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Judi Lynn

(160,077 posts)
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 04:02 PM Jan 2013

Honduran government in chaos can’t pay its bills, neglects basic services

Source: Associated Press

Honduran government in chaos can’t pay its bills, neglects basic services
By Associated Press,
Updated: Thursday, January 24, 1:37 PM

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Street surveillance cameras in one of the world’s most dangerous cities were turned off last week because Honduras’ government hasn’t paid millions of dollars it owes. The operator that operates them is now threatening to suspend the police radio service as well.

Teachers have been demonstrating almost every day because they haven’t been paid in six months, while doctors complain about the shortage of essential medicines, gauze, needles and latex gloves.

This Central American country has been on the brink of bankruptcy for months, as lawmakers put off passing a government budget necessary to pay for basic government services. The country is also grappling with $5 billion in foreign debt, a figure equivalent to last year’s entire government budget.

The financial crisis adds to a general sense that Honduras is a country in meltdown, as homicides soar and drug trafficking overruns its cities and coasts.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/honduran-government-in-chaos-cant-pay-its-bills-neglects-basic-services/2013/01/24/6a9d102c-665d-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html

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Honduran government in chaos can’t pay its bills, neglects basic services (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jan 2013 OP
How could their lawmakers put off passing a budget? bluedigger Jan 2013 #1
One more place I don't want to take a vacation. Auntie Bush Jan 2013 #2
Gee Whiz! Plucketeer Jan 2013 #3
Hey, not too long ago everybody in Zimbabwe was a trillionaire. Daniel537 Jan 2013 #5
Sounds like a libertarian paradise fasttense Jan 2013 #4
If I remember right they ousted the elected president zeemike Jan 2013 #7
Actually, it may be owned by Americans already. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #10
Well, they wanted to sell bits of the country to make some, but the courts stopped them muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #11
They've fixed the court problem. Honduras' Congress fired 4 on the court! Judi Lynn Jan 2013 #12
Jesus - I wonder how much the politicians are getting bribed? muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #13
Restore the Leftist november3rd Jan 2013 #6
They voted Republican? aquart Jan 2013 #8
Hellloooo private, gated cities. DollarBillHines Jan 2013 #9

Auntie Bush

(17,528 posts)
2. One more place I don't want to take a vacation.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 04:23 PM
Jan 2013

I feel sorry for the people...especially the poor. It's the politicians fault!

 

Plucketeer

(12,882 posts)
3. Gee Whiz!
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 04:23 PM
Jan 2013

Couldn't they just mint some trillion dollar platinum coins? S'posed to cure such problems!

 

fasttense

(17,301 posts)
4. Sounds like a libertarian paradise
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 04:23 PM
Jan 2013

Maybe all those "makers" who think they are so abused by a democratic government regulating them should move to the Galt paradise of Honduras. They have no laws because they can't afford them. Ron and Rand should go live there along with the other libertarians who object so much to our American society.

zeemike

(18,998 posts)
7. If I remember right they ousted the elected president
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 04:36 PM
Jan 2013

because he was to liberal...and the military installed someone they liked.
So I am sure they are open for some free market capitalism...just think, some of our billionaires could buy the whole country.
I think it would be great, and we could trade our Galt goers for ordinary Hondurans and they could have their right wing paradise and we could have some people with real flesh and blood hearts.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
10. Actually, it may be owned by Americans already.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 10:46 PM
Jan 2013

Banana production in Honduras plays an important role in the Economy of Honduras. In 1992, the revenue generated from banana sales that year accounted to US$287 million and along with the coffee industry accounted for some 50% of exports.[1] Honduras produced 861,000 tons of bananas in 1999. The two American multinational corporations, Chiquita Brands International and the Dole Food Company and responsible for most Honduran banana production and exports.[1]

. . . .

In the mid-1990s, the Honduran economy went into severe recession which hit the banana and coffee industries hard by sending world prices soaring.[14] Although the economy recovered significantly in 1996, the banana industry in Honduras was struck hard by the lasting impression of Hurricane Mitch in late 1998, a Category Five Hurricane which was considered the worst in 200 years, with winds reaching 200 mph (320 km/h) and inundating land with excessive precipitation drowning many of the crops. Hurricane Mitch is believed to have destroyed over 50%, possibly as high as 80% of the banana and coffee crops in 1998, costing an estimated $3 billion in damage.[14]

Since 2000 the industry recovered, although the country is still one of the poorest in Central America.[14]

In 2003, the News Scientist reported that global banana production was under threat by disease and may be wiped out within ten years if preventative measures for not taken to protect against it. Scientists from the banana industry in Honduras responded to the potential crisis by implementing new large-scale breeding schemes in a new FHIA variety. This FHIA banana crop is resistant to major diseases and pests, but is also highly productive and efficient. The scheme in Honduras is financed by the multinational United Brands.[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_production_in_Honduras

muriel_volestrangler

(101,083 posts)
11. Well, they wanted to sell bits of the country to make some, but the courts stopped them
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 10:55 PM
Jan 2013
Honduras court bans private cities project

The Honduran Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional a project to build privately-run cities, with their own police and tax system.

The "model cities" project was backed by President Porfirio Lobo, who said it would attract foreign investment and create jobs
...
The government proposal to create some 20 "special development zones - as the new cities were officially called - was approved by Congress last year.

The Supreme Court has now ruled that the law approved in Congress is unconstitutional, as it violates the territorial integrity of Honduras, as well as the sovereignty of the government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19999536


The plan: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101641848

Judi Lynn

(160,077 posts)
12. They've fixed the court problem. Honduras' Congress fired 4 on the court!
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 12:55 PM
Jan 2013

Now it's back, all over again:


Honduras once again passes law to create 'model cities' investment zones
By The Associated Press January 24, 2013

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The Honduran congress approved once again a "model cities" project that the country's Supreme Court had previously declared unconstitutional because it would create special development zones outside the jurisdiction of ordinary Honduran law.

Congressman Rodolfo Irias of the ruling National Party says the law "includes the necessary modifications" to answer concerns about unconstitutionality.

The vote was 110 to 13, with 5 abstentions.

The court's rejection of the plan led Congress to fire four of the court's five justices in December.

The plan would create "special development regions" with their own independent tax and justice systems, to spur economic growth in this Central American country struggling with corruption and crime.

The project was opposed by civic groups as well as the indigenous people

http://www.canada.com/business/Honduras+once+again+passes+create+model+cities+investment+zones/7863227/story.html

(Short article, no more at link.)


muriel_volestrangler

(101,083 posts)
13. Jesus - I wonder how much the politicians are getting bribed?
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 01:04 PM
Jan 2013

Nothing but pain will come for Honduras from that plan. It's designed to funnel quick profits and immunity to rich foreigners, and land Honduras with the upkeep of the people who will be paid peanuts to keep the enclaves running.

 

november3rd

(1,113 posts)
6. Restore the Leftist
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 04:30 PM
Jan 2013

Looks like they better restore the Leftist the US-backed coup ousted about four or five years ago.

We probably wanted our puppet in there so he could privatize everything, and now the country's broke.

Whaddaya wanna bet? http://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/146758628/who-rules-in-honduras-a-coups-lasting-impact

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