IRIS XIOMARA CASTRO SARMIENTO, President of Honduras, highlighted the threats she faces for implementing structural changes to the country’s previous economic model that had perpetuated inequality and enriched the powerful.  Despite being a sovereign State, Honduras continues to face colonial practices and interference coupled with economic, media and political domination, she said.  “Globalization has failed” to bring prosperity, she stressed, spotlighting the damaging effects of neoliberal privatization policies, which have weakened access to essential services.  Moreover, free trade agreements have undermined sovereignty and the ability for producers to compete on equal footing.  “Peace, justice, freedom and democracy remain foundational values of our nation, and for this reason, we do not accept their hijacking by the 10 most powerful families in Honduras,” she asserted.

Against this backdrop, she called for strengthening democracy through “popular consultations” and effective participation of the people, detailing the Government’s efforts to fight corruption, including structural reforms and the dismantling of corrupt schemes that looted public resources.  These reforms have enabled free school meals, increased agricultural production and provided low-interest housing and farming loans.  Also, the “rescuing” of previously privatized national electricity, agricultural and other institutions has benefitted over 800,000 families, who receive free energy, and allowed for setting the lowest fuel prices in Central America.

Highlighting further achievements — significant investments in infrastructure, including the construction of eight hospitals and three airports — she announced a plan to build a railway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.  “We have seen a historic 15-point reduction in the homicide rate, the largest decrease in 20 years,” she said, outlining her environmental programme that has achieved “historic results” in the conservation of protected areas, forests and rivers in Honduras.

Turning to the global affairs, as a temporary president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), she denounced “the genocide against the Palestinian people”, and demanded an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.  She further voiced support for Haiti and called for an end to the embargo on Cuba, as well as urged lifting the “unfair blockade” imposed against Nicaragua and Venezuela.