The Independence Day Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

U.S. opposes Mexican’s execution
The Obama Administration takes the rare step of urging the Court to block temporarily a state from executing a convicted individual — in this case, a Mexican national who contends that Texas violated his rights under an international treaty, the Vienna Convention.

July 4 warning: Texas says don’t go to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

PERU
NATURAL RESOURCES IN PERU
The trials of miners

Hydrocarbon production surges in Peru

PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico Governor Fortuno Signs Deficit-Reducing 2012 Budget
Worst Budget Deficit in the Country Cut by 81 percent in Just Over Two Years, Puerto Rico Continues Progress Toward Balancing its Budget

Among the reforms implemented since 2009, Gov. Fortuno enacted the largest tax cut package in Puerto Rico’s history, which will lower taxes an average 30 percent for businesses and 50 percent for individuals. And after launching one of the most advanced Public-Private-Partnership programs in the country, the Governor announced in June that Puerto Rico will receive $1.436 billion in private infrastructure investment—the largest such investment in any U.S. jurisdiction this year and the first infrastructure P3 in the country since 2006 – to upgrade and manage two of the Island’s major toll roads.
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Fortuno took a 10 percent pay cut, required agency heads to take a 5 percent cut, froze all salaries for two fiscal years, reduced political appointments by 30 percent, and got rid of government cell phones and credit cards. Because payroll expenses dominated 70 percent of the budget, government employee ranks were reduced by 23,000 through voluntary and mandatory measures, achieving a $935 million or 17 percent reduction in total payroll.

Puerto Rico police chief quits amid crime concerns

VENEZUELA
Spanish newspaper: Chávez has colon cancer and the first surgery was a “mistake”

How bad is Hugo Chavez’s cancer? Very bad, say physicians

Hugo Chávez’s cancer puts 2012 Venezuela elections in doubt
As President Hugo Chávez fights what some experts say is an aggressive form of colon cancer, some wonder what it will mean for next year’s presidential race I was talking to a physician friend who had not read this article but who reached the same conclusion based on the information that we have so far:

He also said it’s possible that the original abscess drainage procedure itself could have contaminated the area with cancer cells. Treatment, doctors agreed, would be aggressive radiation and chemotherapy.

“Prostate tumors normally do not cause this kind of abscess,” said Leon Lapco, president of the Venezuelan-American Doctors Association and a surgeon at Mercy Hospital. “I would say it’s his colon, the large intestine. It’s the most likely to cause diverticulitis, perforations and abscesses.”

Why Hugo Chavez’s Illness Matters

Chávez should get credit for economic miracle

After Chávez
What awaits Venezuela if he dies?

U.S. – Venezuelan Relations – Just Frozen or Beyond Repair?

What Hugo Chavez’s Illness Means for Venezuela’s Future

Noam Chomsky denounces old friend Hugo Chávez for ‘assault’ on democracy
Renowned American intellectual accuses the Venezuelan leader of concentrating too much power in his own hands

Noam Chomsky honesty appeal…

The week’s posts
Chavez back in Venezuela VIDEO
The Invisible Hugo and the list of rumors
BREAKING: HUGO CHAVEZ HAS CANCER
HACER: The must-read on Latin America
The Invisible Hugo cancels summit
Today’s installment of The Invisible Hugo: The Video
The Invisible Hugo post of the morning: the speakerphone call

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