The politics of aid has invaded Honduras. What this means is that many programs like the World Food Program have been sending food and aid to Honduras to help rebuild the country after Hurricane Mitch. The philosophical question that nags me is whether the administrators should just give aid to those who need it the most, or employ it in work for food programs. In theory, aid should be given without asking for anything in return. Many people around the world have donated food, clothing, money, and other items, yet these program administrators are using it as barter for work.

It is definitely a dilemma that could be debated from both perspectives. One is that they should be given free reign to employ the aid to the benefit of the country as a whole, which means that it should be traded for work projects that will improve the country's condition. The other side is whether it should benefit individuals without expecting anything in return.

The first has the advantage that there is something tangible left after the aid is gone, i.e. the country has benefited from reconstruction projects. On the other hand, who has the right to determine the value of the aid and which projects should be executed and at what cost in terms of aid. Work for aid programs are extremely useful when aid recipients possess a strong work ethic. In other cases, there is a risk of a backlash from the intended recipients. A good example was the largely symbolic daily wage of Lps. 50= provided to Chamelecón residents to clean mud from their homes. The authorities provided shovels and other equipment to them, yet the recipients complained about the money being too little, which is ludicrous since they were cleaning their own homes and shouldn't be paid to do it at all.

In the literal sense, donated aid ceases to be aid when it is traded for something in return. Furthermore, freely donated aid foments a drug-like reaction from its recipients who get the wrong impression that there is such a thing as a free lunch, that will continue to be provided as long as it is determined to be needed. It results in the lazy attitude observed in the Omoa area of Honduras. After the aid bonanza provided during Tropical Storm Gert, there were reports of unscrupulous spoiled individuals who expected the same kind of treatment in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. In essence, these people claimed hardship just so that they could receive another free handout.

In summary, we support the work for food programs but caution that they must be the result of an overall plan with concrete goals. The government and aid administrators should communicate with each other so that the aid is employed efficiently and effectively. The goal would be to reconstruct specific areas and fulfill goals that have been mutually agreed upon.

Nonetheless, there is yet another facet of post Mitch Honduras that is extremely worrisome, that concerns the economy as a whole and those thousands of citizens who are not directly benefiting from the diverse aid programs.

Prices in the markets for fruits and vegetables have skyrocketed due to their shortage. Inflation has continued its upward spiral, fueled by the high cost of electricity, its rationing, and the ongoing erosion of the dollar exchange rate (some pessimistic analysts even predict it will reach twenty lempiras to the dollar by the end of the century - presently it is about fourteen to one). Furthermore, the economy has slowed down, very little money is changing hands, inventories have risen with longer turnover, and credit is both scarce and expensive.

Reports from ANMPI, the Association of Medium and Small Businesses, indicate that half of its members, over 12,000 companies, have already legally filed to close their businesses this year. Many farmers are also bankrupt due to meager crop yields after Hurricane Mitch destroyed an estimated 80 % of the county's agriculture. These businesses and farmers have been defaulting on loans provided by local banks prior to the hurricane. Refinancing of these loans is practically nonexistant and the assets of these entities are confiscated by the banks. The bottom line is that the middle class has become an endangered species, and their purchasing power is being meticulously eroded.

This is further complicated by the migration of rural workers to the urban cities. Jobs are presently scarce and there is a surplus of available labor for menial unskilled positions. The overall education level of Honduran citizens is low and most do not fulfill the requirements of the better paying positions. One of the skills highest in demand yet relatively scarce is the ability to speak and write English. Globalization has infiltrated Honduras, and most of its citizens have been caught off guard.

The biggest question is whether these diverse pressures will foment social unrest throughout the country. Hondurans have a tradition of accepting whatever is dealt to them by the authorities, and this stoic attitude has historically saved the country from revolutionary upheavals. However, the rise in gangs and other social ills have deteriorated the fabric woven into Honduran society and which has traditionally kept it together. Moral and ethic principals are in decline, just as delinquency and crime have increased. The government has responded by increasing the police force. This is a temporary solution, the country needs to boost the economy's productivity and educate its population to really stabilize these social pressures.

The government is presently preparing a master plan to reconstruct the country. Their goal is to procure international aid and financing to start anew. The goals are laudable, but I wonder how they will really turn out. Money and aid could easily be wasted away in projects that fall shy of their goals. The success of their plan also requires some structural changes that may be too difficult to implement in the short term.

One example is the resistance of the National Congress to reduce its size. Although a proposal was approved, it was not ratified due to resistance amongst the congressional representatives who wanted to protect their positions and their continued livelihood. What this example shows me is that lofty goals are not easily met due to paradigms and resistance to change. Nonetheless, the government must try and we wish them good luck with this extremely difficult task.

 Another good example of projects not fulfilling their original objectives is this web site. Although many talented individuals have put time, money and love into its creation, to date, it has not produced the desired results. We have been able to help many Hondurans throughout the world, especially during and after Hurricane Mitch. But the Internet is still a frontier that is being created and many citizens of developing countries (including Honduras) have not yet realized its potential. Honduras.com has not been able to generate the local support for the web site to keep it running at full steam. Which basically means that the perennial cash flow problem of any new venture now dictates a reduction in our operations.

Therefore, this is the last official installment of this column, which truly grieves me. Perhaps I will be able to produce others in the future, but internal company politics presently dictates that it is better just to bid adieu to Honduras.com at this time. I only hope that my columns in the past months have educated many surfers regarding this country's politics and will continue to do so. One thing is for certain, the political situation in Honduras is continually changing and evolving. Is it reality or just another Internet fantasy? IRL - in real life, only time will tell.

Send your comments to: fantasypolitics@honduras.com