Honduras News – Daily News about Honduras

The International Monetary Fund said they will send a staff mission to Honduras next week. The team will be the first from the IMF to visit Honduras since the ousting of former President Manuel Zelaya last summer.

Although Honduras asked the IMF to make the visit, IMF spokesman Andreas Adriano, said the country has not made a request for aid from the fund.

IMF officials are scheduled to be in Honduras from March 15th through March 25th, and plan to assess Honduras’ economic performance in 2009 and discuss plans for growth.

-By Meena Thiruvengadam

Attorney Rasel Tome, adviser to former President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, arrived at the Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa today.

Tome has a warrant out for his arrest for the crime of abuse of authority when he was the manager of Conatel for allegedly giving out an irregular frequency to a businessman in San Pedro Sula.

Approximately 12 people waited for Rasel Tome to arrive, all chanting his name, while the press attempted to get a statement. Tome said that, “despite being in exile, we bring a message of national reconciliation; the Honduran people must have the conditions to restore democracy and return to live in a democratic state.”

The officers on the new board of Commanders of the Armed Forces of Honduras names were released today.

Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces is Jose Gerardo Fuentes Gonzales, Inspector General of the Armed Forces of Honduras will be headed by Luis Javier Prince Suazo, Admiral John Pablo Rodriguez will lead the Navy, and Carlos Alberto Espinoza Urquia will serve as Commander of the Army. The Honduras Air Force will be led by Colonel Marco Castillo Duron.

This morning in Tegucigalpa, business, political and military persons came to the funeral home La Auxiliadora de Suyapa (The Help of Suyapa) to meet with relatives and friends of the Goldstein’s before Mark Goldstein’s remains were transferred to San Pedro Sula, where he would ultimately be buried.

Among those attending Congressman Goldstein’s funeral services in the capital were: Elvin Santos, father and son; Oscar, Eduardo and Jesus Kafaty; Robert Vinelli and family; Congresspersons Marlon and Wenceslao Lara; The Vice President of Congress, Ramon Velasquez Nazar; Oswaldo Ramos Soto; the Chancellor of the Republic, Mario Canahuati; Gabriela Nunez; and the Mayor of Tegucigalpa and National Party President, Ricardo Alvarez.