The Real Challenge for Guatemala

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 Guatemalans, is in ourselves, our work, our aspirations of productivity and competitive nature. We need to demand of our governments only those conditions that are favorable for development and investment, and then just let us work, keeping crime low and thus permitting everybody's right to earn our daily bread in a dignified manner in a Global Guatemala.

Originally written by Lic. Donald Rodas Artola and translated by Juan Francisco Aguilar.