The fire of the Legislative Palace and the capture of more than 30 people, is the balance of the violent demonstrations that took place on November 21 in the capital of the country, after a discontent was generated due to the approval of the National Budget 2021.
During the early morning of November 18, the Congress of the Republic approved the Income and Expenditure Budget of the State, which amounted to approximately $12,815 million.
After the UCCAEP in Costa Rica began to negotiate the lifting of the blockades with the self-proclaimed group Rescate Nacional, promoter of the protests, several business chambers distanced themselves from that decision and others have expressed their support.
Given the wave of protests and blockades that have been reported in the country, which arose after it was reported that to access a loan from the International Monetary Fund for $1.75 billion, the government planned to tax financial transactions, raise the tax on the profits of companies and persons, and increase the tax on real estate. The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) decided to negotiate the lifting of the blockades.
Faced with increasing chaos in Costa Rica due to demonstrations and blockades, a part of the business sector decided, unilaterally, to negotiate with representatives of the movement that incites to protest, and to reject the official call by the President of the Republic.
Arguing that there is unfair treatment in the other countries of the region, Costa Rican drivers of cargo vehicles block the transit through the border posts of Penas Blancas and Paso Canoas.
The protests in Costa Rica, which affect vehicle circulation in the country and border crossings, will have a short-term impact on intraregional trade and cargo transport costs.
In order to access the $1.75 billion credit that it intends to request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Costa Rican government proposed to tax financial transactions, raise the tax on the profits of companies and individuals, and increase the tax on real estate.
Although the Alvarado administration reversed the initial proposal to ask the IMF for $1.75 billion in financing and called for an inter-sectoral dialogue, Costa Rica is semi-paralyzed by the blockades that are taking place on various roads in the country.
On August 11, Guatemalans will go for the second time to the polls, in a climate of uncertainty, tension and roadblocks, because of dissatisfaction with the results of the first round of elections and the recent immigration agreement signed with the United States.
In the context of the protests and blockades that have been affecting Costa Rica for several days, the businessmen denounce that there are millions of losses, mainly in tourism, exports, and agricultural, industrial and commercial activities.
After more than 40 days of protests and looting, Honduran businessmen report that about 50 companies have been affected, and several stores have already been closed.
Preliminary reports from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa (CCIT), establish that among the most affected businesses are supermarket chains, appliance stores, fast food restaurants and microenterprises dedicated to the marketing of clothing and footwear.
The business sector is concerned about the way in which the demonstrations have developed in recent days, generating "an unsustainable cost to the Honduran economy.”
After the Honduran government approved decrees PCM-026-2018 and PCM-027-2019, the country's doctors and teachers began demonstrations with the aim of repealing them, because they argue that they will be able to fire government employees and privatize public services.
Within the framework of the political frictions generated by CICIG's withdrawal, the United States alerted its citizens to the protests and blockades that will take place on the country's highways.
From the statement of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala:
January 11, 2019. Several organizations announced today, January 11, that during the next few days there will be protests and roadblocks throughout Guatemala.
The law approved in Nicaragua empowers authorities to investigate and even intervene in businesses suspected of being linked to money laundering or terrorist financing.
With the support of government legislators and in the context of a crisis that is deepening every day, the National Assembly yesterday approved a new law that will provide more investigative faculties to the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF by its initials in Spanish), which, among other things, may sanction those who alter the constitutional order.
For more than 24 hours rural organizations have blocked access to the road that leads from Guatemala to the border with Mexico, in Quetzaltengo.
The Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif) explained that "... The passivity of the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman is worrying, an entity that is expected to avidly defend the guarantees of the law.The entity is obliged to take thenecessaryactionsto respect all rights, today, security, free movement, access to work, education, health and free enterprise are under serious threat."
The Colombian company HEMCO has suspended its activities due to violence shown by a group of artisanal miners who blocked the exit of materials and destroyed company property.
Aiming to ensure the safety of its employees and raw materials which are highly toxic, the Colombian mining company has suspended operations until the violent environment that they faced, which is affecting business and the economic climate of the municipality, has been stablalized.
Port workers hindered the use of private forklifts for unloading ships carrying fruit.
The measures taken by the Union of Workers of Japdeva (Sintrajap) could cause a boat being delayed by up to 32 hours in the port and overall operations to fall behind.
Nacion.com reports that "workers are complaining that there are more than 35 damaged trucks which are have been abandoned for over a year and there is no investment in new equipment." Currently there are only 15 pieces of equipment used for loading and unloading goods.