Honduran government in chaos can’t pay its bills, neglects basic services [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Honduran government in chaos can’t pay its bills, neglects basic services
By Associated Press,
Updated: Thursday, January 24, 1:37 PM

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Street surveillance cameras in one of the world’s most dangerous cities were turned off last week because Honduras’ government hasn’t paid millions of dollars it owes. The operator that operates them is now threatening to suspend the police radio service as well.

Teachers have been demonstrating almost every day because they haven’t been paid in six months, while doctors complain about the shortage of essential medicines, gauze, needles and latex gloves.

This Central American country has been on the brink of bankruptcy for months, as lawmakers put off passing a government budget necessary to pay for basic government services. The country is also grappling with $5 billion in foreign debt, a figure equivalent to last year’s entire government budget.

The financial crisis adds to a general sense that Honduras is a country in meltdown, as homicides soar and drug trafficking overruns its cities and coasts.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/honduran-government-in-chaos-cant-pay-its-bills-neglects-basic-services/2013/01/24/6a9d102c-665d-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html