Life of Wry

I started reading this book today…

I’m still in the introduction with twenty chapters and an epilogue to go, but so far, it’s a gorgeously, poetically written love story to the land, people and culture of Guatemala.

Reading it because I leave for Guatemala in about 3 1/2 weeks (yeow!). It’ll be a trip that focuses on exactly those things — the land, people and culture of the country. I expect to have my socks knocked off.

Lots more to come on that topic.

~~

Today, though, I read that protests and demonstrations were robust in Guatemala City (capital) against the recently beaten former president (Giammattei) who seems to be pulling a trump – refusing to leave office. The Reuters headline I read said, “Tensions high outside Guatemala Congress as inauguration sessions delayed.” I don’t know a lot yet, but what I understand is that the guy who won the election four or five months ago (Arevalo, who heads the Semilla party – a social democratic, environmentalist and progressive party) represents a new for-the-people vision of the future, and importantly, a less corrupt vision of government. From the article:

Vowing to restore democracy and banish deep-rooted corruption in Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America with 17.1 million people, Arevalo, 65, won the August presidential run-off in a sweeping victory.

Today, I believe, was inauguration day and it looks like the attorney general and the justice system — in cahoots with the outgoing corrupt guy — are throwing all kinds of roadblocks in front of the new guy, weakening his authority. Also from the article:

The “coup” attempt, as Arevalo terms it, has drawn tens of thousands of Guatemalans to the streets and the international community, including the United States, has piled vast pressure on Giammattei’s administration to proceed with the transition of power.

And I thought this was also interesting in light of our immigration stresses:

Arevalo, a career diplomat, sociologist and son of former President Juan Jose Arevalo, will grapple with a country with half its population living in poverty, rising costs of living and violence that is a main driver of Central American migrants to the United States.

Anyway, I’m not sure what all this means. I contacted Lance who said he’s been in touch with his people in Guatemala and, so far, it’s not as bad as the media is suggesting. He said the locals feel all will be cleared up shortly and nobody should worry about travel to and around the country. In his words:

Yes, I have been on the phone on and off all weekend monitoring events closely.

I just talked 5 minutes ago with the owner of the villa we will be staying at. He just drove by the Capitol building and said there were some delays as the outgoing Government tries to make things difficult for the incoming administration. He said things were quiet at the moment. Elections in Central America are always a bit dicey. He expressed great confidence that things will be fine.

I am told that issues should not escalate. Time obviously will tell, but of the three local sources I have who are quite “connected” to the news, they consistently tell me things will be OK.

Stay tuned.