GUATEMALAN SUPREME COURT REQUESTS LABOR JUSTICE

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000606

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR USAID/LAC/RSD:BARRY MACDONALD, WHA/PPC:MIKE
PUCCETTI, DRL/IL:PAT DEL VECCHIO, GABRIELLA RIGG
LABOR FOR ILAB:JANE RICHARDS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ELAB ECON PGOV GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN SUPREME COURT REQUESTS LABOR JUSTICE
ASSISTANCE

REF: GUATEMALA 440


1. The President of the Guatemalan Supreme Court, Beatriz de
Leon Reyes de Barreda, sent the Ambassador a formal request
for assistance to improve the administration of labor justice
in Guatemala. Her request tallies precisely with our Ref (A)
Proposal to Strengthen the Labor Justice System, which
includes applying existing criminal justice development
programs to the labor court system.


2. Comment: In addition to the congruence of opinion,
President de Leon's request appears to demonstrate the
high-level government commitment that any project would need
to succeed. We hope the interagency process takes this
commitment into account when making allocation decisions
regarding the funds dedicated to improving labor capacity
building in the CAFTA countries. End comment.


3. Letter text (unofficial translation):

Your Excellency Mr. Ambassador:

I take the honor to address Your Excellency in order to note
the valuable cooperation that your Mission offers our country
through USAID's labor modernization programs.

In this context, permit me to suggest the extension of this
cooperation to include the strengthening of labor justice,
which is managed in a separate branch of the justice sector
concerning labor and social protection.

The primary objective of this request, which would require
that one address the judicial sector, is to convey our desire
to reach any necessary agreements in order to improve access
to justice.

I take this opportunity to express to Your Excellency my
highest esteem and consideration.

Beatriz de Leon Reyes de Barreda
President of the Justice Sector and of the Supreme Court

(End text.)
DERHAM