Caribbean & Central America
Caribbean & Central America - December 2018
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: Gloomy fiscal outlook amid political instability
- GUATEMALA: A crowded race for Guatemala’s 2019 elections
- HONDURAS: Growing drug concerns
Caribbean
- HAITI: Politics in Haiti: the more things change, the more they stay the same
- JAMAICA: More of the same
- GUYANA : Nervous times for the government
- REGION: Continuing opposition to the Caribbean Court of Justice
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
Earlier this year the Guatemala-based think tank Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (Icefi) released its tenth annual report entitled ‘Macrofiscal Profiles of Central America’, asserting that ongoing political instability has “complicated the fiscal situation” in the sub-region.
Caribbean & Central America - November 2018
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- Introduction
Central America
- PANAMA: A spanner in the mining works?
- EL SALVADOR: Water trouble boiling up
- REGION: Understanding Central America’s role in the China-Taiwan battle for allies
- HONDURAS: US deportations soar, even as Caravan heads north
Caribbean
- CUBA: Díaz-Canel gets his wings
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Political parties’ law promulgated
- HAITI: Food security concerns persist
- REGION: A patchy recovery for most, but Guyana “hits the jackpot”
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
Despite a dip this year, Panama’s economic growth rate is expected to roar back as one of the fastest in Latin America in 2019.
Caribbean & Central America - October 2018
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: The Great Game - Central America and China
- REGION: Drought hits the dry corridor again
- REGION: Renewable energy prospects hampered by financial constraints
- COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA: Influx of Nicaraguan refugees tests Costa Rica
- COSTA RICA: Strike over fiscal reform roils Costa Rica
- HONDURAS: Splinters in the PL deepen
Caribbean
- GUYANA & TRINIDAD: Trinidad reaches out to Guyana
- BARBADOS: Sharing out the pain
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
Great-power rivalry between China and the US is playing out in Central America.
Caribbean & Central America - September 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- EL SALVADOR: A three-way race with Bukele ahead?
- GUATEMALA: Little progress on poverty reduction
- NICARAGUA: Justice and democracy in Nicaragua - necessary steps for political change
- CENTRAL AMERICA: Region must make concerted effort to reduce vulnerability to climate change
Caribbean
- CUBA: Cuba’s tourism sector recalibrates post-Trump, Irma
- GUYANA: Ruling party moving forward
- BARBADOS: A long road back for the DLP
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
It has taken some ducking and weaving, along with tactical changes of political colours, but El Salvador’s most popular politician, Nayib Bukele, has ended up securing a place as one of the top three candidates in the race for the presidential elections due on 3 February 2019 – just under six months from now.
Caribbean & Central America - August 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: Swinging closer to Israel?
- PANAMA: Getting ready for the primaries
- REGION: Trends in Central American migration
Caribbean
- CUBA: Díaz-Canel reveals plans to ‘regulate’ private sector
- GUYANA: IMF urges restraint as Exxon increases estimates
- BARBADOS: The reality sinks in
- TRINIDAD: A little breathing space, but not much
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
In different ways Guatemala, Honduras and Panama are boosting their ties with Israel.
Caribbean & Central America - July 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: Rail revival or pipe dream?
- REGION: Road transport crisis triggered by Nicaraguan rebellion
- REGION: Costa Rica and El Salvador – exceptions in a pro-mining sub-region
- REGION: Is Central America turning Pentecostal?
Caribbean
- CUBA: Difficult times continue under Díaz-Canel
- REGION: Jamaica ratchets up pressure on Caricom
- GUYANA: Jagdeo blocked
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The Panamanian government has announced that it is considering a US$5.5bn project, in partnership with China, to build a 450km railway line up to the border with Costa Rica.
Caribbean & Central America - June 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- GUATEMALA: A month of skirmishes
- PANAMA: Varela makes constitutional move
- PANAMA: Poverty continues to pervade Panama’s indigenous population
- NICARAGUA: Nicaragua’s inter-oceanic canal flounders as China turns its attention to Panama
- HONDURAS: The battle for the MACCIH
Caribbean
- BARBADOS: BLP returns in a landslide
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
Famously, Guatemala’s President Jimmy Morales won the 2015 presidential elections on the slogan that he was neither corrupt not a thief (ni corrupto ni ladrón).
Caribbean & Central America - May 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: Climate change ramps up water challenge
- GUATEMALA: Death of Ríos Montt highlights scars of civil war
- GUATEMALA/BELIZE: Guatemala votes to ask ICJ to rule on border dispute with Belize
- REGION: Guatemala-Honduras customs union boosts bilateral trade; what of the region?
- NICARAGUA: Financial sanctions a risk
Caribbean
- BARBADOS: Everything pointing to opposition win
- JAMAICA: Better news on employment, but growth still a concern
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
Global climate change and local factors, such as deforestation, are posing an important threat to the availability and quality of water across the Central American region.
Caribbean & Central America - April 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: The need for drastic fiscal policy changes in Central America
- REGION: Mexico and Central America: edging closer in the face of Trump
- EL SALVADOR: Awaiting salvation by the 30-somethings?
- PANAMA: Anger over gentrification in Colón
- HONDURAS: Institutional wrangling, or smoke and mirrors?
Caribbean
- CUBA: Mea Culpas from Castro, Murillo
- GUYANA: A critical moment for Guyana
- GRENADA AND ANTIGUA-BARBUDA: More of the same
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
A regional policymaking institution, the Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (Icefi), last year warned that, with huge development challenges such as poverty, income inequality and high violence and crime rates, it will be extremely difficult for Central American countries to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 without addressing its chronic fiscal problems and increasing public spending.
Caribbean & Central America - March 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- EL SALVADOR: The limits of mano dura
- GUATEMALA: Finding the formula for growth
- PANAMA: The long road to 2019
- COSTA RICA: Corte-IDH ruling on gay marriage exposes divisions
- NICARAGUA: Nicaragua’s security success and challenges ahead
Caribbean
- CUBA: Economic policy paralysis cripples Cuba
- GUYANA: The good news still keeps coming
- BELIZE: Government suffers electoral setback
- ANTIGUA & BARBUDA: Browne goes for early election
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
For roughly two years El Salvador’s government has been following a hard-line, militarised policy against gangs and organised crime.
Caribbean & Central America - February 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- NORTHERN TRIANGLE: Judicial corruption threatens Central America’s fight against impunity
- HONDURAS: Continuity – but to whose benefit?
- GUATEMALA: Little progress on social inclusion
- EL SALVADOR: Breaking the logjam?
- PANAMA: Blue Apple leaves a bitter taste
Caribbean
- GRENADA: Prime Minister Mitchell names the day
- GUYANA: Off to court
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
In recent years, the so-called Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have taken key steps in fighting corruption and creating a culture of accountability.
Caribbean & Central America - January 2018 (ISSN 1741-4458)
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- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: The continued fallout from Panama’s switch to Beijing
- REGION: Calls grow to address gender violence
- GUATEMALA: Budget troubles
- PANAMA: In trouble with the European Union
Caribbean
- CUBA: Cuba prepares for climate change
- GUYANA: The stakes keep rising
- REGION: Four Caribbean countries on EU tax blacklist
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Highlights
- Economic Highlights
The visit by Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela to China in November 2017 was no ordinary state visit.