Sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most. When Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, facing swelling protests against his own rule, sent congratulations to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Syria’s independence day, it was a gesture his fellow tyrant surely appreciated. So far Maduro has deployed only tear gas and (mostly) rubber bullets against protesters. Yet his recent decision to… Read more »
A document circulating in Peru, part of a broad political corruption investigation, stands as a quaint piece of Hugo Chávez memorabilia. It’s a 2006 letter allegedly penned by the late socialist Venezuelan president to one of his regional comrades, Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala. It suggests Chávez gave Humala’s campaign $2 million in what the letter calls “revolutionary aid.” Humala,… Read more »
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Sunday a 60 percent increase in the minimum monthly wage from 40,638 bolivars to 65,021 bolivars, the latter value roughly $90 at the current official exchange of 717 bolivars per dollar (but just $15 at the black market rate). “I have decided to increase the minimum wage, pensions …. for all workers in the… Read more »
There’s a harsh reality behind human trafficking: it can’t be isolated from the context nor the day-to-day perils of Latin America’s economy. While some people see it as just another crime –considerably, more shocking than others– and look for immediate solutions –higher sentences, more vigilance and stronger Police force–, analysts and policy makers around the world understand that there are… Read more »