locals plunder archaeological sites in search of treasure. “The problem is that people don’t understand that by looting places, they alter the information and lose it forever,” said Fajardo. She said that although many of the Guayape artifacts are now under official protection, she is concerned that removing them from the cave has already altered the quality of the evidence they provide. The people of Guayape handed their findings to the authorities between Nov. 4 and Nov. 7. A nun was initially reluctant to hand over a pot entrusted to her care, having misunderstood the FEPC’s intentions. The artifacts are currently in the possession of the FEPC. They will be taken to the IHAH for analysis as soon as possible, said Del Cid. The discovery included two entire skulls, five partial skulls, five pots, two spherical containers and bone and ceramic fragments. Partial jaw bones with some teeth still intact were also retrieved. The skulls belonged to adults. Pottery was placed with the dead as an offering, as was customary when people of high status died, said Fajardo. Once the findings have been investigated, the designs and material used to make the pottery will reveal more about the traditions of Guayape’s pre-hispanic inhabitants, she said. The national press has speculated that the caves in Guayape will become a tourist attraction for Honduras. However, Fajardo said experts must investigate the site first, which means access to the area is prohibited until the study is finished. “Tourism comes once you have the structures in place to protect the area and control looting,” she said. “We need money to investigate, then for protection, security and infrastructure.” The Talgua caves were discovered in 1994, but only became a tourist attraction last year, after many years of investigation. They are also more accessible than caves in Guayape, which are located on the Campanas en Manadero hill, an hour and a half from the nearest road. For comments on this or any of my articles, please email lisa_mckiddie@hotmail.com
More than 30.000 foreigners in Honduras could be deported Tegucigalpa- The register of the General Direction of Migration Policies lists 56,000 foreigners living in the country, of which more than 30,000 have failed to renew their permits. The director of Migration, Ramon Alexis Romero, said he is waiting for the new law on migration to proceed against illegal migrants. He stated that before starting the process of deportations, there are plans to create a migration amnesty. The amnesty is being considered because many foreigners might not have renewed their permits for economic reasons. A monthly fine of Lps. 150 has to be paid after the permit has expired. Some foreigners have not renewed their permits for more than four years. A preliminary draft of the law on migration has already been approved in the first debate of the National Congress. It is expected to be ratified in the course of this month’s sessions. “With this law we will have the opportunity to offer an amnesty or to strengthen migration laws,” said Romero. He explained that an amnesty would allow the 30,000 foreigners to legalize their status in the country. The law would disregard expired permits and pending fines. However, if the amnesty is approved and illegal migrants do not legalize their status, the new law will then enable authorities to proceed with deportations. - La Prensa Honduran beauty queen crowned Miss Earth Dania Prince won the crown of Miss Earth 2003 Sunday in Manila, The Philippines. The Honduran was crowned by her predecessor, Winnie Omwakwe of Kenya. The new representative for the planet won prizes from Miss Avon and Miss Beautiful Skin and US$ 20,000. The princess battled against Priscila Zandona of Brazilian, who was crowned Miss Air, Marianela Zeledon of Costa Rican, crowned Miss Water and Marta Matayzasik of Poland, Miss Fire. The group of ten finalists consisted of representatives from Cyprus, Guatemala, Norway, Philippines, Serbia and Montenegro and Tahiti. The prize of beauty for a cause went to Vida Samadzai from Afghanisthan for symbolizing the beginning of confidence, courage and spirit of women today. Furthermore, it represents the victory of the rights of women in their struggle against social, personal and religious aspects. Other competitions Prince has won include first place in International Reign of the Pacific and first finalist in the Reign of the Maya Coast. Originally from Choluteca, Prince has worked as an international model in Milan, Italy and the United States. - El Heraldo Maduro asks for fair coffee prices Current coffee prices on the international market “are unfair,” said President Ricardo Maduro yesterday in Columbia during his two-day visit there. The president visited the South American country to broach various subjects of mutual interest with its leader, Alvaro Uribe. Coffee and ways to improve its situation on the international market were some of the main concerns. Others included security and the fight against drug trafficking. “We feel the same as Columbia in that the current prices are unfair to producers,” Maduro said. Producers recieve only 9 percent of what is generated on the coffee market, compared to the 40 percent they received six years ago. He added that the mechanisms of coffee pricing are very effective mechanisms of social distribution of wealth and that he has worked with Columbia to achieve re-entry into the International Coffee Organization. They particularly seek renewed membership of the biggest coffee consuming countries, such as the United States and Canada. “U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was recently in Honduras,” said Maduro, “and he told me the the North American executive power and the government in general are seriously considering this possibility, which would be a great benefit to us.”-El Heraldo
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Mayor Pastor’s Popularity on the Rise By ALEJANDRA PAREDES L. A poll conducted by CID GALLUP to measure popular approval of municipal governments in Central American and Dominican Republic capital cities declared Miguel Pastor, mayor of Tegucigalpa, the best ranking of seven city officials in the area. The poll, conducted between September 2002 to October 2003, revealed that 7 out of 10 Tegucigalpa residents approve of Pastor’s work. In the poll, four out of five Hondurans held a favorable opinion of him. In Tegucigalpa, both nationalists and the younger population prefer Pastor. Liberals, members from other parties, and those with no political affiliation also value his work as mayor. According to the results, people favor Pastor for his success in cleaning up streets and public areas, and repairing and improving city and recreational areas. Women between the ages of 25 and 39 stand out as having noticed the improvements in Honduras’ main urban centers. Pastor, Finance and Economy graduate of New Orleans University, took charge as mayor of Tegucigalpa in January 2002. His time in office has been filled with intense activity and frequent controversy as he has dealt with the problems of the Central District Municipal Mayor’s office (Alcaldia Municipalidad del Distrito Central). A well followed government program, an organized working group, an army of maintenance employees, and a set of controversial measures have made “Miguel”, as he is publicly known, a figure who is firmly stepping towards the goals set at the beginning of his term in spite of Honduras’ precarious economic situation. In January 2002, just before assuming office, the Honduran Press mentioned Pastor’s extensive advertising campaign which promised “an intense process of change and transformation” for Tegucigalpa. Pastor promised that once in office his municipal team would initiate actions necessary to commence with a “New Time” (as his campaign is still dubbed). This New Time would come about through hard work, public works, responsibility, efficiency and honesty. His promises, according to La Prensa, were headed by a set of activities meant to restructure the Municipality in both technical and managerial terms . This was necessary to organize the notoriously disorganized institution and turn it into an efficient, transparent and larger capacity operation. Upon completion of these preliminary activities, a capital city clean up would get under way, incorporating a nightly garbage collection and a massive nighttime repair of main city streets. Changes in citizen security were also promised. In the first weeks, initial solutions to criminal activity in the capital would be seen to, something for which he requested citizen collaboration. These promises had been seen in previous mayoral campaigns. Most political figures that sought Tegucigalpa’s mayoral office filled the air with seldom kept promises. Hurricane Mitch’s devastation of Tegucigalpa in 1998 did not help. Nor did the fact that immensely popular Mayor Cesar Castellanos died on the wake of the disaster, leaving the municipality to his widow Vilma, who honorably yet ineffectively completed the time. After a massive mayoral campaign, Miguel Pastor won the 2001 elections, becoming the first popularly elected mayor since Hurricane Mitch. Even to the most skeptical critics, Pastor remains consistent in executing his government plan in spite of a difficult economic situation in Honduras, aggravated by the central government’s precarious situation in the international financial arena In November 2003, Honduras this Week had a conversation with Pastor, in which most of the points covered above were mentioned as achievements of his government. Since being elected, the mayor’s office has been reorganized, incorporating a new hierarchical structure and new schemes of control and transparency. In regards to cleaning the city, new employment formats were initiated for garbage collectors, as well as for those working to systematically and thoroughly repair streets and public areas. Pastor’s most recent program is an ambitious plan to restore the historic sector of downtown Tegucigalpa, which will culminate with a removal and relocation of street vendors into decent, dignified public markets. These actions will be complemented with a maintenance of the roads throughout the extensive and mountainous municipality. Priority has been given to the poorer parts of the city, as well as to villages and towns within the municipality, including the Amarateca valley, Zambrano, and other previously neglected areas. During the interview, Pastor stressed that his most important contribution as mayor has been generating a change of attitude and mentality of the citizen by encouraging participation in matters like cleanliness and disease prevention. Other achievements include fostering economic advances in villages and towns within the Central district by offering villagers technical agricultural and commercial advantages. Hopefully, such actions will help curb migration from these sectors to the city. Yet not everything has been smooth for Tegucigalpa’s mayor. One of his more controversial measures is the implementation of traffic squads to penalize cars parked in unauthorized areas. Citizens consider the monetary penalties to be overly severe. Another controversial measure is a new tax on large dog species, as well as the prohibition of owning dangerous breeds, like Pitbulls and Rottweilers. Though other rumors have risen, his approval rating by the CID GALLUP poll still reached 80 percent this week, showing such rumors have not harmed his public image. This week Pastor traveled to Washington D.C. to hold meetings with Enrique Iglesias and other members of the International Development Bank (IDB). The goal was to present a document to detail monetary spending of IDB loans to his office, totaling 25 million dollars. Pastor also expressed a need for the credit organization to continue supporting the development of Tegucigalpa, as more infrastructure work is needed. For example, social programs designed to improve living conditions and reduce poverty in the Central District are a high priority. Enrique Iglesias, president of IDB, said Pastor’s government must serve as an example to other mayors in Latin America, given the transformation and development achieved during his time in office. Pastor’s popularity clearly remains on the rise, and he is thinking of going further in his political career. A recent public visit and political rally in Tela was proof of his pursuit of the Honduran presidency. The enthusiastic response of this normally sleepy tourist town seems to follow the trend that has placed him in public eye inside and outside of Honduras.
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U.S. Secretary of State makes no promises
By JENNIFER OLADIPO U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell visited the presidential palace Tuesday nearing the end of his short tour of Central America. He came in from the Palmerola airforce base in Comayagua. Maduro said he and Powell had spoken about many issues important to Honduras today: Honduran troops in Iraq, the looming Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), poverty and public institutions. Powell thanked Honduras for “stepping up to the challenge in Iraq.” He said Honduran troops are doing a great job over there and should return proud of their work. Maduro was asked what his stance was on having sent troops to Iraq considering the recent tragedies. Two days earlier 15 American troops had been killed in a plane shot down by Iraqi attackers. The president answered the question by recalling the reasons for Honduras’ initial involvement, largely its close relationship and history with the States. He said that as Honduras becomes a player on the international economic market, it also bears a responsibility to help in times of international crisis. He also said he was happy to have Hondurans in Iraq because they are getting unparalleled experience in many areas. Troops are learning development and construction skills, as well as getting a chance to learn about another culture, he said. But voices of dissent could be heard above the president’s approbation. At least 20 protestors denounced Maduro and Powell just outside the gates of the Presidential Palace. Many of them were members of the Honduran Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations (COPINH). They held signs and banners asking that Honduran troops leave Iraq, denouncing U.S. influence and presence in Honduras. They also voiced their complaints concerning Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC), economic agreements with the IMF, and US military presence in certain parts of the country. They announced that eight indigenous people would participate in a 30-hour fast in front of the presidential house as an additional sign of protest. But they left the presidential palace at 2 p.m. the next day. They had began their protesting just after Powell began speaking at about 1 p.m. But most of Powell’s speech dealt with issues of economy and development. He answered most questions with hints of different types of aid for Honduras, but refrained from making definite promises. He briefly discussed the Millenium Club, a program that will offer up to US$ 5 billion in development funds in developing countries that promote democracy and free trade. Honduras is being considered for the program. Powell suggested that such foreign aid should be used for educational development in Honduras. He said Honduran youth need “the kind of education required for a new economic environment.” “Educational initiatives that will provide the type of education young people need, the kind of education required for a new economic environment.” He said he wants Honduran people to be able to have faith in their government, which will be possible through reforms that affect all aspects of life. “I am hopeful that IMF discussions will go on, and that after they are concluded the judiciary will do what it has to do so that we can remove the debt problem in Honduras,” he said. He said he is excited about CAFTA. Plans are for negotiations to finish by the end of this year so that the agreement can be taken to the U.S. government early next year. He spoke about a U.S. program called the Millenium Challenge, a fund that will give money to countries committed to democracy and open trade policies. It would amount to US $5 billion for developing nations. Honduras is being closely considered for membership in the program, but no promises are being made yet. Powell praised Honduras for its efforts in the war against terrorism and narco-trafficking. He said he was pleased to see Central American leaders working together, opening the channels of communication for regular discourse on topics such as stability, political and social issues. He saw these as steps toward a more democratic Central America. “We shouldn’t fall for the falsehood that democracy is the problem,” he said. Rather, it is the solution. The problem is mistaken was populist and leftist opinions, he said. Poverty, he said, is a threat to that democracy. The way to deal with it is with economic, social and political reform that would create situations that would invite business to create jobs in the country. The speech followed a private meeting. La Tribuna reported that during the meeting the two discussed issues such as renewed US membership in the International Coffee Organization (ICO). Coffee is an important export for Honduras. The ICO is a trade group of coffee producers and consumers. The United States, the world’s largest coffee consumer, had dropped out of the group in 1993, sending coffee prices into a nosedive. American’s re-joining would improve coffee prices for Honduras and other countries. Powell said the U.S. was taking another look at possible ICO participation, but again said nothing definite. “The attitude is positive, but we are not prepared to make an announcement.” The 12-member U.S. delegation included Roger Noriega, Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, James Metzger, Vice Admiral of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Tom Shannon of the National Security Council.
Five years after Mitch, Via Espana Thrives
By Nicole Dunas With the torrent of rain plummeting tin roofs and flooding northern Nicaragua streets in the past week, it’s not hard to believe this was a prime target for Hurricane Mitch. It’s harder to imagine that it has already been five years since Mitch struck. In a refugee camp in the Chinandega province, not far from the small municipality of El Viejo, people remember the hurricane well. “Our families had no place to go, nowhere to live after Mitch, we were helpless,” said Wilbur Francisco, who lives in the settlement. In an effort to help the many families who lost their homes in the region near El Viejo-many from Posoltega, Todo Blanco, and La Picota-the Red Cross constructed Via German, a settlement built of sturdy white plastic tents, which at one time housed around 500 families.
Via German, though made up of varied families from diverse areas, quickly became a well organized community with a number of committees devoted to tasks such as clean up and discipline. Five years after Mitch, the settlement, which is now called Via Espana, consists of 162 permanent houses painted in lively colors like turquoise and lavender. Each plot of land consists of a concrete house, washbasin, stove, and land for a garden. Many of the residents have used the land to grow beautiful flowers and vegetables. The settlement also houses a primary school with two teachers. Classes run from 7:00-12:00 each morning. The preschool, just outside the primary school, has courses for children up to age six from 7:00-10:00 each morning. The Spanish embassy was the primary funder of the permanent settlement constructed by the Red Cross in Nicaragua. The permanent community, according to Francisco, took four years to construct. Via Espana houses 230 families. Often up to three families live in one house. In order to live in one of the houses, residents must pay a one time US$55.00 fee. Francisco claims this may be the reason that 25 of the houses remain vacant. Most of the families that live in Via Espana work on rice, corn or wheat plantations for large scale farmers. According to Francisco, no one living in Via Espana owns their own farmland. Though there is an abundance of vacant land next to Via Espana, there will not be construction of more houses in the near future. Francisco said people are happy to live there, as the houses are much nicer than where they lived before the hurricane struck. He is unsure why a number of houses at one end were never completed, but is nevertheless grateful to live there. ‘It’s very beautiful here,” he concluded, “people like it very much.”
Forum on children and poverty reduction strategy More than two million Honduran children live in terrible living conditions By Alejandra Paredes l According to Save the Children in Honduras, 72% of children in Honduras live in conditions of extreme poverty. This means that 2.3 million girls and boys in Honduras lack the minimal conditions of nutrition, health, education, recreation, protection and family security. The integral development of most of the children in Honduras is currently impossible, a reality that is bound to have historical consequences in the country and in society as a whole. The forum for civil society “Childhood, and Strategies for the Reduction of Poverty” was held Thursday in the second floor of the Hotel Plaza del General in Tegucigalpa. It was organized by Save the Children worldwide, to comply with the agenda set by the Save the Children’s Work Group for Poverty Reduction during their Tegucigalpa working sessions. Work groups from Save the Children in Bangladesh, Vietnam,Tanzania, Mozambique and Honduras attended the session. The organization also tried to gather important government officials who make decisions regarding poverty reduction strategies. In spite of the critical importance of this issue, only the Vice Major of San Pedro Sula, Osmin Bautista, attended the forum. The event was an effort to reach a consensus on the poverty reduction strategies worldwide, with each country exhibiting their ideas. According to Jenny Marshall, head of the Save The Children office in London, the meeting was also held to confirm that the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and Save The Children share the same concerns regarding the overall strategy to reduce poverty. Among conclusions reached at the end of the forum, politics and foreign aid were seen as critical elements. Raf Flores, from the Honduran Office of Save the Children, said politicians are ultimately the ones that make the decision regarding strategies for poverty reduction. Jennifer Vaughan, director of Save the Children for the Caribbean and Central America said foreign aid to the Central American countries has been reduced and is bound to lessen in coming years. This means Central American and Caribbean governments must assume responsibility for coming up with strategies for poverty reduction. First Italian archaeological mission to Central America
By Paola Uberti The first Italian archaeological mission to Honduras will begin excavating in Copan this week. This marks a historical moment of cultural relations between Honduras and Italy, said the Italian ambassador to Honduras, Stefano Cacciaguerra, at a press conference Tuesday Nov. 4th. The team of archaeologists will work under the supervision of Dr. Maria Antonietta Fugazzola, director of the “L. Pigorini” Museum of Prehistory and Ethnology in Rome. Archaeologists Antonio Tagliacozzo and Antonio Salerno will assist her, along with ethnologist Claudio Cavatrunci.. The Italian Departments of Foreign Affairs and Culture and Heritage will finance the mission. Also present at the conference were the Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports, Mireya Batres, the Minister of Tourism, Thierry Pierrefeu, and the director of the Institute of Anthropology and History, Margarita Duron de Galvez. These contributors worked closely with the Italian embassy and the Pigorini Museum to organize the mission. Although Italian archaeologists have been working in other areas of Latin America, this is the first Italian mission to Central America and the first time Italian archaeologists will examine a Maya site. During their time in Central America, the team plans to excavate two specific areas at the Copan site. An important aspect of the Honduran-Italian collaboration will be the opportunity to train young Honduran archaeologists, ethnologists, anthropologists and restorers. “Italy has exceptional expertise in the areas of conservation and restoration,” said Batres. “We are all very happy and extremely grateful for the opportunities that will arise from the collaboration with the Pigorini Museum.” The importance of Copan as a tourist magnet was highlighted by Pierrefeu, who said Copan is an extraordinary archaeological site, far superior to other Maya sites in the area. However, Pierrefeu added, the promotion of Copan as an archaeological destination involves more than displaying its undeniable cultural heritage. The true challenge lies in creating the infrastructure essential to its development. Security, transport and accommodation need to be improved. “We have to succeed in making a visit to Copan more attractive. We need to improve what we call a tourist product,” said Pierrefeu. |
Britain withdraws embassies in Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua British Ambassador to Honduras Kay Coombs will leave the country January 10th, once the Embassy has closed. By LISA McKIDDIE The British Embassy in Honduras is set to close at the end of November. Richard Lavers, the British Ambassador to Guatemala, will become the non-resident Ambassador to Honduras. The Consulate in Guatemala will take responsibility for consular affairs. The British Government is closing embassies in other countries, including El Salvador and Nicaragua. According to Kay Coombs, the British Ambassador to Honduras, the decision to withdraw stems from budget cuts in the foreign office. Coombs said cuts are necessary due to increased security costs following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a rise in other costs and a problem with overspending last year. “The British commitment is still here, it’s just a question of consolidating,” she said. According to Coombs, the foreign office considers the number of British businesses, colonial connections, tourists and residents in each country before deciding whether to close its embassy. “There are few British businesses here and those that are here are big enough to look after themselves,” she said. British business interests in Honduras include Lloyds TSB, GlaxoSmithKline, British American Tobacco, Shell and BP. Coombs also said there are relatively few British tourists and residents in Honduras, and apart from the Bay Islands, there are no colonial connections. “It’s not a question of withdrawal for political reasons,” she said. “We hope to continue relations with Honduras, which have been very good, very warm and friendly.” She said that although President Maduro was upset to hear the Embassy is closing, he understood the reasons behind the decision and the good working relationship between the British and the Hondurans has not been affected. However, some British citizens in Honduras reacted with disappointment to the news. One British citizen and long time resident of Honduras said the British government has lost interest in looking after British citizens abroad, not only in Honduras but worldwide. “It seems to be the standard policy of the British government. That’s the way an ordinary British citizen who lives or travels abroad sees it,” he said. The British Embassy in Honduras has become gradually less accessible and the next step seems to be to withdraw totally, according to the resident. Stevan Thomas, 50, is in the country on a 90 day tourist visa. He said the withdrawal of the embassy was a shame for British business here. “From a British point of view, I’m disappointed that they seem to be taking more of an insular view than a world power view,” he said. “It’s typical of Britain becoming smaller and smaller and it’s a shame.” Thomas also said that as a tourist, he is keen to know what the solution would be if he lost his passport. Coombs said the passport issue will work on a “hub and spokes” system, whereby papers are sent to the “hub” and the passport is couriered back to the “spoke.” She also said the British Ambassador to Guatemala is planning to visit Honduras once every two or three months and has accredited his staff so they can also make visits. However, British citizens needing assistance from their embassy at other times will have to go to Guatemala. Coombs, 58, has been the British Ambassador to Honduras for 14 months. Her 36 year diplomatic career includes posts in Germany, the former Yugoslavia, Italy, China, Mongolia and various other Latin American countries. She plans to retire now that her post has been cut and will return to London January 10. “I’ve given my life to the service and had a wonderful career,” she said. “The job has been very demanding, but the more you put in, the more you get out.” Coombs said she is pleased the British Ministry for International Development (DFID) will continue their program in Honduras. A member of the British Embassy will remain at the DFID office for at least six months after the Embassy leaves to answer queries and complete the closure. More details regarding the facilities available to British citizens in Honduras after the Embassy leaves will be printed in Honduras This Week once they have been finalized.
Minister of Labor and the inspection of the Southeast Textiles maquila Choloma - The company Southeast Textiles S.S. (Setisa) will take criminal action against the United States National Labor Committee (NLC) for the public accusation made last Tuesday of labor exploitation in their factory. The owner of the factory, Steve Hawkins, confirmed last Thursday in a press conference he will begin judicial proceedings against the director of the U.S. committee, Charles Kernaghan, who he accuses of leading a smear campaign. Last Tuesday, Honduran Lyddia Eli Gonzalez, 19, united with NLC delegates in the U.S to publicly demand that rapper Sean P. Diddy Combs investigate the unhealthy and abusive conditions in which employees of Setisa work. The Minister of Labor, German Leitzelar, and the regional delegate Luis Alvarado, went to the Setisa factories to investigate the allegations and check if there is labor exploitation. - El Heraldo More abuses and repression in factories New accusations of abuse against maquila factories were presented yesterday by defense counsel Sara Mariea Lopez. Today Lopez will lodge a formal complaint against the Honduran Factory Association (AHM). The woman, who waged an independent fight against factory abuses, said that in the “Kit Manufacturing” industry, funded with Korean money, employees who complain are obliged to resign or are threatened with incarceration. She said that the head of personnel of this factory, located in Quebrada Seca, Choloma, Cortes, often brings in members of the 105 Military Brigade to intimidate workers and force them to resign. She said that workers protested the failing air conditioning system, which made the air so hot that some workers fainted. She also said floor manager Aguiluz harasses staff to the point where some women have to urinate while working. Lopez said that after making complaints, she is being persecuted, and on one occasion was even shot at. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt as she hid between two cars. The managers of the company are also accusing her of sedition, illicit association and lust. Factory managers say she will spend at least three years in prison. - La Tribuna Troop displacement - Nicaraguan mobilization to combat crime The Minister of Defense Federico Breve Travieso confirmed Monday rumors regarding the movement of Nicaraguan troops, but in areas surrounding the border with Honduras, not on border positions. The Minister said he has been in contact with Nicaraguan authorities since Saturday and spoke again Monday with General Javier Carrion, Commander in Chief of the Nicaraguan Army. Travieso said Carrion confirmed that the military presence in the zone aims to combat criminality. According to the regional head of the Nicaraguan military in Chinandega Victor Boitano, at least 300 soldiers will be sent to the region surrounding the northern border with Honduras to capture various gangs who have committed a series of crimes. The Honduran Minister for Security, Oscar Alvarez, knew nothing of the Military operation in the neighboring country until Sunday. - El Heraldo Guatemalan businessmen buy Honduran land A group of Guatemalan businessmen purchased 14 pieces of seafront land between the municipalities of Omoa and Cuyamel. The total value of the land is Lps. 75 million. It covers a 20 thousand square meter area and runs close to CA-13, a road that will unite Guatemala and Honduras on the Caribbean coast once finished. Mario Alberto Prieto Rodriguez, a Honduran lawyer, said the businessmen are planning to build five star hotels, an ecological park and salty water swimming pools. “There is an agreement to preserve natural areas, to avoid problems of contamination or alteration of the ecosystem”, he said. The Guatemalans said they have been in contact
with the International Development Bank (IDB), to whom they presented a short
term investment plan. For the long term, there is a possibility of extending the
purchase to 200 million lempiras in land, which would begin by the building of a
Marriot hotel in the area. - La Prensa |
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Chiminike interactive learning center gets hopping
By JENNIFER OLADIPO Children now have a state-of-the-art way to learn about their bodies, their world and themselves. The Chiminike Interactive Teaching Center openend to the public Saturday in Tegucigalpa. The 8,500 square-meter building was inaugurated at a ceremony on Wednesday. The Center will function as an education, entertainment and cultural center for children and their families. Center planners say a main objective is to instill national values, customs and history, plus identify people who have helped to develop the country. The center is named for a species of frog represented by stone sculptures which greet visitors at the door and throughout the museum. Children chose the name from a list of other animal names, saying it was what they most identified with childhood. Promoters say children and their imaginations are of utmost concern at Chiminike. “Each child has the ability to realize his dreams,” said former first lady Mary Flake de Flores. “Each idea - from wherever or whomever it comes - is full of possibilities.” This is the fourth program of this sort de Flores has initiated in Central America; the others were in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. At the Honduras inauguration, she talked about the importance of children discovering the breadth of career opportunities they can have. “All jobs are equally valid, but children need to be aware that they live in a world without limits,” she said. Visitors can try their hand at several professions at Chiminke. Those interested in television can take part in a mock news broadcast as a guest, host or camera operator. The medically inclined can play doctor on a life-size version of the game “Operation.” The game becomes an anatomy lesson as players carefully remove bones and organs from a two-dimensional body without setting off the buzzer. Children take a tour of the nose - literally - with a stroll through a giant model which is colorfully labeled on the inside. This is just one of many large scale models used to explain things such as storm systems and geological phenomena. There are also small personal stations, such as the interactive computer program that teaches children about DNA.Other stations help children learn about day-to-day activities, such as driving, banking and grocery shopping. The total project cost about US $8.2 million. Funding came primarily from the World Bank. The Bank requires a national counterpart for funding, former first lady Mary de Flores arranged for Honduran Council of Science and Technology (COHCIT) to complete the task. De Flores is also the vice president of the PROFUTURO foundation, which had a large role in the project and the contributions of businesses involved in youth and education. A colorful road sign in the main hallway introduces the five rooms with exhibits covering preschool interests, the body, city life, environment and Honduras and its people. Speakers at the inauguration spoke of Chiminke’s long-term goal of changing social attitudes and values. Changing attitudes about education and possibilities, he said, would change the direction of Honduras’ future. President Maduro suggested that education should take a pyramid form, with a strong base beginning at the preschool level. But the center does not only involve the country’s youngest citizens. Young men ages 18-23 will serve as guides for the center’s visitors. They have previously worked at the PAPALOTE Interactive Museum in Mexico. Admission is Lps. 50 per person, with a special rate for primary and secondary schools. PROFUTRO says it is trying to create a corporate sponsorship program for public school visits to the museum, allowing more children access to the facility.
Honduras: corruption with impunity?
By LISA McKIDDIE Experts gathered at the Hotel Clarion Tuesday to discuss corruption and public finance, issues thrust into the limelight last week by Vice President Armida de Lopez’ controversial comments concerning a government managed development project. The national press reported that Lopez denounced a member of the Maduro administration involved in Plan Trifinio, a social project based in strategically important areas around the border with Guatemala. According to Lopez, who did not name the Minister, the man in question is abusing his position of authority and shows a clear desire to break the law for dishonest purposes. Officials involved in Plan Trifinio include Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Mariano Jimenez, Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing Jorge Carranza and Minister of Health Elias Lizardo. They all denied being involved in corruption. The Central American Bank, the Norwegian Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank fund the project. According to El Heraldo, it has a budget of US $ 24.4 million. Lopez was quoted in La Tribuna as having said she was threatened by members of Maduro’s administration who want her to resign, including Minister of Governance and Justice Ramón Hernandez, Luis Cosenza and Ramon Medina Luna. “These Ministers have been very hard on her,” said German Espinal, Executive Secretary of the National Council against Corruption. Espinal said he believes Lopez did not intend to make a specific declaration about corruption in Plan Trifinio. He said she was trying to explain management difficulties and the press took her comments as a denunciation. “The problem is a lack of confidence and credibility with some functionaries who want to administer the finances outside the regulations that govern the project,” he said. “The conflict has been going on internally for five months.” A fiscal investigation has begun, but Espinal said it is unlikely to result in punishment of the accused. He said the aim is to put the situation back in order and to make sure the resources are used appropriately. President Maduro has so far made no comment on the vice-president’s remarks. Lawyer Soraya Morales, who is in charge of the Special Administration for the Fight against Corruption in the Public Ministry, spoke about setbacks and difficulties in bringing people implicated in corruption to justice at Tuesday’s conference. Morales gave examples of cases involving both private enterprises and members of public authorities that remain unresolved. She said obstacles to resolving cases include limited use of informants and investigative agents, the complexity of the investigation process for crimes of administrative corruption and the immunity enjoyed by political functionaries. The Public Ministry was deprived of an important investigative instrument when the General Directive for Criminal Investigation moved to the Ministry of Security, Morales said. Honduras has had some success in fighting corruption through the work of the National Anti-corruption Commission and the Commission of Transparency, and through the election of Magistrates to the Honorable Supreme Court of Justice. “However, despite these initial efforts, there is still a long way to go in terms of achieving an effective independence from external influences over the organs of administration or other instances that intervene in the fight against corruption,” said Morales. Former Executive Director of Income for Honduras Jorge Illescas spoke about what he has observed through his experience of finance and corruption. He said laws are obsolete and contain errors, making them difficult to use. Articles are open to a variety of interpretations, and well-intentioned judges often do not know how to use them. Venality of judges is also a significant problem. Low salaries contribute to corruption by making it easier for people to fall into temptation. Replacement of functionaries with each new administration produces misinformation in administrative circles. The absence of technical facilities is also detrimental to transparency in the system, making it difficult to record accounts and correspondence. Efrain Diaz, economist and former presidential candidate, said that Honduras has plenty of laws, but not institutions, and that the institutions that exist are politicized, creating a state that cannot combat corruption or guarantee transparency. He also said Honduras is a patrimonial state, where political decisions are made by economic groups whose interests do not necessarily match those of society.
City must change attitudes about trash
Without some change, Tegucigalpa is fast on the road to becoming a landfill. Anyone who walks to work or school every day knows how much time is spent side-stepping various debris. And those who spend enough time in traffic probably wouldn’t be surprised to see pieces of trash flying freely from vehicle windows. To a foreigner, the state of the city streets can seem appalling. But in actuality, the city is cleaner than it used to be. Citizens vow that the situation has improved dramatically in the past few years and the numbers back them up. Two years ago, the city was collecting 420 tons of trash a day. Now, that figure is up to 650 tons, an increase of 50 percent. This is due largely to the work of people named “microenterprises.” They are the green-vest street sweepers and grass cutters that are seen day and night in streets, parks and in many villages. There are 90 of them covering city streets, 32 in park areas and 30 in surrounding villages. But they are not quite enough to cover the 800 tons of garbage the city generates daily. And no matter how pristine Tegucigalpa’s streets look, the trash is still piling up somewhere. Garbage dumps can only hold a finite amount of material. If preventative measures are not taken soon, all of that waste will slowly creep right back into the streets from which it was collected. While there is no technology yet to eliminate trash completely, there is another option: recycling. The word is already a firm part of the local lexicon in many parts of the world. But in many places in this country, it is virtually nonexistent. There have been some baby steps taken in this direction already. Tegucigalpa has employed “pepenadores”, staff who collect materials such as glass, metal and cardboard at the landfills. They, in turn, sell it for a small fee to companies who use those materials. But large-scale recycling is needed in a country that subsists on bottled water and is hooked on soft drinks. Even if that were not the case, products everywhere are coming wrapped in unnecessary packaging that ultimately ends up in a trash bins. City officials are not blind to the problem. In fact, they are eager to get on the recycling bandwagon. They know they face a myriad of obstacles, most of which concern monetary matters. Other than a slow economy and short public funds, it is private funding which is difficult to obtain. That is to say, the biggest hindrance to progress might be the mindset of the people. Those who did not grow up with a reduce, reuse and recycle mentality often find it difficult to understand. As such, they find it even more difficult to part with their money in support of it. City officials say people are unwilling and sometimes unable to pay the extra taxes intrinsic to funding a recycling program. Citizens’ behavior would be a large part of such a program, and that could only be changed through a large-scale education campaign. Ironically, the very people who would need such a campaign are the ones who are unwilling to fund it. Despite that, there are plans to begin a pilot program next year just to see how easy it will be for citizens to learn to separate their trash so that it can be recycled. There seems to be an understanding of the benefits-and necessity-of recycling at the municipal level. It is now up to citizens to open their minds to a different way of life, one that will ultimately improve their quality of living.
Loss of credibility of the pseudo-directors and scarce support prove the public want peace Popular organizations once again challenged the authorities Tuesday, bringing the capital and other cities to a standstill for 6 hours. Traffic flow was interrupted and industry, banks and businesses suffered losses. The group of demonstrators from the Coordinated Popular Resistance, made up of syndicates of various autonomous institutions, took bridges in Colonia Las Brisas. They stopped traffic on Blvd Fuerzas Armadas and Comunidad Economica Europea, which link to roads going to the north and south of the country. Police surrounded the Congress and Presidential Palace, which are usually visited by protestors. The march of Aug. 26 deteriorated into vandalism and confrontation with the police. That of Oct. 14 was peaceful, but it also generated chaos and a challenge to constitutional authority. Schools, colleges, business and commercial centers in the city center remained closed. Two people in need of urgent medical attention died when their journey to medical centers was impeded by the strikes. Protestors demanded the Government repeal the recently passed Drinking Water Law. They also opposed the projected Law for Equal Salaries, Forest Law, Land Ownership Title, Introduction of Employees in the Labor Market and the Maritime and Continental Zones. - El Heraldo Ambitious project for the country emerges from the National Dialogue President Maduro has been meeting with all sectors of civil society for the last three months to create a political institution that will attempt to solve the principle problems of the country. Political and institutional development, justice, democratic security, social development and equal and sustainable economic growth were among the issues discussed. Some 3,000 people participated in the process, which consisted of one national and eight regional discussion workshops. The “Great National Dialogue” and the government came to an agreement to take historical measures. If the goals are met, Honduras will have fewer deputies in the National Congress and will no longer be represented at the Central American Parliament. Judges and magistrates will be chosen by popular vote. Deputies will only be elected for a legislative period and through separate elections, as will mayors and town councilors. President Maduro will have a special administrator behind him to check the management of the national budget. The confidential budget will be eliminated. The National Dialogue also reached important agreements in different areas such as education, health, housing, employment and corruption. The government agreed to guarantee education for all sectors of the population, and that English will be taught at all levels. - El Heraldo Father Tamayo awarded Human Rights prize Father Andres Tamayo was awarded this year’s National Prize for Human Rights in recognition of his work for the protection of natural resources. Tamayo, from Salvador, works in the parish of Salama, Olancho. From there he launched a campaign to protect the forests surrounding the area, for which he has received several death threats. On June 26th he reached Tegucigalpa heading a popular six-day march which started in Juticalpa. President Maduro, however, would not listen to his plea. An honorary mention was granted to the president of the Casayuda Foundation, Olga Manuela Discua and to the Honduran Institute for Radio Education. - El Heraldo
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Rights group probes P. Diddy link to sweatshop NEW YORK (AP) -- Sean John, the clothing line of rap music mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, is under scrutiny from a workers' rights group for allegedly using laborers from a Honduran sweatshop. The director of the anti-sweatshop National Labor Committee, Charles Kernaghan, released a report Tuesday detailing poor working conditions at the Southeast Textiles factory in Choloma, Honduras, where Sean John clothes are made. Kernaghan and 19-year-old Lydda Eli Gonzalez, a former worker at the factory, stood outside the site of a Sean John store set to open next spring as Gonzalez described the alleged abuses that took place at the factory. "We should be paid what we're owed. We make so little that it's not enough to have a dignified life," said Gonzalez, who said she was fired after she tried to organize a union. Workers are subjected to daily body searches, contaminated drinking water and 11- to 12-hour daily shifts, the report said. In exchange, they are paid 24 cents for each $50 Sean John sweat shirt they sew. But the factory owner, Steve Hawkins, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Gonzalez was a disgruntled worker fired for producing poor quality merchandise, not clocking in when she arrived and repeatedly arriving late. Hawkins, a native of North Carolina, said the charge that conditions at his factory were substandard "is completely groundless." When Gonzalez was fired, she received a severance check equivalent to two-and-a-half months salary, Hawkins said. And while the minimum wage in Honduras is 55 cents an hour, he said his workers make an average of 90 cents per hour. A representative of Sean John said the clothing line was unaware of the conditions alleged by Kernaghan. "We had absolutely no knowledge of the situation; however, we take these matters very seriously," said Jeff Tweedy, executive vice president of Sean John. "We have a director of compliance who will be looking into this matter immediately." The report also found women were given mandatory pregnancy tests, and that those who tested positive were fired, Kernaghan said. The abuses are violations of Honduran labor laws, which are rarely enforced for fear of corporate divestment, Kernaghan said. His organization's repeated attempts to contact Sean John have gone without a response, he said. Kernaghan said the study was not an attack on Combs. "This is his company," Kernaghan said, pointing toward the store at Fifth Avenue and 41st Street. "He could turn this around tomorrow. He could set a new standard." The goal, Kernaghan said, is not to have Sean John pull out of Honduras and leave the workers jobless but to improve working conditions and eliminate human rights abuses. According to the report, about 80 percent of the Southeast Textiles factory production is for the Sean John clothing line. The other 20 percent is for Rocawear, co-founded by rapper and producer Jay-Z and rap music producer Damon Dash. A call placed to Rocawear after business hours Monday wasn't returned.
Copan Conference great success By Howard Rosenzweig The fourth annual Conference on Honduras was held in Copan Ruinas during last weekend. The meeting brought together an estimated 350 participants from more than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work in Honduras. About half of the conference participants were from the United States, the other half from Honduras and elsewhere. The first three conferences were held in Washington DC and focused on three areas of development work: education, healthcare and community building. “We believe that if we can successfully implement projects to help Honduras in these core areas, eventually within a generation or two the Honduran people will be able to solve whatever problems they face,” said conference founder Marco Caceres. He said the goal of the conference is for these individuals to connect with as many others working on projects as possible and find practical ways to work together. “It’s about networking,” Caceres said. Conference sponsors included Sol Air, Honduras This Week, Mesoamerica Travel, Hotel Marina Copan, The Municipality of Copan Ruinas and the Honduras Institute of Tourism. The Conference on Honduras kicked off its initial meeting in 2000 drawing 35 participants. Since then attendance has doubled each year. The conference is organized by projecthonduras.com, an internet based forum for ‘unconventional change’ in Honduras. The idea is that Internet and Web based forums provide a perfect virtual meeting place for groups and individuals seeking to help Honduras. Once a year participants can meet face to face to network, discuss ongoing and new projects and engage in a bit of hands on socializing and fun activities. The plan now according to Caceres is to make it a yearly conference permanently based in Copan Ruinas. On the ground in Copan, the conference was coordinated by two steady hands in town, entrepreneur Sandra Guerra and Copan Pinta Director Carin Steen. “The conference was excellent,” Guerra said, “an impressive number of people participated and the people of Copan Ruinas looked highly on the conference.” Benefits to the town were big. With some 350 participants, each spending an average of three to four nights in town, an estimated Lps. 250,000 was spent on hotel rooms, food and souvenirs during the event. Event sponsors pitched in with products and services. Sol Air offered up deep dish discounted air tickets, Honduras This Week provided free advertising space to promote the event and pre-event coverage and the Honduras Institute of Tourism and Hotel Marina gave a coctail party on the first night to welcome participants. The Municipality of Copan Ruinas provided free use of the Municipal Conference Center. Copan Green supplied the bottled water and local coffee brewer Cafe Miramundo provided their new high tech cappuccino machine during the entire event. “The conference was so successful that participants asked that the conference be held again in Copan Ruinas,” Guerra said. “Organizers will meet in Copan Ruinas in approximately six months to begin planning for next year’s conference. “ Food, of course, plays an important role in any large conference and this one was no exception. Lunches were catered by Restaurante Llama del Bosque in the Convention Center. Lunch was included as part of the $75 registration fee. The noon lunch break became a virtual feast of typical Honduran cusine as attendees piled their plates high with a huge assortment of Copan delicacies. Carin Steen, conference organizer and Director of Copan Pinta, a Copan Ruinas based NGO was very pleased with the outcome of the conference. “There was lots of good critical feedback and everybody came away happy and in high spirits - it was very succesful. “I had the opportunity to meet a lot of people, receive grants for Copan Pinta projects and network to create long terms relationships and contacts” she stated. For information on the 2004 Conference on Honduras contact Marco Caceres at hondopost@yahoo.com or www.projecthonduras.com
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Princess
Sayako of Japan, pictured here with her parents the Emperor Akihito and Empress
Michiko of Japan, arrives in Honduras today.
Casa
Alianza residents pose in the main common area 
Junior
Herrera, 17, is grateful to Casa Alianza for all they have offered him
Students
practice city planning as they decide where to put a bridge over a model
river 
German
Espinal is the Executive Secretary of the National Council against
Corruption.
