On 12 April Thomas Dawson, the gaffe-prone IMF External Relations Director, welcomed the short-lived Venezuelan administration headed by Pedro Carmona, a business association leader.
Latin America & Caribbean
IFI governance
News
IMF role in debt arbitration disputed
Ministers at the Spring Meetings agreed that the IMF should not, except in “exceptional circumstances” provide large bailouts to countries in financial crises.
Rights
News
New IFI newsletter in spanish
A new bulletin, Info-IFI, aims to inform Spanish-speaking readers about the actions of the Multilateral Development Banks.
Conditionality
News
IMF in Argentina: “failed to learn the lessons of East Asia”
The number of pundits up in arms over the IMF’s handling of the crisis in Argentina continues to mount. The most recent selection includes Brazilian President, Henrique Cardoso, and ex-World Bank Chief Economist, Joseph Stiglitz.
Social services
News
Company seeks compensation after Bolivians force re-nationalisation
US multinational Bechtel is seeking compensation from the Bolivian government after protests forced the cancellation of its contract to provide water in Cochabamba. The case has been accepted by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, a little-known arm of the World Bank Group. Campaigners are preparing to challenge the process.
Accountability
News
No investigation into Peru goldmine corruption
The World Bank has recently announced that it will not be taking action following allegations of corruption levelled at corporate clients in Peru and Lesotho. The Peru goldmine and Lesotho dam cases lead some Bank-watchers to question the Bank’s high-profile commitment to rooting out corruption.
Conditionality
News
IMF “fun” with Argentina
The Nigerian government has cancelled its IMF programme. IMF spokesperson tests Argentinians’ sense of humour by agreeing that mistakes may be made again in the future. He explained: “that is economics. And that is why it is so much fun”.
Conditionality
News
New report on Bolivian PRSP
Christian Aid, in collaboration with a number of Bolivian civil society groups, has produced a new report examining the quality of participation in the Bolivian Poverty Reduction Strategy process.
Finance
News
IMF shares blame for Argentina’s collapse
Many eyes are now looking to see how Argentina will manage its financial and political crises.
Rights
News
Protests escalate in Argentina
A recently formed movement of unemployed Argentinians erected roadblocks to protest at the government’s drastic cut-backs in public spending.
Environment
News
Bank under fire on oil, gas and mining
Ecuadorean NGO DECOIN has expressed outrage at the findings of a report on a World Bank funded mining project in Ecuador.
Conditionality
News
Argentina to be sacrificed on free-market altar?
In August, Argentinian teachers, doctors and public workers went on strike and unemployed workers and students blocked roads to protest against rising unemployment and cuts in pensions and salaries.