Because of factors such as business closures and lack of opportunities, it is estimated that criminal activity costs Honduras and El Salvador 16% of GDP, and in the case of Guatemala, its losses could amount to 7% of its production.
In Central America, the human costs of crime remain one of the highest in the world. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—referred to as the Northern Triangle— account for about four-and-a-half percent of homicides worldwide despite only having about one-half-percent of the world's population.
After three soldiers were killed in Izabal, Guatemalan business sector asks the government to regain control of the territories where criminal groups dominate.
On several occasions, business chambers have denounced that organized crime groups operate in the area from the Polochic Valley to Izabal, thus affecting productive activity in the area.
The situation became clear after it was reported on September 3 that a patrol of the Guatemalan Army Marine Infantry was ambushed in the municipality of El Estor, department of Izabal. As a result, three soldiers were killed.
Guatemalan agricultural employers spend $300 million on private security representing between 12% and 16% of their budgets.
Prensalibre.com reports that "the Chamber of Agriculture (Camagro) reported that during 2013 there was an increase in criminal acts such as kidnappings, threats and extortions against their workers, as well as the theft and destruction of private property ... "
Prosecutors in the interior would rather not know about high-impact cases, and there are judges who do not want to rule on them for fear of reprisals.
Added to this are other problems being faced by prosecutors of the Public Ministry (PM) within the country such as lack of security, space and backlogs.
For prosecutors, who preferred anonymity, the main fear are the threats and attacks by organized criminals .
Although Nicaragua has one of the lowest crime rates in Central America, in San Juan del Sur robberies of tourists are beginning to affect the sector.
Business owners and foreign residents have denounced the constant thefts, however, so far no actions or responses to the problem have been taken. Estimates by the National Chamber of the Micro, Small and Medium Tourism industry (CANTUR) reveal that there are 11 weekly assaults on tourists in this area.
The phenomenon affects much of Latin America, whose countries spend on average 8% of their GDP on security costs.
That was the conclusion reached during the forum "Connecting businesses as partners for prosperity with security in the Americas", organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the private sector, under the framework of the Guatemala Investment Summit.
A survey of Salvadoran entrepreneurs reveals that during 2012, 66% of their companies or their staff were affected up to twice by extortion, kidnapping and murder.
The Survey ENADE 2013 assesses businesses' perception of the performance of government officials, in public safety, fiscal policy and democratic institutions.
• Type of research: a quantitative descriptive research using the technique of self-administered questionnaire.
In El Salvador, the state budget allocated to security is $500 million a year, while the total amount invested by private enterprises for self-protection is $600 million.
"The combined budgets (National Civil Police, the Attorney General's Office and the Armed Forces of El Salvador) total about $500 million and the private sector invests over $600 million annually on security issues," said Jorge Daboub, president of the National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP).
Employers indicate that the cost of paying extortion fees on productive or commercial activities, can amount to up to 1% of sales.
S21.com.gt reports that "The country's industrialists have declared taken their concerns to the Minister of the Interior where they reported being victims of extortion and theft and a killing spree that is maintaining a 'climate of anxiety' in the country, said Javier Zepeda, president of the Chamber of Industry (CIG by its initials in Spanish). "
Private companies will participate in monitoring the results of the plan.
Following Colombia’s example, where monitoring by the private business sector was instrumental in implementing the security measures proposed by the government, businessmen from El Salvador will monitor the security plan and the tax on large amounts of capital.
The methods used to finance the government's ambitious plan to combat insecurity is the private sector’s main concern, because to apply the tax on large capital (assets over $500 thousand) a significant portion of the country’s business could be affected .
Firms spent $174 million in security for their businesses in 2009, however in 2010 the expenditure amounted to $190 million.
A study by the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce reveals that 42% of those surveyed said they had been a victim of violence.
"... We are convinced that the government has not fulfilled its part, ... this has become an obstacle to our development, as insecurity impacts on the competitiveness of the economy," said the Chamber’s president, Arnoldo André , as published by Prensalibre.cr