Solidarity with Honduras

Solidarity with Honduras

The Hemispheric Congress states its solidarity with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Central American Isthmus (FECAMCO).

The XXX Hemispheric Congress of the Latin Chambers of Commerce and Industries agreed, in our last meeting with the Permanent Secretariat, among other agreements the following recommendations:
"If anything is justifiably necessary in Latin America is to launch an extraordinary agenda of freedom: No to authoritarianism, no to communism, no more intervention by the state. On the contrary, what are truly needed are more institutions. Solid institutions where the Rule of Law is respected by all with an independent system of justice that work, and that will guarantee the individual rights of all citizens with respect to private property and investment, both nationally and internationally
"There is a grave problem and it is the temptation to experiment with populist projects and concepts. Here, in this region, much is spoken about 21st Century Socialism. Let it be known that 21st century Socialism is the same as 20th Century Socialism, the only difference is that it is more wearisome since we already know that the results will be dreadful and will bring about the collapse of those countries which adopt it."
Pursuant to the celebration of the 30 Hemispheric Congress, the Chamber of Commerce of Tegucigalpa, Honduras stated:
"Our institution, in our effort, communication strategy, actions, and mechanism, conforming to the judicial order of our country, together with the rest of citizenry, is preoccupied with the distorted political process that we are experiencing, in defense of Democracy and Human Rights."
And the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Central American Isthmus (FECAMCO):
The FEDERATION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN ISTHMUS (FEDERACIÓN DE CÁMARAS DE COMERCIO DEL ISTMO CENTROAMERICANO (FECAMCO), which is constituted by 11 Chambers of Commerce, and in representation of more than 39 thousand companies in the region, all the way from Belize down to Panama and including Dominican Republic and Colombia, hereby express their concern in view of the current political problems being live by the Republic of Honduras.
True to our mission, which is to ensure that the most vital democratic principles are being enforced, such as respect of the jurisprudence established in each one of our countries to guarantee the fundamental rights of all human beings, economic growth and common wellbeing, we regret that the countless violations of the Rule of Law and of the good working order of the institutions have ended up generating a very delicate breach of peace for the Honduran people.
We make an appeal to all of the Honduran people, to unite and keep in mind a vision of the future that will allow them to reestablish the democratic order and institutional framework with the vision of together building the country the Hondurans deserve.
Similarly, we urge the political leaders of our respective countries to act responsibly, respecting the sovereignty of the Honduran people and their right to resolve their own problems as has been set forth in their legislation and as guided by their democratic vocation without any intervention in order not to aggravate the economic situation of the Honduran people and that of the rest of the Central American region.
As a Federation, we demand respect to the commitments subscribed before third States, both at the regional level (Central American Integration Agreements), at the multilateral levels (CAFTA), and on the multilateral environment (World Trade Organization) for which we condemn most emphatically the adoption of economic and commercial sanctions in view of a situation which is of strict political nature.
Central America, June 30th 2009.
Ing. Jorge José Daboub,President FECAMCO President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador
Lic. Jorge Briz, Vice-president FECAMCOPresident Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala
Licda. Aline Flores, Secretary FECAMCO President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa
Lic. Ernesto Porta Balladares, Treasurer FECAMCOPresident of the Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua
Lic. Adolfo Linares, Member 1President of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry of Panama
Lic. Julio Ugarte, Member 2President of the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica
Licda. Amparo MassoChamber of Commerce and Industry of Belize
Licda. María Fernanda Campo Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá
Licda. María Isabel Gassó Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo
Lic. George Ng Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry of Colón
Lic. Luis Napoleón Larach Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortés
The Hemispheric Congress of the Latin Chambers of Commerce and Industries states its solidarity with the plans of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Central American Isthmus (FECAMCO) and request to all the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Latin America and the Bi-National Hispanic Chambers of Commerce of the United States of America, come together with government officials, the private sector, and media communication.
This seven day of July 2009, Miami, County of Dade
Wifredo "Willy" Gort, Chairman Hemispheric Congress
William Alexander, President CAMACOL.