Honduras News – Daily News about Honduras

Angered by the sudden issue of 120 new taxi numbers, drivers staged protests yesterday at the Regional Transportation office. Police officers arrived on the scene to open a path for citizens to get through.

Antonio Contreras, former Regional Director of Transportation, said the numbers of taxis that circulate at this time are legal. Henry Alvarez, representative of the taxi drivers, said they are requesting three things, including the immediate cancellation of the numbers given. They have asked Congress to investigate the case.

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The Minister of Soptravi, Miguel Pastor, announced that tonight a new security program will begin for the protection of traveling Honduran citizens, tourists, and students in the capital. The plan, which will be implemented between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm, will include most of the routes serviced by public transportation vehicles, especially those who have reported the highest crime rates.

Minister Pastor said they will be coordinating with the Ministry of Security and transportation leaders, and will be giving protection for “internal and external” users. Each transportation unit will have at least one armed police officer on board who is in communication with the other officers on other buses. In cases where a policeman cannot be aboard, the bus will be escorted by a patrol unit.

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The president-elect, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, announced this afternoon the cabinet that will accompany him in the next administration.

The former presidential candidate of the Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Felicito Avila, will be the new Minister of Labor, and another former presidential candidate, Cesar Ham, will be in charge of the National Agrarian Institute.

The positions announced are:

Minister of Labor: Felicito Avila
Minister of Health: Arturo Bendana
Minister of Culture: Bernard Martinez
Minister of Soptravi: Miguel Pastor
Minister of Security: Oscar Alvarez
Minister of Education: Alejandro Ventura
Minister of the Presidency: Bogran Marie Antoinette
Minister of Industry and Commerce: Oscar Escalante
Minister of Agriculture: Caesar Ham
Minister of the Interior: Africo Madrid
Foreign Minister: Mario Canahuati

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Taxi and bus drivers in Tegucigalpa took to the streets this morning blocking access to the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Housing (Soptravi), demanding a ban on issuing new operating permits for buses and taxis in the capital of Honduras.

The drivers threaten to continue causing problems indefinitely, saying the new director of transportation has approved permits for 600 new vehicles along city routes.

Transportation drivers are emphatic that Tegucigalpa has enough buses and taxis, like the rest of the country, and they are demanding that Soptravi investigate the department responsible for issuing permits.

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