Venezuela's Central Bank said in November that the country should begin to pull out of recession with 2 per cent growth predicted for 2011, four times more than the IMF suggested.
Latin America & Caribbean
Rights
News
Experts' concern over investment treaties
A group of more than 35 leading academic experts in investment law have to express concerns over the social impact of investor protection priority in target countries.
Finance
News
Argentina wins Paris Club talks without IMF
In mid November, Argentina got the green light from rich countries, grouped together in the so-called Paris Club, to negotiate repayment of about $7.5 billion in defaulted debt without IMF oversight.
Environment
News
IFI-induced debt catastrophes?
Natural disasters in Haiti and Pakistan have heightened calls for larger debt cancellation, rather than new IMF loans, and for a rethink of the sovereign debt system.
Conditionality
News
Jamaica: IMF halts school construction
Newspaper Jamaica Gleaner reported in early September that the country’s IMF programme has slowed the building of new schools.
Accountability
News
IMF grants Antigua loan amid controversy
The IMF has faced increased political pressure to refuse a $118 million loan to Antigua and Barbuda following the government’s seizure of assets belonging to Allen Stanford, former head of the now fallen Stanford Investment Bank (SIB).
Conditionality
News
Debt crisis in Europe: Beware IMF bearing gifts
The descent of Greece into a sovereign debt crisis marks the first time a country that uses the euro has gone to the IMF. The fear of adverse market reaction has now moved Europe towards greater coordination and the G20 to argue against continued fiscal stimulus.
Environment
News
Court finds fault with IFC-backed paper mill
Controversy over the Botnia paper mill, which was part financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, continues as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Uruguay breached regional treaty obligations by failing to properly inform neighbouring Argentina when authorising its construction.
Environment
News
Guyanese oppose REDD without consultation
Participants reviewing proposed low carbon development strategies and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation policies of the World Bank at a workshop on Indigenous peoples' rights, extractive industries and national development policies in Guyana, expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation process indicating that previous concerns were yet to be addressed.
Accountability
News
World Bank and IMF restore relations with Honduras
The Bank and Fund have decided to restore relations with Honduras, after almost eight months of suspension.
Conditionality
News
Haiti to receive Bank finance and debt relief
In late March the World Bank announced a three-year programme of financial support for Haiti totalling $479 million, which includes total cancellation of its $39 million debt to the Bank.
Accountability
News
World Bank restores aid to post-coup Honduras
The World Bank announced in early February that it would restore aid to Honduras, following the inauguration of Porfirio Lobo as president.
