The figure is an estimate made by the Intelligence Directorate in Costa Rica released by the US State Department, along with information that indicates a rise in criminal organizations based in the country, and little capacity to combat them.
Money laundering is a criminal activity that handles amounts that are difficult to measure. For example, the report "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013" by Global Financial Integrity says that during the aforementioned 10 year period, the flow of illicit money from Costa Rica exceeded $11 billion, that is about $1.1 billion a year.
The US Government has renewed its travel alert warning stating that the levels of violence and crime remain "critically high, but have declined in the past two years."
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that the level of crime and violence in Honduras remains critically high, although it has declined in the past two years. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated June 2014 and includes additional information on crime and security in Honduras, as well as updated contact information.
The State Department of the United States has renewed its travel alert warning that the levels of violence and crime are critically high.
From a statement issued by the State Department of the United States:
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that crime and violence levels in El Salvador remain critically high. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated April 25, 2014, and includes updated information on crime and security in El Salvador.
The cost to the U.S. economy caused by delays in the expansion of the Canal could be a decisive factor in the search to find the necessary funding to continue the work.
An article in Prensa.com reports that "The United States underlined today, Friday, the 'importance' for international trade and its own trade in the 'timely' completion of the works on redevelopment of the Panama Canal and hoped they a 'rapid resolution' would be found to the conflict so that the works can be resumed as soon as possible. "
Under an agreement between the Davivienda Bank and U.S. AID long-term loans to small and medium enterprises will be enabled.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño S.A. signed an agreement pledging to promote access to finance for Salvadoran SMEs in order to improve productivity and exports, one of the goals of the Partnership for Growth between El Salvador and the United States.
While Central American businesses assume the costs of the bureaucracy associated with money laundering controls, big banks are granted a license to steal.
EDITORIAL
The United States has lost the moral authority in the fight against drug trafficking, and countries who suffer in the drug war, should taken that into account.
Brazil won for maximum hypocrisy, United States for indecision, and the OAS for lack of impartiality.
Andres Oppenheimer lists some of the top external players in the Honduras crisis, detailing their biggest political mistakes.
The feeling remains, however, that had not been for the mistakes of the international community (specially for its stubbornness in not listening to objective reasons), the price being paid by the people of Honduras would not be so high.
In Honduras, a inflexible Latin American diplomacy failed, forcing the intervention of the only country capable of forcing an agreement.
The agreement negotiated by Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon is a testimony of the considerable influence that Washington still has over Latin America, despite verbal attempts by Chávez and other leaders of the region to undermine it.
By refusing to consider what happened as a coup d'état, the U.S. avoids imposing economic sanctions on Honduras.
Even though Obama's administration maintains its position in favor of Zelaya's re installment as president, it has avoided declaring the Honduras situation as a coup d'état. This is a decision in itself, as it permits the maintenance of economic assistance programs for the impoverished country.
As of April 1, rules will take effect that include greater oversight of the accounts of public officials and cash transactions, among others.
Journalists Leonel Díaz y Urías Gamarro wrote in Prensalibre.com: "The Report on International Narcotics Control Strategy 2009 by the United States State Department includes Guatemala among the 60 countries in the world that launder money.
Five local production projects for ethanol have been identified by the US office for economic policy.
Later on the search for investors interested in the renewable energy projects.
According to the coordinator of the bureau for affairs in the western hemisphere of the US State Department, Matthew M. Rooney, the energy projects are feasible and will provide good returns for investors.
español
