Government: Lights, Shadows and Challenges

Thursday, January 14, 2021

The agile execution of economic stimulus programs, the considerable increase in public debt and the need to accelerate the process of economic reactivation are the lights, shadows and challenges identified a year after Alejandro Giammattei took office as president of Guatemala.

On January 14, 2020, when Giammattei took office as president of Guatemala, he received a country with weak institutions, legal uncertainty and a business sector that was asking for a less "hostile" environment for new investments.

4G Network Auction: Battle in Guatemala

Friday, January 8, 2021

After a resolution was issued for the reorganization of the 700 MHz band, Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala S.A. and the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office submitted appeals for revocation to the Superintendence of Telecommunications.

The controversy originated after Comunicaciones Celulares S.A.

Rayovac Closes Factory in Guatemala

Monday, December 21, 2020

After nearly seven decades of operating in the Central American country, the company dedicated to the manufacture of batteries and lighting decided to close its production plant and moved its operations to Brazil.

The restructuring of its operations comes two years after Energizer Holdings Inc agreed to buy the battery and lighting business of Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. With this acquisition, Energizer absorbed the Varta and Rayovac brands.

Guatemala Pays Debt to Teco Energy

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

After Guatemala paid off its debt to Teco Energy, the $15.75 million embargo was lifted, resources that the country had allocated for interest payments from some Eurobond holders.

Arguing that from 2008 to 2013 the Guatemalan National Energy Commission set a maximum amount that electricity distribution companies could charge the user, Teco Energy, a company that was a shareholder of Empresa Electrica de Guatemala, sued the country internationally.

Parallel Imports in Costa Rica

Monday, March 25, 2013

The activity known as parallel importation is the purchase and import of products outside the distribution channels contractually negotiated by the manufacturer.

From Competition Bulletin No. 156 by the Commission to Promote Competition (COPROCOM) in Costa Rica:

El Salvador: Legal Situation Report

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development, Fusades, has presented a report entitled "Legal and Institutional Situation" for the second half of 2011.

The Department of Legal Studies, DEL, this morning released the Report of Legal and Institutional Situation of the second half of 2011, by which the legal and institutional activity in the country is systematically tracked. The report aims to contribute to the national discussion with new inputs to make public policies better, improving the business climate and strengthening democratic institutions.

Squatters in Costa Rica

Friday, April 25, 2008

Costa Rica is all too familiar with the problem of squatters – in fact, they are perfectly legal.

Throughout many countries of the world, they occur primarily in urban areas where urban decay exists or in rural areas where vast amounts of land can be owned, but not fully occupied.

Panama Offshore Banking: Asset & Privacy Protection

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The banking industry in Panama has developed quite an allure for businesses and corporations that are engaged as offshore operations.

Panama has become the most modern and successful country in Latin America and its international banking center can be described in a similar fashion.

Fusades Presents Legal Situation Report

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development, Fusades, has released a report entitled "Legal and Institutional Situation" for the first half

A press release of the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Fusades) reads:

The Department of Legal Studies, DEL, released on Aug.

Taxes: Supermarket Chain Investigation

Monday, December 7, 2020

After inconsistencies were detected between purchases reported by taxpayers and sales that the company declared to the tax authority, an investigation was initiated in Guatemala into the "La Barata" supermarket chain.

During the morning of December 7, representatives of the Public Ministry (MP) and the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT), held a press conference in which they explained some details about a new case of alleged tax fraud by the chain of stores "La Barata."

Guatemala: Clear Rules for Investment Demanded

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

The Guatemalan business union has warned about the negative impact of the lack of legal certainty on the economic, political and social environment.

From a statement by the Cacif:

• We would like to draw the public's attention to the serious impacts that may arise from the various cases in which ILO Convention 169 has been invoked, and in which the country's courts have issued rulings that contradict each other, to the extreme - in one case - by ordering the suspension of operations of a company.
• As has been reiterated in previous communications, it is important to provide Convention 169 with a standard of consultation so as to allow compliance with its provisions clearly and with certainty in regards to its procedures. In so far as this occurs, it is necessary that in the cases that are heard in the different courts of the Republic, fundamental aspects for legal security should be present, such as: 

• a) That Convention 169 is an instrument whose purpose is to foster dialogue in good faith, not to stop projects or to irreversibly affect the national economy. 

Respect for the Rule of Law

Monday, July 1, 2013

In El Salvador foreign investors are astonished when they learn that legislators refuse to accept rulings by the Supreme Court of Justice.

An editorial by Álvaro Cruz Rojas, chief editor of Elmundo.com.sv, shows clearly why Direct Foreign Investment, and even national investment, has fallen so much in recent years, precisely when other Latin American countries are enjoying a boom in this area.

El Salvador: Legal Uncertainty Making Business Climate Worse

Monday, February 27, 2017

Although emphasis was given to the momentum taken in the fight against corruption in 2016, lack of legal certainty continues to affect conditions for doing business in the country.

From a report on the Legal and Institutional Situation by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development:

Panama introduces new penal code

Friday, May 23, 2008

Panama has introduced a new penal code that sets the maximum sentence for murder at 30 years, Harley Mitchell, president of the Supreme Court, announced.

The code typifies new crimes of energy, water and telecommunications fraud, and sound and smell pollution.

Legislative overhaul to bring Panama into the 21st century

Thursday, August 21, 2008

PANAMA’S lawyers are celebrating the upgrade of the Commercial Code, legislation that has been due a face-lift for more than half a century.

Morgan & Morgan partner Enrique de Alba said that the Code, which was first drawn up in 1916 shortly after the Panama Canal came into operation, has been badly in need of revision for some time, to underline Panama’s maritime credentials.