MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, AUGUST 1JULY

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001632 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES DEPT. FOR PM AND EB/TRA DEPT. FOR WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO PGOV MASS EAID HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, AUGUST 1JULY 28, 2005 ¶1. On 08/01 The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" published an op-ed by Eduardo David Ardon entitled "How to Utilize Debt Relief." "President Ricardo Maduro, industrialists, labor organizations, political parties, and all of Honduran society continue to express their opinions on the way that the debt relief funds should be spent." "The needs of Honduran society are too many to name, but in our opinion, the current basic needs are health, education, electrification, and employment." "Using these as criteria, we propose that the debt relief monies be used in making education more universal, creating and developing technical careers, preparing human resources for agricultural business, and preventing confrontations between teachers and students." "The use of loans, debt relief, and donations to invest in agricultural business and industry, electrification, redistribution of capital, and the dollarization and clean- up of the economy are simple and practical proposals for eradicating poverty and improving the quality of life." "The presidential candidates, instead of dedicating themselves to answering personal questions, have the obligation to propose ideas and arguments for the correct use of the 50 billion Lempiras (approximately USD$2.7 billion) resulting from the debt relief. Candidates should convince current government leaders to not waste the money of the people, otherwise the nation faces a future of grave consequences." Tuebner