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Thinking about Santo Domingo's Recently developed Metro System, the second metro system to be functional in the Caribbean, (The other one being, San Juan in Puerto Rico). And one of many through out Latin America. The Hypothesis that are associated when considering Guatemala City's necessity and feasibility of a Metro System, (Above and Bellow ground lines) are the following: First: Guatemala City has reached a point where its ground level arteries are no longer sufficient to manage commuting density, resulting in nonfunctional traffic delay. Any intent on using ground level alternatives to reduce traffic might backfire, resulting in an even bigger increase on traffic delay. Second: Guatemala City has the size and volume necessary to make a Metro System economically sustainable. Third: The city's geological conditions are technically favorable when analyzing the geological demands of constructing a Metro System. Forth: The system would have tremendous positive economic i...

Previously I said that in fact, we know little of the implications that come out of Guatemala's involvement in Petrocaribe. What are the known facts? Guatemala will buy low quality dieasel, (High sulfuric content, something that makes me wonder what Environmental & Natural Resources Ministry's director, Dr. Luís Ferraté, would have to say bout its environmental impact on Guatemala City ). The Diesel will be bough through credit and will have to be payed in 25 years. This, is obviously means a massive debt, one that has the potential of becoming the biggest Guatemala has ever gotten itself into. The view becomes bleaker when adding the nations budget deficit, fact that has been pointed out by the nations Monetary Council. Once again, its not the size of the debt, but our ability to pay it in the not so far off future. The speed at which this whole agreement has been managed, has been a little too fast. Earlier this week we could apreciate a slight drop in WTI Crude oil price...

Nowadays, the all too popular subject about Guatemala's negotiations with Petrocaribe can be considered a controversial issue in Guatemala. I'm sure many, including me, don't have a clear Idea of what Guatemalan government pursues with this, and what is the price that we will have to pay Venezuela in return. It's a well known fact that in the popular phrase of Latin American economists: "There are no free lunches" (Translation clarification: Nothing is really free). Basically, the agreement between Petrocaribe (Created by Hugo Chavez, and not "Officially" related to the Bolivarian Movement, Chavez's counter strategy for FTA), means an increase in national debt. I have to emphasize that the key problem or issue is not limited to the increase in prices for energy and subsequent goods, but also involves the question of whether Guatemalans can pay for them. We are trying to resolve a problem by trimming its branches, and not its roots. The challen...

Frequently, when proposing the construction of a Metro as a solution for Guatemala's public transportation's problem, questions on its feasibility arise, as though it where some kind of Utopia. Doubts come in the order of its physical, administrative, economic and even personal safety issues. The answer from an architect's, engineer's, and operation's perspective, is: YES it is very feasible, because in the las 150 years, hundreds of cities through out the globe have successfully dealt with similar problems, in situations that are even more challenging. (For example, Chile and Mexico's complicated geological characteristics.) Guatemala's technical conditions are quite favorable; its topographic conditions (Fairly flat in most of trajectories where the Metro could work), a city layout that has defined its principle arteries, very stable and easy to work soil conditions, with plaza's and ideal locations for above ground lines, access & transfer...

186 years of having an "independent country", 48 years of efforts to create a "common market" in Central America, 22 years of a "democratic culture", 12 years of "peace", 4 years of a pseudo business like government and 3 years left of a government who calls itself "Social Democratic". Still, we Guatemalans, are far away from overcoming our biggest challenge; a significant increase in our populations quality of living. Time has indeed elapsed, most Guatemalans have still to realize that it is not the government who pushes a country and its people forward. Specially when that government, regardless of the plans it announced before being elected, raises taxes, becomes alarmingly in debt and, finally, echoing what a recent economic publication declared, Guatemala today is poorer. It seems that Guatemala's "Government for the Poor" ( As it calls it self) is increasing its targeted audience every day. The answer, fellow Guatem...

Guatemala is one of the most controversial subjects in the world of International Adoption today. Not wishing to add further to the controversy, it is just that adopting a child from Guatemala today can be a little tricky unless you know what you are doing. International Adoption is not easy, especially when there is a language barrier. Add to that the fact that you are about to enter an area where the entire world of Adoption is treated like an unofficial major industry and you can perhaps begin to imagine where potential problems might arise International adoption is a very positive alternative for couples who have endured disappointing fertility results and failed domestic adoption attempts. Please be aware that international adoption is not cheap. International adoption is not for everyone, it is a complicated, exciting, scary, fulfilling and ultimately life-changing process and is a wonderful way of expanding your family and providing a caring, loving home to a child in need. Inte...

The First underground metropolitan transport system was born in London, 1863. It was steam powered until 1890, when it upgraded to electric power. Even before electric power, other great cities of the world had already started to benchmark the Idea, New York (1885), Paris (1900). Buenos Aires, Argentina, constructed a Metro System in 1903 even before the city population reached a million! Today, hundreds of cities throughout the the 5 continents have working Metro Systems, some combine subterranean, ground level and above level rails. Most of these cities started Metro developments before the where the size Guatemala City is now, most metro developments took a decade or more for the Idea to become a reality. Could Guatemala City have a Metro that: Could move above or below ground level, leaving the ground level for cars. Could move a million commuters a day. Be hydroelectrically powered. Would save billions of dollars in oil importation. That would reduce millions of commuting hou...