Caribbean & Central America
Caribbean & Central America - November 2021
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- Introduction
CENTRAL AMERICA
- HONDURAS: More setbacks in tackling corruption
- EL SALVADOR: Concerns build over attacks on judicial independence
- COSTA RICA: Falling deficit earns praise from IMF
- PANAMA: Cortizo faces criticism after coming up short on transparency pledges
CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: Migration crisis draws international concern
- JAMAICA: Holness under pressure but opposition making little progress
- EASTERN CARIBBEAN: Preparing for the worst
- REGION: The talking goes on
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
- Economic Highlights
The United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), along with local civil society groups, have blasted a series of reforms to Honduras’ criminal code, criminal procedural code, and anti-money laundering legislation, recently approved by the legislature.
Caribbean & Central America - October 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- EL SALVADOR: New allegations involving Bukele’s dealings with gangs
- PANAMA/COLOMBIA: Tackling the migration crisis
- NICARAGUA: Freedom of expression under further threat
- COSTA RICA: Spearheading efforts to phase out oil and gas production
- COSTA RICA: Costa Rica places first in foreign direct investment index
- GUATEMALA: Guatemala sees record remittances
Caribbean
- THE BAHAMAS: FNM loses early election gamble in The Bahamas
- GUYANA-SURINAME: Seeking closer alignment
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Budgeting for a slow recovery
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
In late August, Salvadorean investigative media El Faro published a report citing an investigation which found that the government led by President Nayib Bukele had held talks in maximum-security prisons in 2020 with El Salvador’s three main street gangs, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Barrio 18 Revolucionarios, and Barrio 18 Sureños. Just over a year earlier, the same media alleged that Bukele had held talks with MS-13 alone.
Caribbean & Central America - September 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- GUATEMALA: Removal of top anti-corruption prosecutor causes commotion
- EL SALVADOR: Strengthening the military
- COSTA RICA: Major drugs haul
- NICARAGUA: Another sector silenced
- NICARAGUA: Nicaragua’s gold provides economic lifeline, but trouble may be brewing
- REGION: Increased efforts to help MSMEs deal with pandemic impacts
Caribbean
- ST LUCIA: St Lucia changes horse again
- REGION: Slow recovery predicted for tourism-dependent economies
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The dismissal of Juan Francisco Sandoval, the head of the attorney general’s (AG) special unit against corruption (Feci) in Guatemala, has sparked major outrage.
Caribbean & Central America - August 2021
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- Introduction
Caribbean
- HAITI: Haiti’s crisis intensifies as Moïse assassinated
- CUBA: Government faces unprecedented protests
- SURINAME: A tough first year for Santokhi
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Trinidad suffers slump in FDI
- THE BAHAMAS: Central bank points to slow recovery
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Central America
- HONDURAS: Verdict in landmark case
- HONDURAS: Opposition to Zedes coalesces
- PANAMA: Environmental groups on the alert over mining push
- REGION: Blackouts show need for upgrades in regional electricity system
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July shocked Haitians and the international community alike, appearing to mark the culmination of the multifaceted political, institutional and security crises which have afflicted the country.
Caribbean & Central America - July 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- GUATEMALA: Steps back in anti-impunity efforts
- NICARAGUA: Opposition arrests draw international condemnation
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele terminates Cicies agreement
- EL SALVADOR: El Salvador’s bitcoin adventure raises concerns
- REGION: Development plan aims to improve connections with southern Mexico
Caribbean
- REGION: Renewable energy drive will require huge investment
- REGION: Mounting concerns over food security
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-HAITI: Canal construction causes a stir
- THE BAHAMAS: Digital sand dollar making progress
Economic Highlights
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
On 8 June a group of international human rights organisations expressed concern over an “increase in criminalisation in Guatemala as a strategy to frighten and intimidate those who play significant roles in the fight against impunity in cases of serious human rights violations and corruption”.
Caribbean & Central America - June 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- EL SALVADOR: Ejection of top judges and AG head fans democracy concerns
- HONDURAS: Electoral concerns persist despite new electoral reforms
- PANAMA: ACP sets carbon neutral target for Canal
- REGION: Regional leaders emphasise importance of energy transition
- GUATEMALA: Controversial free trade zone reform approved
Caribbean
- HAITI: Kidnappings continue to surge
- REGION: US needs a more nuanced approach to counter China
- THE BAHAMAS: Economic recovery at the mercy of politics
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has set off democracy-related alarm bells over the past year for various reasons - from the deployment of security forces to congress [SSR-20-04] to his repeated disregard for judicial rulings on his government’s response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic [SSR-20-06].
Caribbean & Central America - May 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- EL SALVADOR/REGION: A key relationship under strain
- PANAMA: Another migrant crisis
- NICARAGUA: Electoral reform proposal fails to quell concerns
- REGION: Poverty rises due to economic impact of pandemic
- REGION: Coffee farmers in need of assistance despite rising prices
Caribbean
- EASTERN CARIBBEAN: Living with seismic disaster
- BELIZE: The honeymoon is over
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The recent failure by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to meet the new US envoy for Central America, Ricardo Zuñiga, during the latter’s first trip to the sub-region has again highlighted strained relations between the Salvadorean government and the new US administration led by President Joe Biden.
Caribbean & Central America - April 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: Stark warnings over food insecurity in Central America
- HONDURAS/GUATEMALA: US-Central America cooperation faces major test
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele faces financial constraints
- PANAMA: Disquiet at home and abroad over economic outlook
Caribbean
- CUBA: Looking to call the shots
- REGION: The UN sees an opportunity for the Caribbean to ‘build back better’
- BELIZE: PUP consolidates gains, but difficulties ahead
- REGION: Caribbean faces long-haul recovery
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) and a group of humanitarian organisations have recently published reports warning of the rise in food insecurity in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and years of extreme climate events.
Caribbean & Central America - March 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- HONDURAS: Outcry over move to permanently outlaw abortion
- EL SALVADOR: FMLN rally attack sparks political violence fears
- NICARAGUA: Another source of human rights concerns
- COSTA RICA: Costa Rica tops regional ranking for e-commerce readiness
- GUATEMALA: Seeking to boost exports and FDI
Caribbean
- GUYANA: A revision too far
- JAMAICA: Sets course for recovery
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The first piece in this March edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Caribbean & Central America looks at Honduras, which has approved a bill raising the number of votes needed in congress to amend two articles of the constitution which prohibit abortion.
Caribbean & Central America - February 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: New migrant caravan highlights key test for Biden
- GUATEMALA: Key election still pending
- NICARAGUA: FSLN tightens the screws
- REGION: Campaigns target visitors following dire year for tourism
- COSTA RICA: Alvarado pins hopes on IMF deal
Caribbean
- HAITI: New decrees prove contentious
- GUYANA: Escalating tension between Guyana and Venezuela
- THE BAHAMAS: Mixed feelings over oil search failure
Economic Highlights
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
Last month a new caravan of migrants set off from Honduras, heading to Guatemala en route to Mexico and the US, serving to highlight what is set to be a major priority for the new US administration led by President Joe Biden with regard to Central America – addressing illegal migration.
Caribbean & Central America - January 2021
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- Introduction
Central America
- COSTA RICA: Claiming success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- EL SALVADOR: Police independence under scrutiny
- HONDURAS: New contenders, familiar problems
- PANAMA/REGION: DEA administrator pays unprecedented visit
- REGION: Struggles to rebuild after Hurricanes Eta and Iota
- REGION: Multinational telecoms firms drive FDI
Caribbean
- THE BAHAMAS: Desperate times for The Bahamas government
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Pressure on central bank to help recovery
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights
Central America’s vulnerability to climate change made headlines due to damage wreaked by hurricanes Iota and Eta late last year [SSR-20-12].