“That President Giammattei would confront the United States to protect major corruption targets says it all.” Stephen McFarland writes in Plaza Pública on the troubling direction facing Guatemala. The wilful moves of the governing elites to repudiate U.S. government’s support… Read More ›
COVID-19
Despite Protests, Guatemala’s President May Be Stronger than Ever
Brendan O’Boyle writes in Americas Quarterly on how President Giammattei is, so far, able to hold off calls for resignation despite his attacks on the independence of the judiciary and his government’s catastrophic and grossly negligent response to the pandemic…. Read More ›
As Pandemic Pummels Guatemala, Government Stalls
Jeff Abbott wrote recently, in El Faro English, of the desperate situation in Guatemala regarding the COVID pandemic, and the government’s poor response, rooted in corruption, while noting that “the president is indifferent”. It is within this crisis context that… Read More ›
Anger grows in Guatemala over COVID vaccine rollout, corruption
Unless Guatemala picks up its pace, experts say coronavirus vaccine doses yet to be administered will expire next month. “Unfortunately, due to impunity and corruption in our country, we are not heard and we have to head into the streets…. Read More ›
Covid-19, Guatemalan immigration and deportations
Gio B’atz’ has written in Plaza Pública about the scale of deportations to Guatemala during the Covid-19 epidemic and the lies and deception being used to justified this profound abuse of human rights. Over four parts, the articles cover the… Read More ›
Between a Volcano and a Pandemic
In the Shadow of Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego, a Community Displaced by War Struggles to Survive. James Rodríguez writes in El Faro about the challenges facing the community of La Trinidad in the Department of Escuintla, which was affected by… Read More ›
Appointing Judges in Guatemala…From Prison
Guatemala is in the midst of a contentious legal battle, as networks of corrupt politicians and organized crime are trying to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to attack the country’s courts. They are also disrupting over 100 cases against government officials… Read More ›
COVID-19: “Because of the President, people think it is a joke”
The government announced a steady re-opening of the country and this scared the medical personnel at the temporary hospital in Parque de la Industria (‘Industry Park’) whp have fought each day against the COVID-19 illness and in the face of… Read More ›
A pandemic is not the time for reforming judicial nominations in Guatemala
As is the case in many countries across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has further undermined the rule of law in Guatemala due to the use of emergency measures to limit fundamental freedoms and blur the separation of powers. Simultaneously,… Read More ›
Officials Conceal Conditions at Guatemala Mental Health Hospital During Pandemic
After a nurse tested positive for Covid-19, advocates warn that patients at a notorious Guatemalan psychiatric facility will be “left to die.” Naomi Larsson writes a rather harrowing story on the NACLA website about the plight of residents in the… Read More ›
