Monthly Archives: July 2008

Honduras May Join ALBA

President Manuel Zelaya assured Hondurans that his government is studying the advantages offered by The Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of our America (ALBA).

He said in a press conference that Honduras needs new forms of commercial association with more dignity.

Zelaya stressed that the country has been an observer member for four months of that mechanism, which is boosted by Venezuela and Cuba.

The dignitary clarified that mainly the economic and conservative sectors are opposed to the country’s joining the integration agreement, explaining they want to keep control of their monopolies.

Criticism first came from those opposed to PETROCARIBE, who now reject any type of initiative in favor of opening international borders to help Honduras solve its energy and food problems, he emphasized.

Zelaya said that ex foreign minister Milton Jimenez represented the country at ALBA’s sixth meeting, held in Venezuela.

He affirmed that he will soon study the regional agreement’s statutes and its advantages to learn about the possibilities the economic-political entity has for Latin America.

The Honduran dignitary said that ALBA is a humanitarian entity aimed at improving the peoples’ conditions and equality among nations.

ALBA is an integration proposal oppose to the Free Trade Treaty of the Americas (ALCA), boosted by United States that emphasizes on the struggle against poverty and social exclusion and expresses the interest of Latin American peoples.

Delta Begins Service to Tegucigalpa

New daily nonstop service between Atlanta and Honduras’ capital city starts Dec. 18, 2008

Delta Airlines will launch the first-ever nonstop daily flights between Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Toncontin Airport in Honduras’ capital city of Tegucigalpa, starting Dec. 18, 2008.* The new flights will be operated using brand-new Boeing 737-700 aircraft being delivered to Delta this year that will allow the addition of service at unique airports such as Tegucigalpa with short runways, extreme temperatures and high altitudes.

“We’ve been looking forward to flying into Tegucigalpa for a long time, and the brand-new 737-700 aircraft makes it possible, complementing the long list of Central American destinations Delta serves,” said Delta’s Christophe Didier, vice president of Sales and Government Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean. “Our flights to San Pedro Sula and Roatan have consistently performed well, and we are immensely optimistic to see Tegucigalpa become a great addition to our Honduras service.”

Meningitis in Honduras

Meningitis cases have increased nearly 60 percent in Honduras from January to date, compared to the same period in 2007, according to the head of the health department.

“Only 77 cases were reported last year, and 120 cases have been reported so far in 2008, accounting for a 55.8-percent increase,” Arita pointed out.

Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. It can be caused by a virus or a bacterium.

The most frequent symptoms of meningitis are fever, headache and vomits. It can be a lethal disease or leave serious sequels when caused by a bacterium.