NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs articles from January 2003

NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs archives from January 2003

NICARAGUA: ALEMAN LOSES IMMUNITY.
January 9, 2003... Arnoldo Aleman, erstwhile (1997-2002) president of Nicaragua, has been found guilty of several crimes, the culmination of prosecutorial and political efforts spanning years (see other article, this edition). Aleman had shielded himself with the...

A SHORT HISTORY OF ARNOLDO ALEMAN.
January 9, 2003... On Dec. 22, two judges sentenced former President of Nicaragua Arnoldo Aleman (1997-2001) for the crimes of fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and conspiracy against the state (see other article, this edition). These sentences were made...

CUBAN EXILE LEADERS APPREHENSIVE AS ADMINISTRATION MAKES NO MOVE TO RENOMINATE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL OTTO REICH.
January 9, 2003... Otto Reich has been moved out his job as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs and transferred to the position of special envoy with no announced duties. The transfer has irritated anti-Castro leaders who fear it portends...

GUATEMALA: ADMINISTRATION UNDER FIRE.
January 16, 2003... At the conclusion of its third year, the government of Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo faces severe criticism of its record. Corruption and security are the main themes. Opposition parties, the private sector, the press, and the human...

GUATEMALA'S PRESIDENT DEFENDS HIS RECORD.
January 16, 2003... Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo took to the rostrum at the Congreso Nacional on Jan. 14 to deliver the annual report on his administration's accomplishments on this, the third, of his four-year term. The audience present included...

CRACKS BEGINNING TO SHOW IN CAFTA.
January 23, 2003... The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) preparatory talks (see NotiCen, 2002-11-14) opened in Washington on Jan. 8 with a good deal of heady expectation on the part of negotiators, and enthusiasm on the part of private sector...

CUBAN ECONOMY IN RECESSION WITH RISING OIL PRICES & FALLING EXPORT & TOURISM INCOME.
January 23, 2003... The Cuban economy grew by a feeble 1.1% in 2002, well below the projected 2.5% to 3.0%. But the government insisted on placing the disappointing macroeconomic statistics within the broader picture of the worse showing elsewhere in Latin...

NICARAGUA WEIGHS OPTIONS AS IMF THREATENS CUTOFF.
January 30, 2003... International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission directors threatened the Asemblea Nacional with a withdrawal of financial aid on Jan. 16, declaring that the national budget passed by the legislature failed to comply with an agreement signed by the...

CENTRAL AMERICA STRUGGLES TO REVIVE COFFEE SECTOR.
January 30, 2003... Coffee prices have risen somewhat in recent weeks, largely because of announced production cutbacks in the world's two largest producing countries, Brazil and Vietnam. Futures contracts for March delivery were recently quoted at US$69 per...