Tegucigalpa Mayor Ricardo Alvarez: People need to believe in their city

Todd Ellertson
Honduras This Week

Tegucigalpa Mayor Ricardo Alvarez taped his message to the people (“Cabildo Abierto”) last Thursday, amidst dozens of excitable pigeons flapping their wings and the Cathedral of Dolores as a backdrop. The mid-morning sun shone bright as people mulled around the mayor, some listening to what he had to say, others stopping, doing double-takes and whispering ‘is that the mayor?’ and moving on.

In spite of the pigeons, stray dogs barking and music blaring from a nearby souvenir shop, Alvarez kept his cool, smiled for the camera and talked about pressing matters of the city, a weekly ritual.

When the camera stopped rolling, we sat down in a pew in the shade of the nearby cathedral where the Mayor touched on many topics, mostly concerning his goals for the final two years of his four-year term. Alvarez makes it very clear from the outset that “El Distrito Central” does not only include Tegucigalpa, but also Comayaguela. He feels the distinction is impor­tant and worthy of mention as he maintains Comayaguela has been forgotten by his predecessors and that Tegucigalpa has gotten the lion’s share of attention over the years.

“It is written in the constitution that the Capital city is actually the Capital cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela. Comayaguela has played a significant role over the years and we cannot forget that,” Alvarez emphatically points out.

When asked what has been his relationship to the Zelaya admin­istration, Alvarez shakes his head and replies, “this is not a political thing because we are of opposing parties, but the central government has a history of not investing nearly enough money for infrastructure in a metropolitan area that produces 50% of the tax base. This administration has been no exception.” He cites the 1.6 billion lempiras needed to repair and upgrade the roads in the city and the fact that the central government has only chipped in 400 million. “We cannot get all the work done with that,” he laments.

Mayor Alvarez wants the people to believe their cities can change for the better. “When making decisions about the Capital, I always keep ‘quality of life’ in the back of my mind. It’s what guides all of my policies and projects.” Three subjects in particular are high on his priority list.

1. The vulnerable: Between crime, poverty, homelessness and natural disasters, Alvarez believes the most vulnerable – the elderly and young children – need to be cared for. Flood control, safe housing and medical care are all in need of improvement and are being addressed.

2. Water: 300,000 people in the cities don’t have access to safe drinking water. The neediest end up paying for their water, when they can afford it. Alvarez has put access to enough safe drinking water as one of the most important investments of his time in office.

3. Roads: Chronic disrepair, neglect and lack of enough roads have plagued the cities for years and Alvarez continues to meet with citizens face-to-face in different neighborhoods to listen to their concerns regarding unpaved or impassable streets. He implemented a 15-year plan to improve the road infrastructure, including a new bypass in front of the stadium. Two additional by-passes are in the works. Alvarez says, “I want tax-payers to see that their tax dollars are going to good use. They need to see tangible results of where that money goes.”

He is not content to rest on his laurels, but Alvarez is proud of the fact that his administration was responsible for clearing out vendors that crowded Central Park and is pleased it’s getting back to what it used to be: a central meeting place for the people, without the crush of the vendors hawking their wares. It is a step Alvarez believes will help in creating a more inviting atmosphere for tourists venturing into “El Centro.”

He eagerly explains that getting a business license, a process that used to take 120-180 days, now takes a mere 40 minutes. “Business-oriented people are a big part of what makes the city improve. I wanted to streamline the process for them to more easily get started,” Alvarez says with a smile and adds, “40 minutes….that’s fast!” He is now working on a similar streamlining process for obtaining construction permits.

Alvarez sees a bright future for the cities, but only with proper funding and a clear vision of how the city can improve to meet the needs of its people while also inviting tourists to feel welcome. With that, he laid out a five-point plan for his remaining two years as Mayor.

1. Reading campaign: Within the next five years, Alvarez wants there to be a 0% illiteracy rate in the cities. In the last 3 ½ months, he notes that 890 adults have been taught to read, with the assistance of the Teachers’ Association.

2. “Technos Dignos” (secure roofs on housing): The Mayor points out that in spite of promises from the central government to improve housing, very little, if anything has been done. So far, through “Technos Dignos,” 6,000 families have received improvements to their roofs, mostly to keep them dry during the winter.

3. “Agua para Vivir” (water for life): 65 million free gallons of water have been distributed among the poorest in 110 barrios and villages in and around the Capital. This amounted to a 30 million lempira savings for those people who would have otherwise had to purchase their water.

4. Free burials and funerals: Many of the cities’ poor cannot afford proper burials and funerals for family members who pass away. Alvarez says now there are 2 funeral homes in the cities that provide free coffins, bread and coffee for receptions and free burial sites for those who can prove they are unable to pay. In one year, 16,000 people were given proper burials and funerals for free.

5. During each August (“Family Month”) the Mayor performs free mass weddings to those who cannot afford licensure for a legal marriage. In 2007, 800 couples were married under the program.

He envisions Tegucigalpa as the “Convention City,” not only to generate much-needed money, but to showcase the city to the masses that attend large conventions. “We’ve got the hotel rooms, 2 convention centers; we need to be able to attract those crowds.”

When asked about a potential run for president, Alvarez defers and says only “Not now - I don’t have time to even think that far ahead. I’ve got so much to do these next couple of years; it’s all I have time to really consider.”

Alvarez has set his sights for the 450th anniversary of the cities, coming up in 2028. “I want the city to be its best, its citizens to be proud and for them to have what is necessary to have hope.” With his slogan “Primero los Pobres,” (First, the poor) Alvarez has his work cut out for him.

Honduran government rolls out energy and fuel saving plan

Alvaro Morales Molina
Honduras This Week

Enrique Flores Lanza, Presidential Minister, confirmed during the celebration of the first “2008 Assembly of Citizen Power,” that the Zelaya administration is going to invest 1.4 billion Lempira for public works in 2008 alone. Flores Lanza took advantage of the media coverage present at the official event to announce that, after next week, his government will initiate an aggressive national plan of saving power and fuels throughout Honduran govern­mental administration.

This type of “Citizen Power” event has been heavily criticized in the past as being nothing more than a thinly-disguised political rally for the Liberal Party. In an effort to quiet some of that criticism, the assembly took place in Jesus de Otoro, a small village located in the middle of the Valley of Otoro, in the central Honduran department of Intibuca.

President Zelaya confirmed that he and his administration will take “urgent measures” to reduce the cost of electricity and fuel expenditures by cutting down on the use of government motor vehicles, replacing light bulbs with energy-saving incandescent bulbs and by subsidizing public transport.

The measures are in response to what many consider an international crisis related to sky-rocketing costs of crude oil. Additionally, many observers feel the government is trying to put its best foot forward to demonstrate to international markets that they are taking the oil crisis seriously and to cut costs as part of their policies to curb expenditures.

The announcement was made by Minister of the Presidency Enrique Flores Lanza in the Assembly of the Citizen Power, in the presence of the President, local and departmental Cabinet of Government, and other authorities. Flores Lanza oriented his speech in two sections: one that showed economic expectations for 2008 and one that outlined the measures that the Zelaya administration will take in response to the oil crisis.

“We are going to try to affect and reduce traffic jams by having government vehicles travel during non-peak periods throughout the business day. In addition, an odd and even vehicle numbering system will be put in to place: the National Transit Director will outline a plan in which certain days only odd-numbered vehicles can run, and other days utilizing only even-numbered vehicles,” Flores Lanza outlined He went on to elaborate, “With these measure, we are going to reduce our oil consumption by 10%. Even though many may see these measures as bother­some, they are necessary facing the current crisis.”

The third measure, as Flores Lanza explained, is that “we are going to subsidize diesel fuel for public transportation of people, goods, the farming industry and activities, with the support from the Association of Fuel Stations and Distributors. Owners of luxury diesel cars will receive the real value of diesel.”

With respect to electricity consumption, the population will find out that the “urgent measures of saving” will start next week, specifically, the replacement of incandescent small lights by fluorescent small lights, which consume 20 % less than the incandescent.

At the monetary level, the Zelaya administration sets out to reduce banking interest rates in order to stimulate productivity. “The loans for the farming, indus­trial sectors, tourism, renewable energy and services, will have low interest,” said Flores Lanza.

In the tourism sector, Flores Lanza mentioned the importance of the Tela Bay Project, investments in the duty-free zone of Bay Islands, hotel construction, two ports for boats and cruises and three new hotel projects in the Bay Islands.

In respect to road infrastructure, he emphasized the construction and development of the road network for the Dry Channel, two new ports of the National Company of Ports (ENP), an increased extension of facilities for cement production and the initiation of operations in May of a new maquila in southern Honduras and other three compa­nies in northern Honduras.

Food production will receive 300 million Lempira to increase the cattle population with eight thousand heifers, as well as the institutional endorsement for the sustainability of the historic grain harvests of 2006-2007.

Flores Lanza also pointed to the construction of two new sugar refineries in the department of Olancho, the construction of the hydroelectric projects the Llanitos, Jicatuyo, Tablon and Patuca III, expansion and improvements of the ENEE, with the aim of reducing losses and increasing the construction of hydroelectric projects with PetroCaribe funds.

Miguel Nolasco launches presidential campaign

Alvaro Morales Molina
Honduras This Week

While the Honduran political climate heats up and many presidential candidates jockey for position with accusations against one another, Liberal Miguel Nolasco, an aspiring candidate, launched his political campaign, the same week accusations of premature campaigns and official sanc­tions against illegal use of political publicity from the National Electoral College surfaced.

The new Liberal Movement, called “Our Justice,” officially launched the pre-candidacy of their leader, Nolasco, who becomes the fourth candidate for the Liberals, with six additional Liberal citizens who have publically announced their presidential aspirations. Nolasco and his wife were introduced to the media and supporters at Liberal Party headquarters in Tegucigalpa early last week.

Nolasco said that his sole intention is to take Honduras on a path toward true economic and social transformation. He assured HTW that his campaign will start soon as he sees indications that rivals within the party will soon initiate their campaigns as well.

“The celebration for the corrupt and those who sack governmental property is finished. I will not allow more abuses against the nation,” proclaims Nolasco. He added that “Today, my campaign presents to Honduras a set of proposals that form a working plan to transform the country, implementing a modern political system based on values and citizen participation.”

The candidate offers to develop long-term governmental programs, implementing changes without fear of the “dark forces” that weaken Honduras. In terms of financing his campaign, Nolasco claims to receive only financial aid from friends and supporters who trust his proposals to develop Honduras. He receives no corporate or governmental donations. Should those opportunities present themselves, Nolasco assures each donation will be carefully considered before acceptance.

Nolasco was born in Santa Barbara, grew up in La Ceiba and moved to Tegucigalpa to study at UNAH. He eventually met and married Margarita, a native Capitalina, and has remained here since.

Migrating Hondurans: Is life better outside our borders?

Manfredo Martinez
Honduras This Week

Honduran migrants are now an important monetary source for the national economy, if not the main source of its income. Many wonder how this can be happening. According to Honduras Immigration and government officials, it is because every year, at least 90,000 Hondurans, at their most productive age, leave in search of better opportunities and search for the American Dream, leaving home and families behind.

The migrant journey is long, difficult and often risky; odds of actually making it to their intended destination are very low. A mere five percent manage to get in to the United States and find work opportunities there. During the trek, migrants face assault, rape, harassment and even death. They are usually subject to abuse from authorities along the way and struggle to find food while making their way.

Martha, a poor Honduran emigrant who has experienced the difficult trip, told Honduras This Week that she made the decision and traveled illegally to United States, where she was detained. Immigration officials incarcerated her and she admits that her treatment was humane and respectful, but she was denied entry into the U.S. She considers herself lucky to have returned to Honduras safely.

According to many illegal migrants, the risks and potential for suffering and pain are worth it in the search for a better life, rather than staying where there are no apparent opportunities. At the Center of the Attention of Returned Migrants (CAMR), located in Tegucigalpa’s Toncontin Airport, a group of volunteers are working together with the Sisters Scalabrinianas, Missionaries of the Catholic Church, to help returning illegal aliens. At the center, migrants receive training, have access to social workers and get help confronting the traumatic experience of failing in their search for the “American Dream.”

According to Brazilian Valdette Wileman, CAMR Coordinator, 151 deportees are attended to daily, where they receive help from the United Nations for Migration Organization and the Honduran Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs with the intervention of a technical commission. They provide training for positions in INFOP (the National Institute for Professional Training) and try to assimilate the returning deportees into more productive lives in Honduran society.

Many organizations help the migrants with shelters and migrant houses can be found on the road. There are houses of missionary volunteers in Guatemala and in Mexico, but that does not stop the attacks against illegals on their trip.

According to U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Charles Ford, the majority of migrants are detained while they are entering U.S. territory. 69.7 percent of the total population in Honduras is less than 30 years old. “The potential that figure represents is a fundamental requirement for social and economic development. The main problem is the inequality of opportunities, the resources are available to too few people,” commented econo­mist Hector Soto when asked why Hondurans migrate.

The National Institute of Statistics (INE), calculates that unemployment in Honduras reached 52 percent (approximately 3, 5 million people) including sub-employment, invisible and open unemployment. ´´We have seen villages in Honduras change drastically, due to the exodus of people, which mean big economic changes for those communities,” voiced Olga Vasquez, a teacher. Not all changes are bad, however: many towns and villages in Honduras have improved, thanks to remittances from Honduran migrants, according to a national survey made by the INE in 2007.

According the Honduran Central Bank, approximately 1.6 million Hondurans that live outside the country is a major reason the national economy stands as strong as it does.

But according to economists, it should not be a permanent solution for national problems. Since its establishment date in 2000, the CAMR, has received more than 106,552 deportees and those numbers are increasing on a daily basis.

Retail boom in the Capital:
Will shoppers buy it?

Todd Ellertson
Honduras This Week

I can’t be the only one in Tegucigalpa to notice the current retail boom going on, can I? Every where I look, I either see renovations or new construction. I remember watching a retail boom, back in Minnesota, when the Mall of America was being constructed. Everyone wondered whether the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) could support the new mega-mall in addition to all the other suburban malls, not to mention both downtowns. It took a while for the dust to settle; it seemed both downtowns suffered the most, with many stores closing their doors.

I wonder if the same will be true of Teguciglpa? Last year, both La Cascadas and MetroMall opened, almost a stone’s throw from one another, too, oddly enough. The jury’s still out on whether either locale is profitable. On the several occasions when I’ve been at one of the two, it was awfully quiet in corridors that should have been bustling with shoppers. I have also noticed stores that have already come and gone in both places – not a good sign. (Movie fans: the cinemas at MetroMall are a well-kept secret – the theaters are terrific and the crowds are much more manageable than the always-chaotic masses at MultiPlaza).

Speaking of MultiPlaza, if you haven’t at least driven past on Av. Juan Pablo Segundo, take a gander at the corner parking lot in front of Lady Lee. It’s completely fenced in, but a peek inside is occasionally possible. A massive addition is being built that will make the ‘grande dame’ of Tegucigalpa malls bigger and (hopefully) better. The interior is also in the midst of a major face-lift.

Los Castanos, in Col. Palmira, is undergoing major remodelling, including new escalators and at least one or two new sets of stairways have been added. New, sleek railings line the second story balcony and ceiling and lighting changes are all part of the cosmetic overhaul as well. I did notice a nifty-looking new art gallery/frame shop on the ground floor, a nice change from some of the grungy, dated-looking establishments that need to figure out that to stay in business, exteriors and interiors have to be fresh, well-lit and up-to-date to lure increasingly-sophisticated shoppers.

A new strip mall has opened up on Boulevard Morazan, with ‘Tapas y Copas,’ a restaurant/bar as its anchor. I can’t tell what ‘La Grotta’ is exactly, but I think it might be a bar/nightclub. The overall design of the mall is a refreshing change, with contemporary lines and building materials utilized inside and out. The rest of the tenants consist of a dry cleaner, a bakery, the ubiquitous cellphone store, a women’s clothing boutique, a typical breakfast and lunch place and some others.

Ground has been broken on what many tell me is yet another strip-mall complex of sorts, on the huge corner where Tony’s Mar restaurant used to be, as Av. Juan Pablo Segundo turns toward the road leading to Larache. That’s an awfully big piece of land; we’ll see what transpires as the months progress.

I am delighted to report that there seems to be a bit of newness and sprucing up happening in El Centro, too. Although there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts on every other corner (what’s up with that?), there are also some pioneering spirits who are not afraid of taking on old, historical places and making them new again. I hope this is a sign that El Centro is on the verge of a rebirth of sorts. The charm and history of the old architecture seen in block after block could potentially be the tourist draw this city could really use. I am going to get the mayors of Comayagua and Tegucigalpa together to talk – whoever’s in charge of the renaissance of El Centro in Comayagua is really getting it right.

There are other projects in and around the city that I haven’t mentioned, but suffice it to say, there is new construction and renovations going on all over town. Little pockets of some very non-descript colonias are seeing little malls and new stores popping in some unexpected locales.

Although time will tell, am I being too optimistic in my vision that these ambitious plans will pay off? Will consumers in Tegucigalpa (and surrounding villages and towns) be able to support and sustain the boom? If the retailers and speculators build it, will the people come? My hope is that the answer is a resounding ‘yes!’