NATIONAL |
NATIONAL |
Saturday, November 30, 1998 Online Edition 134 |
National reconstruction cabinet created By BLANCA MORENO TEGUCIGALPA -- Once more President Flores has demonstrated his executive capacity creating the Special Cabinet of National Reconstruction. This board of advisers has the responsibility of executing more rapidly and in less time the activities and duties that deal with the nation's reconstruction. The Special Cabinet of National Reconstruction will be coordinated by President Flores with the collaboration of Gustavo Alfaro, Minister of the Presidency; Tomás Lozano, minister of Public Works, Transportation and Housing (SOPTRAVI); Gabriela Núñez, ministry of Finance, Moises Starkman and the secretary of Cooperation. Considering that the effects of hurricane Mitch have been so desolating, the government was forced to reconceive its programs and most important projects in order to achieve the reconstruction of the country in the least time. The Bill for Administrative facilities for the National Reconstruction initiative presented by the executive branch was also approved. The initiative gives the executive branch the necessary flexibility to face the current situation of the country and to pursue the national reconstruction. In this provision, the Special Cabinet of National Reconstruction was created to coordinate the projects, programs, and actions that the national reconstruction requires as well as to advise the president regarding decisions about priorities and to determine criteria and procedures for the process of economic and social reactivation of the country. The Special Cabinet of National Reconstruction will be organized by the secretaries of state as follows:
The Special Cabinet of National Reconstruction will be chaired by Flores, but in his absence, it will be coordinated by the Secretary of State of the Presidential Office. The main jobs of the Special Cabinet of National Reconstruction will be to:
All the ministries and not centralized institutions will execute the programs, projects and other actions based on the priorities approved by the president stipulated in the Master Plan for National Reconstruction; and these actions will be obligatorily subjected to the instructions of the Special Cabinet for National Reconstruction. Disease
prevention tops Health Ministry's agenda Special to Honduras This Week Three weeks after Mitch, Health Minister Marco Antonio Rosa's biggest job now is to prevent the spread of disease. Cases of cholera have cropped up in neighboring Nicaragua and El Salvador and Honduras, says Rosa, "has all the proper conditions for it to come." A rise in mosquito borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria is also expected. "The whole country is one big puddle." The health ministry is attacking the problem on many fronts. With help from the Pan American Health Organization, the ministry is launching public education campaigns, clean water delivery systems and a chemical warfare strategy to kill mosquito larvae. Chemicals will also be used to kill adult mosquitoes, Rosa says. The cost of the health program is enormous, an estimated $18 million will be spent over the next three months. The ministry's efforts are hindered by the immense destruction leveled by Mitch. Communication with many rural towns and cities is still slow because of the damage done to roads and bridges. Still, says Rosa, health professionals have managed to make contact with all the health centers, even in the rural areas. The first challenge was to bring medical help to those injured in the flooding. "We had to go by helicopter and plane to most places. Thanks to our friends from Mexico, USA, Japan, Taiwan and all the other countries, support was incredible." About 80 per cent of rural aqueducts were destroyed, virtually wiping out the fresh water supply in the countryside. Proper sewage disposal, a must for disease prevention, is a problem country-wide, Rosa says. In the rural area, 95 sewage systems which had corrected a major disposal problem, were destroyed. Sewage systems in the cities were also washed away in the floods. "That gives you a scope of the pollution we are going to have," says Rosa. Rosa is urging all Hondurans to pay special attention to their individual health. Those who can should;
Red Cross warehouses full but short on volunteers By ADRIENNE TANNER Special to Honduras This Week TEGUCIGALPA -- With its warehouse piled to the rafters with sacks of rice, beans and corn, what the Red Cross most needs now is hands. Most university students have nearly completed their 40 hours of mandatory community service and are heading back to class. That will leave Frances Vinelli and Gregorio Barcenas, the women's auxiliary volunteer and staff employee who are directing efforts at the warehouse, short of volunteers. Public school classes have been canceled and high school students have now been ordered to complete 25 hours of volunteer work, so that will help, says Vinelli. But Vinelli says more bodies are needed to pack the sacks of emergency aid rations. Vinelli and Barcenas have been working seven days a week at the warehouse in Frederico Froebel School on Boulevard Morazan since Nov. 3. "We've been preparing family rations designed to feed a family of five for two to three weeks," Vinelli says. The formula is the same world-wide. Each sack is stuffed with 10 pounds each of rice and beans, five pounds each of lard and sugar, two pounds of salt, a blanket, bar of soap and tube of toothpaste. A unique Danish contribution is also adding to the emergency supplies. Refugees will no doubt wonder at the dense box of BP-5 compact food, a nutritional energy bar made in Denmark. The bars have the consistency of compressed sawdust but according to the volunteers who sampled one, don't taste too bad. So far, 4,600 bags have been shipped out of the warehouse to Choluteca, Intibuca, Talanga, Olanchito, Sabanagrande, Comayagua, Catacamas, Valle de Angeles and the many shelters in Tegucigalpa. Vinelli, who founded the Honduran branch of the women's auxiliary back in the 70s, has been too busy to even survey the damage in Tegucigalpa. Besides, she says, seeing it first hand would be too upsetting. "It's heartbreaking to me to see what has happened to the country. Especially because the majority of people affected were living on the edge anyway." |
Holidays eliminated Hondurans will only have five official holidays during the next three years following legislation approved this week by the National Congress, the daily El Heraldo reported Friday (Nov. 27). Congress, which meets only two hours three times a week, voted to temporarily eliminate 11 national and school holidays: Women's Day, January 25; Valentine's Day, February 14; Day of the Americas, April 14; Arbor Day, May 30; Day of the Student, June 11; Lempira's Day, July 20; Soldier's Day, October 3; Columbus Day, October 12; Armed Forces' Day, October 21; All Soul's Day, November 1; and Christmas, December 25. The five holidays that will still be observed are New Year's Day, January 1; Day of the Virgin of Suyapa, February 3; Good Friday; Labor Day, May 1; and Independence Day, September 15.
Two missing in copter crash The body of Javier Alvarado Torres, the pilot of a Bell helicopter chartered by Medecins San Frontieres (MSF) that crashed in the area around Punta de Piedra, Gracias a Dios department, was found last Friday (Nov. 20) by a search team from a French frigate, the daily La Tribuna. Torres, a 27-year-old Panamanian who was participating in rescue efforts in the North Coast, is survived by his wife and two children. Reported missing on Nov. 16, the copter was also carrying Jane Conner, an MSF doctor from Australia, and a critically ill Honduran patient who was being evacuated to Iriona, Colon. The two passengers are still missing. New military chiefs Col. Eugenio Romero Euceda on Monday (Nov. 23) was sworn in as the new chief of staff, succeeding Gen. Roberto Lazarus Lozano who will now be an adviser to Armed Forces Chief Gen. Mario Hung Pacheco. In other changes, Alfredo San Martin has replaced Oscar Alfonso Servellon as Air Force commandant and the new head of intelligence (C2) is Enmanuel Flores Mejia. Jorge Juarez Bueso, the former head of C2, is the new paymaster general. Moon rock probe The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating how a U.S. citizen obtained an alleged moon rock donated to Honduras by President Nixon, the Miami Herald reported Nov. 20. While posing as potential buyers, FBI agents arrested the unidentified American who was prepared to sell the rock for $5 million. The rock's owner claims he obtained it legitimately from a Honduran government official, whose name has not been revealed by authorities. More dengue reported Five more cases of hemorrhagic dengue were reported last week, raising to 44 the number of cases this year, the daily La Tribuna reported Tuesday (Nov. 24). The Ministry of Health also announced that one case of cholera has been confirmed in Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Cortes Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Marco Antonio Rosa said eight cases of leptospirosis have been confirmed, including three deaths. He added that there are another five suspected cases of the bacterial disease, which is spread by fresh water, damp soil or vegetation that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals.
The People of
Honduras Need Your Help. |
Saturday, November 21, 1998 Online Edition 133 |
First Lady Hillary Clinton brings message of goodwill to Honduras
By MARIA FIALLOS TEGUCIGALPA -- U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday (Nov. 16) arrived in Tegucigalpa aboard a Hercules C-130, The Rock, in a show of support toward the Honduran people in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. During her stopover, the first lady met in private with President Flores for approximately one hour to confer on matters related to relief and reconstruction activities. In a statement to the press following the meeting, Mrs. Clinton expressed her gratitude for being invited to Honduras and her great appreciation and admiration for President Flores and the way he has handled this entire tragic event, stating that "It is very important that all of us work together to continue to rebuild lives and rebuild this country." The first lady also paid special tribute to Mrs. Flores, saying "Mary Flores was very effective on American television helping to bring attention to the disaster in her country." Acting as a goodwill ambassador, Mrs. Clinton also made several new announcements concerning an increase of aid designated to the areas affected by Hurricane Mitch. "In addition to what else we are doing in providing emergency relief, we are also beginning to focus on long-term reconstruction and we are making a commitment that totals now more than $250 million dollars," she said. "Starting this week,the Department of Defense will bring in more helicopters, more people to build bridges and roads, more medical supplies, a field hospital and 11 water purification systems to begin the rebuilding of the infrastructure." She added, "We also know that the people of Honduras need more food. Today I’m pleased to announce an additional 51 million dollars in rice, beans, vegetable oil, dry milk, wheat and other basic commodities. That will bring the total U.S. food aid in Central America to over $81 million. Until food can come in by land it will continue to come in by air through three shipments a day. Mrs. Clinton also announced that the U.S. "is prepared to provide debt relief of up to $54 million dollars for Honduras and Nicaragua and that we will continue to work with our international multilateral partners to do more than we've even been able to do so far with respect to multilateral debt." To help small businesses that lost equipment and infrastructure due to the flooding, Mrs. Clinton said the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) will provide $17 million in grants and loans so that they can get back into business as soon as possible. "We also know that you need more relief workers and within the next few days the Peace Corps volunteers who left during the disaster will return either to their old communities or to places where they are needed most," she said. "Several dozen members of the Peace Corps crisis corps, a group of return volunteers, will be here in Honduras to lend a hand." Mrs. Clinton also stated that aside from these government contributions, many private citizens have come forward to lend a helping hand and gave the example of a church from Little Rock, Arkansas that has been sending food and water to its sister city of Trujillo. She also said that as in the words of President Flores there are things more important than material possessions, such as the "spirit of people and their hope and their commitment to rebuilding and all the stories that I’ve heard...have pointed out the great strength and spirit of the Honduran people." In his speech, U.S. Ambassador James Creagan expressed his admiration for the organizations that have increasingly volunteered their services in confronting the present crisis. He also said that it was his wish that Embassy and AID employees be present to offer the first lady the opportunity to meet with the people who have literally been working around the clock in support of relief efforts. He thanked Mrs. Clinton for her presence as a show of support of the U.S. government toward the reconstruction of Honduras, stating that her visit will engender a renewal of hope. Honduran President Flores also thanked Mrs. Clinton, stating that Honduras feels honored and grateful for her visit. He added that the hurricane has taught Hondurans several things, among these being that although material possessions are necessary they are not essential, that there are other things more transcendent than these and that this event will not be treated as a tragedy but as an opportunity. Flores said that Mrs. Clinton’s visit tells Honduras that she cares about the country and its people and that they are grateful for this even more than for the material aid being given. French president extends a helping hand
By BLANCA MORENO TEGUCIGALPA -- French President Jacques Chirac on Monday (Nov. 16) paid a short visit to Tegucigalpa to get a first-hand look at the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch and to offer his nation's support for the reconstruction of Honduras. Following a brief tour of several flood-ravaged neighborhoods, Chirac gave a press conference in which he expressed his admiration for the Honduran people who, after being so severely battered by flooding, still stand tall and are willing to work hard to rebuild their country. Chirac, the first ever French president to visit Honduras, also announced bilateral debt relief in the order of US$120 million dollars, adding that his country will lobby for multilateral debt relief on behalf of Honduras and for the participation of the European Union in the reconstruction and development of Central America. A meeting of the ministers of cooperation and development is scheduled to be held Nov. 30 and Chirac is of the opinion that for aid relief to be efficient and generous it should be well coordinated. He said France has therefore proposed that an urgent international conference be held and sponsored by the World Bank. Other participants would include international financial institutions as well as other donating countries. The purpose of the meeting would be to define an efficient and generous policy permitting the reconstruction and reactivation of development in four Central American countries: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, emphasizing Honduras since it was the most devastated by the storm. Prior to the press conference, Chirac and Flores walked through the ruins of the Barrios Primavera and Nueva Esperanza. The losses in this part of city are overwhelming: flood waters washed out a Lps. 8 million bridge between that section of Comayagüela and the new beltway that was have to been inaugurated in November. Broken pieces of concrete from the bridge fell on several homes and auto repair shops, destroying them completely. The French Civil Security Brigade is at this time working on the cleanup of this area. While in this neighborhood, Chirac reiterated France's solidarity to President Flores, who replied that just his presence was a great support. The two presidents also visited the Hospital de Servicios Urgencias Medicas (SAMU). While there, they talked to French doctors who are working in the relief efforts. Later, they held a high-level meeting in the Diplomatic Salon of Toncontin International Airport between Honduran and French ministers, discussing reconstruction plans. During this meeting, Chirac expressed his condolences to all the inhabitants of Honduras, especially those who had lost relatives. He offered Frances' friendship and solidarity as well as their desire to help as much as possible. "I was extremely impressed with what I saw in Tegucigalpa, especially the looks and smiles on the young faces. You can tell that no one wants to bend under this crisis and the people will continue on their march forward with help from others." President Flores thanked the French president for taking the time from his busy schedule to visit Honduras personally. He said, "France has shown invaluable leadership for our cause, which is vitally important in the reconstruction of Honduras." |
Mexico
lending a hand in relief, cleanup efforts By KETZI CHACON ZYLSTRA TEGUCIGALPA -- Lt. Elias Arce Arce of the Mexican army keeps a watchful eye on an improvised kitchen facilities at the Villa Olímpica refugee center as he comments on his role in the relief efforts, the largest-ever provided by Mexico outside its own borders. "Well," said the Mexico City native, "it's not a new thing for us to do this sort of thing. Not so long ago we did the same kind of work in Chiapas, after the flooding there. This is a great disaster for Honduras, of course, and coming here has been a new experience for us as far as the type of organization and coordination that is necessary." As far as the people he has worked with and helped, Arce said, "Hondurans seem to be very greatful for the help they receive, even though, once in a while, some people complain about the type of food we've been offering to them." Mexico's donation to Honduras consists of over 700 tons of food, consisting of basic and non-basic foods such as corn flour, rice, beans, soy, salt, sugar, artificial flavoring, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, canned goods, powdered milk, bread and cookies. Aside from this aid, undoubtedly the most visible sign of Mexico's presence has been in cleaning and reconstruction efforts in Comayagüela this past week. There, many tractors and dump trucks have worked long hours refurbishing the entire area. On finishing this task, the next thing on the Mexican agenda is the dredging of the Choluteca River and further cleaning efforts in other parts of the country, including Choluteca and Morolica. Additional Mexican aid is coming from the Mexican Red Cross, which is participating in rescue efforts with the Honduran Fire Department, and from engineers with the Mexican Water Commission, who are working with the National Water and Sewage Company (SANNA) to reestablish potable water in the capital. Telmex, the Mexican phone company, is also lending a hand to HONDUTEL to replace phone lines downed by flooding. "This is the largest amount of help that Mexico has ever given to another country," said David Paredes, a press adviser at the Mexican Embassy in Tegucigalpa, with pride. "We, as a country, have never before been involved with something like this, and I hope that this goes a long way toward [enhancing] relations between ourselves and Hondurans, as well as the other Central American countries that were affected, with whom we are also working." He said the government of Mexico is also working inside Mexico for the benefit of their Central American brothers with a program called "Mexico for Central America," a national drive to raise both funds and awareness for Central America. Other reasons for Mexico's interest in helping their Central American neighbors have been brandied about, such as the current trade and investment negotiations between the two countries as well as impeding massive immigrations of Hondurans and Central Americans to the United States and Mexico, which underlies the need to rehabilitate the infrastructure and economies in the region as soon as possible.
The People of
Honduras Need Your Help. |
Saturday, November 7, 1998 Online Edition 131 |
Teguz mayor dies Fondly known as "El Gordito," Castellanos and three others died in a helicopter crash last Sunday (Nov. 1) shortly after takeoff from Toncontin International Airport. Also killed in the crash were Maj. Jose Miranda, the pilot; Arturo Calona, a city employee; and Geovany Sanchez, a cameraman. Coincidently, it was Castellanos' birthday. Councilman Nahum Valladares, who is serving in the Flores administration as minister without portfolio, is expected to succeed Castellanos as mayor of the twin cities.
3 dead in prison riot Three convicts were killed and another 20 injured during a riot last weekend at the Marco Aurelio Soto Penitentiary in Tamara. According to the daily El Heraldo, the riot began early Sunday (Nov. 1) shortly after the transfer of nearly 500 prisoners from the National Stadium to the new prison facilities. The rioters broke into the prison's weapons depot and armed themselves with rifles and M-16s. Faced with an angry mob of armed convicts, prison authorities immediately called in the police and military. The riot was finally squashed early Monday morning following a heated gunbattle between the convicts and the police. The riot comes just two days after an attempted breakout of inmates at the old Central Penitentiary in Tegucigalpa. Meanwhile, more than 100 convicts broke out of the prison farm in El Porvenir, Atlantida early Sunday morning. At least one convict was killed during the breakout. SPS bank robbed Taking advantage of the catastrophe caused by Hurricane Mitch, a group of armed delinquents on Tuesday (Nov. 3) held up the BANCAHSA branch bank on San Pedro Sula's Circunvalacion Avenue, the daily La Tribuna reported. The amount of money stolen was not disclosed by bank officials. |
Monday, November 1, 1998 Online Edition 130 |
Suspect in Luna murder case nabbed One of six people believed to have participated in the assassination of Catacamas councilman Carlos Antonio Luna Lopez was arrested by law enforcement authorities in that Olancho city last Wednesday (Oct. 22), the daily La Tribuna reported. Police are currently verifying the name of the suspect, who has several aliases including Antonio "Tono Machetio" Pagoada, Oscar Aurelio "Palomino" Rodriguez and Canelas. Two witnesses have positively identified the suspect as being one of the two gunmen who actually participated in the shooting. Authorities believe an additional four hitmen were stationed at other vantage points near the Catacamas City Hall to ensure that Luna did not escape. Luna, who opposed logging interests in eastern Olancho, was gunned down shortly after leaving a city hall meeting on May 18. More hemorrhagic dengue cases reported Eleven more hemorrhagic dengue cases including one death have been reported by the Ministry of Health, raising to 29 the total number of cases this year. The latest victim was a child, who died from the deadly viral disease last Friday (Oct. 23) at the Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa. The disease has caused eight deaths this year. Health official Jose Cipriano Ochoa told La Tribuna that most of the cases were reported in southern Honduras. Valle absolved of other charges The First Court of Appeals of Francisco Moraran has upheld a previous decision acquitting U.S. citizen Gustavo Patrick Valle of trespassing and making death threats against several residents of Talanga, the daily La Tribuna reported Saturday (Oct. 24). As a result of the court's decision, Valle is now eligible for parole as he has served half of his sentence for allegedly killing Luis Roberto Canales Ramirez on June 30, 1993 in a land dispute. Valle, who claims to have killed Canales in self-defense, and his foreman Francisco Antonio Salgado were sentenced to 10 years in prison just last August, five years after their arrests. Congress approves life imprisonment Despite reports in the press of strong opposition the past few months, members of Congress on Tuesday (oct. 27) ratified Decree No. 46-97 dated May 5, 1997 that reforms article 97 of the Constitution, establishing life imprisonment for serious crimes. Since this is a Constitutional reform, however, the decree must be ratified during the next session of Congress and then published in the official government newspaper La Gaceta before it can become law.
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U.S. first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton announces new aid packages for
Honduras at a press conference held at Toncontin International Airport on Monday. (Photo
by Stanley Marrder.)
