Latin America Today: Possible Roads to Development

Time: Monday, October 13, 2008

By Paola Tapia-Limon

In the panel that focused on Latin America and its possibilities to develop, several leaders, activists, and diplomats from this region of the world discussed the main obstacles their countries face. The panelists denounced violence, corruption, impunity, drug trafficking, and political differences as the main antagonists for development.

“Democracies based on poverty and low education standards are difficult to sustain,” said former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox. In his opinion, education is the best way to promote progress in Latin American countries: “The market cannot do everything; we need to create powerful social policies and education.”

Most Latin American governments have shown a lack of maturity in handling the previously mentioned issues that corrupt the region. Oswaldo Álvares Paz, former governor of the State of Zulia, Venezuela, concluded in his presentation that politicians make politics based on dissatisfaction. “We have idealists thirsty for power for the sake of power and when they get it, they have no clear goals and they try to hold on to it by any means. That creates more dissatisfaction among the people.”

Former National Security Adviser in Guatemala and Former Ambassador to Japan and Peru, José Maria Argueta, quoted Einstein: “To do the same thing time and again and still expect different results is the definition of insanity, (…) this is the time to do something different. Leaders need to be educated to serve the people and not themselves.” Latin American leaders should work together on peace agreements and treaties to fight against the problems that corrupt this region.

Another topic discussed was the drug industry in Latin America and its role as facilitator of every other illicit activity. Violence and corruption are mainly the results of drug use or drug trade. It was concluded among the panelists that Latin America needs to support the fight against these internal antagonists. All countries have victims and actors. The best way to face this problem is with coordinated politics and policies that fight against organized crime. “No country can solve drug trafficking by itself,” said Álvarez Paz.

Liduine Zumpolle, Director of the Apoyo Reconciliación Colombia Foundation, added: “The European Union should care about this,” pointing out that the consumers of drugs come from Europe and the United States in particular.