US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1744

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001744 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES 
DEPT. FOR EB/TPP DCLUNE, WHA/EPSC AND WHA/CEN 
DEPT. PASS USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, ETRD, HO, USTR 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, AUGUST 22, 2005 
 
 
1. Op-ed by Ilsa Diaz Zelaya in San Pedro Sula-based liberal 
daily "Tiempo" on 8/15, entitled "CAFTA-DR Shouldn't Be 
Feared."  "In 1983 the U.S. government decided to benefit 
Central American and Caribbean agricultural workers and 
exporters through an initiative that has allowed the free 
trade of our products to the U.S. market [Caribbean Basin 
Initiative]." 
 
 
"At an annual conference in Miami, U.S. investors and 
producers could meet with us, the benefited countries. These 
conferences brought all kinds of investments to Honduras. 
For example, Sea Board Marine built a melon plantation and a 
shrimp plant in the country. After that the company 
established itself in Comayagua with one of Honduras' first 
vegetable plantations. Comayagua now has thousands of jobs, 
all as a consequence of the numerous businesses that came to 
the country." 
 
"In 1990, when the `Fyffes Group' came into Honduras, prices 
and the workplace changed as the U.S. dollar entered the 
economy. While the banana plantations had paid in Lempiras 
for years, this group started paying in U.S. dollars, 
breaking all traditions and ways of thinking." 
 
"We should face this new opportunity of CAFTA with good 
organization, bravery, and effort, and always keep in mind 
that more than just the U.S. can receive our products, as we 
have already had good success in the European and Asian 
markets." 
 
"We should forget the negative commentators that don't 
recognize that this is a historical moment for our country, 
and we should take advantage of this valuable opportunity." 
 
Williard