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GUATEMALA

Congress approves CAFTA
Yesterday, Guatemala ratified the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The approval of this accord was the Congress's goal of the week, and the legislative body put all of its force behind the move to ratify CAFTA, even in the face of widespread rejection and protests from numerous sectors of civil society. The National Police confronted large crowds of people outside the Congressional building throughout the week, and the altercations left a number of protestors injured.

REGION

Uruguay turns to the Left
On March 1 last week, after no less than 174 years of conservative and right wing rule, Uruguay swore in its first socialist government: the Broad Front coalition led by Tabare Vásquez. On assuming power, Vásquez unveiled an ambitious US$100 million Emergency Social Plan (PES in Spanish) to tackle poverty. Vásquez has inherited "a country in intensive care", as described by the writer Eduardo Galeano, and analysts predict that the new administration will waste no time in rejecting market oriented policies, at the same time as working to forge a Left alliance through the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR). Nevertheless, years of financial mismanagement leave the new administration with little room to manoeuvre.

PANAMA

Moscoso seeks refuge in Parlacen
The already tarnished image of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) received a further blow when ex president Mireya Moscoso joined the assembly's ranks. Moscoso has previously called the institution "a den of thieves" and twice denied that she would accept the seat that is offered to all former presidents. A week before taking up her new position, the attorney general, Ana Matilde Gómez, publicly declared that Moscoso is involved in two cases of corruption.

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GUATEMALA

Anti-union strategy continues in the maquilas
While violations of labor rights and human rights are commonplace in Guatemala's textile factories, little has been done to change the situation. Maquila owners routinely block attempts by employees to organize unions. Even in the few cases where unions do exist, anti-union pressure continues, and members are often faced with threats and even physical aggression. One general manager, according to recorded testimony, has also paid other employees to implement a program designed to create confusion and disinformation about the union, thereby turning the workforce against them. In spite of the 14 formal complaints filed with the Special Attorney's Office for Unions and the General Labor Inspectorate, justice has not been carried out.

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REGION

GM threat lies in store
Desolation, unemployment and hopelessness. This sums up the situation following the recent floods in the banana-growing area of the Caribbean, between Costa Rica and Panama. Mainly populated by Ngöbe Buglé Mayans, the area was subject to more than 18 hours of continuous rain which destroyed around 6,000 hectares of banana plantations and left around 1000 workers jobless.

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BELIZE

Industrial action forces reforms

On January 20 2005, a general strike paralyzed Belize, involving all sectors of society, in what was to be the first of 12 days of industrial action. Precipitated by Prime Minister Said Musa's announcement of the 2005 Budget which, in the face of a financial crisis, aimed to raise at least US$56 million through taxes, analysts point to longer term discontent with the PUP (People's United Party) government, following various revelations of political cronyism and mismanagement of public finances. While the tax issue has yet to be ultimately resolved, the government concessions have nevertheless been seen by some as a step in the right direction.

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11 March 2005