Latin America & Caribbean

IFI governance

News

IMF welcomes coup in Venezuela

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.

8 May 2002

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.

8 May 2002

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.

8 May 2002

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.

8 May 2002

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.

25 March 2002

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.

25 March 2002

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”.

25 March 2002

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.

25 March 2002

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.

1 January 2002

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.

2 November 2001

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.

10 September 2001

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.

10 September 2001