US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1632

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