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Around the Americas
Panama News Briefs

Around the Americas

SouthCom moves into Paraguay

Paraguay has allowed troops from the US Southern Command to set up a base in their country, which is located amidst Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, all or which are ruled by left-leaning governments, and Bolivia, which has seen the ouster of two presidents in the last few years by protesters against the privatization of industries such as the water utility and natural gas production. Critics note that US troops are granted legal immunity from prosecution under the agreement. The US says it's there to help train Paraguayan troops, and has no intentions of staying there permanently.

Ibrahim Ferrer passes away

Buena Vista Social Club musician Ibrahim Ferrer died on August 6 in a Havana hospital. Ferrer was a son music legend. Cuba’s Prensa Latina news agency reports that "he had recently completed a 30-day tour of Europe to promote his CD Mis Sueños and was admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis since his condition had worsened."

No rest for the crooked

Arnoldo Alemán, the former Nicaraguan president, has returned to house arrest after his freedom granted for medical problems was revoked after some 48 hours. Though the obese ex-president suffers from diabetes, gastritis, scoliosis and several other chronic maladies, many Nicaraguans believe his release was a political maneuver. Opinions differ on who would have pulled the strings, however. Alemán is serving a 20-year sentence for corruption.

Quiroga leads in pre-election polls

A recent poll published in Bolivia's La Razon newspaper showed former President Jorge Quiroga in the lead with 22 percent for an election called in the wake of mass protests that ousting President Carlos Mesa. Evo Morales, who leads Bolivia's Movement Toward Socialism and has the support of his country’s militant coca growers placed third with 15 percent. Quiroga took over as president from August 2001 to August 2002, following Hugo Banzer's resignation due to poor health.

Pinochet's wife questioned over bank accounts

The wife of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet has been brought in for questioning by Judge Sergio Muñoz to answer questions about secret bank accounts that it is alleged hold all or part of the more than $13 million Pinochet is accused of having unlawfully amassed while holding public office. The source of the money is not clear, but under Chilean laws and more recent international treaties to which Chile is a party it’s a crime for a public official to collect unexplained wealth.

Bajan politicians to return raise

Under pressure from the public, Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur has promised to return his recent pay increase. Other government officials have promised to either give theirs back or make "sacrifices," as a press release from the Barbados Labor Party put it. The raises came from a deal for support that was made with the country’s largest trade union, the Barbados Workers Union, whose leader said it was done “to reduce the level of public debate which will always accompany any raise in the earnings of politicians,” the Barbados Advocate reported.

CAFTA update

As of August 10 the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Nicaragua had yet to ratify the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which the US House of Representatives approved by just a two-vote margin. All other participating countries have ratified. The pact would eliminate most tariffs on the more than $30 billion worth of goods traded among the United States and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Telesur is on the air

The station billed as Latin America's alternative to CNN is now on the air in Cuba. Telesur has drawn immediate flack from critics for featuring Colombian FARC guerrilla leader Manuel "Tirofijo" Marulanda in a promotional spot and for allowing him to speak on air for himself. Telesur is being compared both positively and negatively to Quatar's Al Jazeera. Telesur is owned by Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Uruguay and Venezuela, the latter holding a controlling 70 percent share.

Pre-Columbian figure-eight

Archaeologists in Costa Rica have discovered the remains of a large figure-eight shaped pre-Columbian village, which is unique. Its wall, made of river stones, is the largest ever discovered in Costa Rica at 1.5 meters tall and 18 meters long, according to the Tico daily La Nacion.

Jamaican media threatened with bangarang

Jamaican Prime Minister hopeful Dr. Omar Davies is promising a "bangarang" if the media begin to challenge the government jobs his relatives hold. His wife and two brothers are on the public payroll. The Jamaica Observer reports that Davies declined to define bangarang.