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| Honduras News This Past Week
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Everything Set for Carnival
La Ceiba. For those unaware, the La Ceiba Carnival is a celebration of the patron saint, San Isidro, and is the biggest in Central America. It takes place on the third Saturday in May, though there are mini-carnivals with food, drink, and bands in the various barrios in the days leading up to it. This is a unique event that completely packs the town out, and is generally very peaceful and good natured. The authorities of the tourism unit, the representatives of the municipality, and the National Police have agreed that all is in place to make this year's Carnival a great success.
The inauguration will be on Saturday the 13th about twelve noon, on the avenue of San Isidro. Many people are expected to attend the event. The mayor, Ceibeño Milton Simón González, has asked for the people of La Ceiba to support the various activities, to make for a very successful event. "This is one festival everyone can enjoy and participate in", he said.
Osmín Bardales, addressing the issue of security, assured that there will be sufficient protection. "We have at least 500 personnel available between the different units to surround all the sectors where citizens will gather", he stated. He added that members of the Red Cross and firemen will be available to lend any support that is required in the matter of aiding attendees.
Saturday the 20th of May, Carnival week will conclude with an elaborate parade of floats.
Passport Office Overwhelmed
San Pedro Sula. Personnel at the immigration office have been overworked and understaffed, unable to service the hundreds of people daily who swarm their offices in hopes of obtaining a passport. The number of requests has increased since Easter, forcing personnel to work until as late as seven at night to take care of the demand.
The regional director of Immigration, Marco Tulio del Arca, is well aware of the problem, and requests that those applying have patience. He recommends people arrive at the immigration office with all the necessary paperwork, in order to expedite the process for all. The office has been handling 320 people per day, up from the usual 250.
One worker believes the amount of applicants has gone up because the economic situation of the country forces hundreds of people to look for alternatives, and the United States is the destination. When asked if they would be able to obtain a visa to travel to the United States, they confirmed that it would be very difficult, given the requirements that must be met at the embassy. Even with the increased security measures implemented at the border of Mexico and the United States, this person remained confident that crossing the border into the United States was quite possible.
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