In 2019, the perception of corruption in public institutions increased in all countries of the region except Costa Rica, where it remained the same as in 2018.
As has been the case in recent years, Nicaragua's public sector continues to be perceived as the most corrupt in the region (transparency level 22 on a scale of 0 to 100), followed by Guatemala (26), Honduras (26), Dominican Republic (28), El Salvador (34), Panama (36), and Costa Rica (56).
The Dominican Republic, Panama and Honduras are the nations in the region where the majority of the population believes that corruption in government institutions has increased in the last twelve months.
The report "Barómetro Global de la Corrupción: América Latina y El Caribe 2019 - Opiniones y Experiencias de los ciudadanos en materia de corrupción" (Global Corruption Barometer: Latin America and the Caribbean 2019 - Opinions and Experiences of Citizens on Corruption), compiled by Transparency International and published on September 23, 2019, evaluated the perception of corruption in the countries of the region and some aspects of insecurity.
The power of public employees' guilds in the country was evidenced by the agreement that authorities of the Social Security Fund agreed to sign in order that employees of the entity may continue to enjoy privileges to the detriment of others.
EDITORIAL
Arguing that "judicializing" the strike was the only and best way out that could be achieved in the short term, the highest authorities of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) complied with the pressures of trade guild members, who with the desire to maintain the differential treatment they have enjoyed for many years, suspended access to basic health services, even carrying out actions as despicable as closing a blood bank and paralyzing equipment for cancer treatment.
In 2018, the perception of corruption in public institutions increased in all countries in the region, except Panama, where it remained the same as in 2017, and El Salvador, where it slightly decreased.
As in previous years, Nicaragua's public sector continues to be considered the most corrupt in the region (level of transparency 25 on a scale of 0 to 100), followed by Guatemala (27), Honduras (29), El Salvador (35), Panama (37), and Costa Rica (56).
The determination of how much and how the minimum wage should be regulated, something that occasionally seems to be done in an arbitrary manner and for political purposes, continues to be one of the factors that most confront Central American businessmen and governments.
In Costa Rica, a 3% increase in the minimum wage was approved for 2019; in El Salvador, an increase is expected to be discussed, and in Guatemala, the commission in charge of the issue reported that no increases will be made this year.
The representatives of the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica are more concerned with defending their unacceptable privileges than with performing impartially and morally the work for which they were appointed.
EDITORIAL
Arguing that the Tax Reform approved in the first debate in the Congress imposes spending containment measures on the salaries of the Judiciary, the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice announced that they will oppose the reform if the points that affect the operation of the institutions of the Judiciary, in their opinion, are not abolished from it.
Exporters resent the effects of five continuous days of demonstrations, blockades and widespread insecurity on the roads of Costa Rica.
Before the strike, which was started a few days ago by unions representing the country's public institutions, the Chamber of Exporters of Costa Rica (Cadexco) denounced the fact that companies in the sector are facing multiple difficulties in exporting their products.Puerto Moín, the main outlet for exports, is onlyoperating six hours a day, leaving close to 12,000 tons per day unable to be shipped, which is estimated to be equivalent to almost $10 million in daily sales abroad.
Like lemmings running towards a cliff, Costa Rica repeats the kind of actions that underscore the definition of a society incapable of stopping on the road to a terminal crisis.
At the end of the first four months of the year, the Central Government's financial deficit reached 1.9% of GDP, explained by the almost 8% growth in accumulated expenses.
In a statement the Ministry of Finance reported that "... At the end of the first four months of the year, the Central Government's financial deficit reached ¢670,560.0 million, representing 1.9% of GDP, a percentage higher than that presented in the same period in 2017 (1.8%).In this period total accumulated revenues showed growth of 3.8% with respect to the same months in 2017, while accumulated expenses increased by 7.6%.
In 2017, the perception of corruption in public institutions increased in all of the countries in the region, with the exception of Guatemala and Nicaragua, where it remained the same as in 2016, and in Costa Rica, where it decreased slightly.
The public sector still perceives Nicaragua to be the most corrupt country (transparency level 26 on a scale from 0 to 100), followed by Guatemala (28), Honduras (29), El Salvador (33), Panama (37) and Costa Rica (59).
A savings fund, housing loans, expenses for recreation and bonuses, scholarships for children, and restaurant services for employees of the state and the monopolist hydrocarbons distributor of Costa Rica, are financed through the prices paid by consumers, even by the poorest.
Equality of citizens under the law, a defining feature of a democracy, it is a formality in Costa Rica, generating in practice wealth and privileges for some, and poverty and hopelessness for others.
OPINION - Jorge Cobas González - Director of CentralAmericaData
Some Costa Rican citizens - not a few - have "acquired rights" because they belong to one of the corporations to which the laws assigns multiple privileges, and others - an overwhelming majority - work to pay for the privileges granted to the former group.
After recognizing the serious liquidity problems faced, the government has announced it will borrow another $1 billion for a hearty lunch that others will pay for tomorrow.
The $1 billion that the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) has been negotiating since May with the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR) to strengthen its reserves will arrive in October of this year, according to the BCCR authorities.
"When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion–when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing–when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors–when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you–when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice–you may know that your society is doomed."
The private sector has denounced the government for not convening in the Legislative Assembly bills related to public employment that would eliminate some of the privileges given to public servants.
From a statement issued by the UCCAEP:
December 5, 2016.The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (UCCAEP), is denouncing the government because of the lack of projects related to public employment in the call records drawn up by the executive branch, for special sessions of the Legislature.