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| Newsletter - Political Update [ 07/25/2009 ] | |
Newsletter –Political Update-
I have tried a couple of times to write a “real estate” newsletter that you all signed up for and the reality of it is that I actually have one partially done but feel that for the most part the political climate is on all our minds.
Some of you have properties listed with me, others are interested in restaurants that may be new, in general news on the island, investment possibilities, hot deals, new listings, planning your retirement home on the golf course………..… all the things that are normally in the text I send you. At this point in time the political atmosphere pretty much trumps all that would be on most of our minds in that if we do not have a safe place, one that you want to come to, none of the rest really matters. The economy may have it’s ups and downs but this country being one associated with Cuba or Venezuela politically as allies pretty much kills the market for many freedom loving people and needs to be addressed.
It has been an emotional roller coaster. This past week the negotiations going on in Costa Rico broke down, and the exiled ex-President of Honduras, Mel Zelaya, decided he was coming back to Honduras to take his seat back as President. He had the support of the left wing countries in Central and South America. To make things worse, the U.S. and the rest of the world were all but demanding his reinstatement. The OAS, (Organization of American States), was enforcing a trade embargo and Hilary Clinton threatened to have the U.S. join that embargo, which would have pretty much starved out the country, the U.S. being Honduras’ top trade partner. Things were not looking good.
Yesterday afternoon Mel Zelaya walked across the Nicaraguan border into the Honduras and was met by Police and Military. The sitting Honduran Government had publicly stated that if he came back he would be arrested. (Since he had been exiled they had found a ton of evidence of drug dealing, graft, corruption, not counting the attempt to take over the Democracy). Although only a minority of the populous was in favor of him returning, the fear was that if he did come back things could get bad. I am not privy to what was said but do know he turned around and went back to Nicaragua. You could all but hear a National sigh of relief.
Today Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fl), will visit the new Honduran Administration visiting with various Honduran leaders in the new Administration and others, including a group of North Americans from the island, and he will be here to show his support of the rightful and Constitutional Honduran Government. The people who kicked Zelaya out.
http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=4fbe3181-211f-42be-8b33-97d77d018cb0
Is it over? I really am not sure but sure is looking good at this point.
While Mel Zelaya was walking back and forth across the border the people in Honduras were out in force in a march for peace and Democracy. The U.S. news media is focused on violence and disruptive behavior of the far left supporting Zelaya and Communism. The photos of a few hundred people burning some tires makes CNN and doubt that this photo will. How about a hundred thousand+ in peace marches for democracy? Not the violence people crave but sure looks good.
Check it out here -
Maybe a lesson for all of us. This country, Honduras, usually has about a 90% turnout for elections. The U.S. I believe is in the +40% range. They value their freedoms. They participate. To them if they did not, they right now would be headed towards Communism. All this turmoil created by one guy supported by Chavez, by one guy who everyone thought was not only middle of the road but would make things better. Taking the time to stay involved, reading more than your favorite newspaper or news broadcast, making your freedom a priority is what it takes to keep it. It is not something people can leave for others to do. It must be you. Know what is going around around you. Hold your politicians feet to the fire. MAKE the TIME to participate and most importantly VOTE!
In my last mail I said I was really proud of my adopted country. Well, that is really an understatement at this juncture. Thanks for all your support, letters to the media and Government officials. Thank you especially to all the Honduran people that stood up to the U.S. and the rest of the world and said yes to Democracy, making Honduras the shining light of Democracy to all who live south of the border.
The real estate newsletter? Next week with any last minute updates.
Best regards to all,
Larry
