At 7:00 p.m. on November 28, the SNAI announced through a statement Glas was released and left amid a sea of his supporters. Amid the shouts, applause, and hugs of his supporters, Jorge Glas, was released from Prison 4 in Quito last Monday night, November 28, 2022. Ecuador’s former Vice President was released from prison […]

The audit of Petroecuador’s balance sheets is part of the commitments of the credit program that Ecuador signed with the IMF. No company submitted bids in the contest called by Petroecuador to audit their financial statements. The call for contracting the audit was made in August 2022, and its objective was to clarify and order […]

The Mundialito de los Pobres, with a format inspired by the Soccer World Cup, is the most popular neighborhood tournament in Cuenca. The first edition was played in 1966. Cuencanos do not have to wait every four years to see their favorite teams lift the World Cup. Every year, during the holiday season, 36 teams […]

I don’t really have much to say this week, other than that I have been really humbled by the response to our ‘A Simple Box of Food’ program. We met our goal in three days. Imagine that. I’m just floored by it. Anyway, more on that below. Back to the humbling part. I guess I […]

Illegal mining activity grows in 13 Napo communities after the intervention in the Yutzupino area. Invasions are reported in four legal concessions. Illegal mining activities in the Amazonian province of Napo increased during the second half of 2022. The reactivation of these illegal activities occured after the military and police evicted some 700 informal miners […]

 The recent ash fall and seismic activity are the first major signs of eruptive episodes since November 2015.  The Cotopaxi volcano is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, according to the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School of Ecuador. Cotopaxi is also the second highest volcano in the country, only surpassed by Chimborazo. The […]

The reserve was founded in 1999 to protect the habitat of the Orcés Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), an endangered bird that inhabits the foothill cloud forest in southwestern Ecuador. Buenaventura has an inventory of more than 300 species of birds; several of them are endemic and highly threatened. Visiting the Buenaventura Reserve means tuning your ear to distinguish the […]

In Ecuador, life expectancy has risen from 49.2 years in 1950 to 77.9 years in 2022, according to a study by ECLAC, which shows life projections for Ecuadorians. Ecuador has third highest life expectancy in South America, according to a study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), published in November […]

Between January and October 2022, there was also a reduction in traffic accidents. One call changed everything. Paola Simbaña clearly remembers the night of September 24, 2019, when she received the news that her 20-year-old brother Juan Carlos had died in a traffic accident. Due to excessive speed, the interprovincial bus that was taking him […]

The upcoming renewal of the Pachakutik board of directors revived the controversies, in what appears to be a new power struggle within the party. It appears that the divisions between Pachakutik and Conaie might be impossible to overcome. One year after the first splits, the two ends of the indigenous movement face one of their […]

My wife and I own a paradise in an area called the Yunguilla Valley in the Azuay Province in Ecuador. It’s a place where simply giving water and nutrients to plants makes them thrive. And over the last six years, Codie—with the help of a local worker— has turned our land into a lush forest […]

The government’s intervention in the prison on November 1, 2022, leaves 6 policemen and 10 prisoners dead in its wake. Three prisons have been impacted by the ‘Service for Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI), the National Police and the Armed Forces (FF. AA.)’ in 18 days: Litoral Penitentiary CPPL Pichincha No. 1 (El […]

Ecuadorian shrimp exports could close the year at approximately $7.0 billion, the highest figure in the Central Bank’s historical record. In the first nine months of 2022, shrimp exports amounted to $5.676 billion, a growth of 54% compared to the period January-September 2021, according to the Central Bank. It is a value that is 7% […]

A forest fire in Cerro Azul, northwest of Guayaquil, destroys the habitat of several critically endangered species. Days after the forest fire in Cerro Azul, which occurred on November 5th, volunteers from the Sacha Project inspected the area devastated by the fire. They went up to a viewpoint on the hill, located in the north […]

The security reforms that the Assembly is processing include a new reform to the COIP, which will focus on reinforcing measures such as preventive detention in people with criminal records. Long sought-after reforms on security issues won’t be ready until the end of the year, but the National Assembly is ‘pressing the accelerator’ so that […]

My father would have been 80 years-old today. He would have shared that milestone with Joe Biden. That would have been something special. But, as some of you who know me will remember, he died almost 7 years ago now, on February 3, 2016, from complications related to kidney disease. Not a day goes by […]

Only half of Ecuador’s children have access to safe drinking water and sanitation The lack of access to basic services, such as drinking water and sanitation, is closely related to the quality of childhood nutrition, a primary cause chronic malnutrition. Access to basic services in Ecuador is limited. A survey by the United Nations Children’s […]

Half of the ‘Economically Active Population’ of Ecuador obtains income in the informal sector. Among them are those who showcase their skills in the streets. Luis Laz walks along a rope tied between posts two meters high. Fidian Caicedo throws three machetes into the air and catches them as if they were made of paper. […]

The MIES has identified gangs in Ecuador that are dedicated to capturing children and adolescents to force them to beg or work in the streets. The Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) has identified 374,000 people who live on the streets of the country in a situation of begging; many are child ‘workers.’ The […]

Travelers come daily to the country to climb or  hike along Ecuador Volcanoes. The beauty of the country is largely due to the Andean Mountain chain it hosts. There are 90 volcanoes across the country, and although most do not have eruptions Ecuador and Galapagos Islands have 27 potentially active volcanoes. Most of these are continental: Cayambe, Reventador, Guagua Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, […]

There is a lot of information about poverty in Ecuador in this issue. I think that’s a good thing. Seems it’s so easy to get caught up in our own little problems that we often forget to look at the bigger picture and realize how lucky we all are. If you’re reading this, you’re likely […]

The windfall from oil revenues is reducing short-term pressures on fiscal accounts, but public sector efficiency is critical for fiscal sustainability. Despite this, the polarized political and social context continues to limit the room for policy maneuvers and may prevent Ecuador from achieving its growth potential. Growth-enhancing reforms would require consensus-building around critical measures and […]

Last week an appeals court declared the case null and void, meaning former Vice President Jorge Glas can again request that his sentences be unified, and that he be let out of prison on ‘pre-release.’ The Singue case is an emblematic case of alleged corruption during the government of former President Rafael Correa. The case deals […]

I believe tomorrow could be one of the most important elections America will hold in its history. As you all know, I am a Democrat. Nonetheless, I thought that on the eve on the next election, it would be captivating to reprint a speech Ronald Reagan gave on the eve of the 1980 Presidential election. […]

Owners of commercial premises in downtown Cuenca have received phone calls or visits from extortionists asking for money in exchange for “security.” At the end of September 2022, dozens of business owners located on Calle Larga, in the Historic Center of Cuenca, received phone calls with a threat: they had to deliver a weekly amount […]

Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of exception in two provinces last Tuesday, after at least five police officers were killed and prison guards taken hostage in the latest wave of attacks in the deadly gang war consuming the country. The state of exception and nightly curfew in the coastal provinces of Guayas and Esmeraldas […]

Alexander Levoyer, commander of the Esmeraldas Joint Task Force, gave an interview this weekend about the security problems in this province. On the morning of October 31, 2022, in the center of Esmeraldas, two bodies appeared hanging on a pedestrian bridge, at the entrance of La Guacharaca, a Los Tiguerones fort. The following day, in […]

In early October, the city received a distinction from the Ministry of Telecommunications for its digital efforts. Since 2020, the 234 urban buses in Loja have been working without coins or cash involved. When a passenger wants to pay, they just show their ‘contactless’ card, previously purchased at public transport consortium points. The units also […]

The Quito Astronomical Observatory (OAQ) announced that Ecuador will be able to enjoy a total lunar eclipse this Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The eclipse will begin at 04:09 a.m. on Tuesday and will have two phases: the penumbra (shadow or partial) and the umbra (total), according to the entity. The twilight zone will begin at 03:02, where the Moon will dim a bit. While later the partial eclipse, visible to the naked eye, will begin […]

I know that lately my columns have sounded like I am against Ecuador’s Indigenous people. I am not. I am against their ‘leaders.’ And I purposely put single quotes around the word ‘leaders’ because I really think of them as “hindrances.” Last week I talked about what Iza has been saying and this week I […]

Esmeraldas, Zone 8 (Guayaquil, Samborondón and Durán) and Manabí have the highest rates of violence on a national scale.

Hospitals in Manta, Bahía de Caráquez and Pedernales are still able to fully operate due to contracting processes that delay basic works. In Manabí, there is an urgency for the hospitals in Manta, Bahía de Caráquez and Pedernales to start operating. But, the lack of resources, questions and irregularities have not allowed the physical works, […]

The ECU-911 receives the largest number of reports of domestic violence on weekends. Between January and October 2022, there were 84,429 of this type of call recorded.

Every two years, the WWF presents its Living Planet report on the loss of biodiversity. And this year the verdict is that sharks are in grave danger from aggressive fishing. Mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have suffered an unprecedented drop, of 69% of their population since 1970. But the worst part is carried by […]

The arrival of the transnational fast fashion company in the country sparked an economic, environmental and social discussion.

Social organizations and the government reached dozens of agreements. Failure to reach agreement on fuel subsidies is the biggest outstanding issue. The dialogue tables between the government and social organizations were officially closed on October 14, 2022. These spaces for debate —which were installed after the national strike of June 2022— ended with agreements, disagreements, some unsigned minutes and offers of follow-up. According to the […]

With this ruling, President Guillermo Lasso must issue an executive decree calling for a vote. This document will return to the Constitutional Court to review the form of the questions. Two questions must go through the National Assembly. President Guillermo Lasso ‘s referendum proposal received the first approval of the Constitutional Court (CC). The magistrates […]

I flew back from the US this week, flying first from Miami to Quito and then Quito to Cuenca. Usually a pleasant trip, albeit long. This time was an exception, but not because of my flights. Rather, because of someone who flew with me. But let me back up a second. While I was in […]

The public company Petroecuador dispatched a total of 14.5 million gallons of diesel for the fishing sector, between January and August 2022. The figure includes diesel 2 and premium, delivered to the shrimp, tuna and other fisheries industries that receive the subsidized fuels. The amount represents an average daily dispatch of 60,388 gallons for the fishing sector. The amount of diesel delivered to this sector […]

The Constitutional Court partially accepted the partial objection for unconstitutionality sent by President Guillermo Lasso, against the reforms to the Communication Law. The body unanimously accepted 12 of the 18 objections that the Executive had presented. These reforms, which were approved by the National Assembly on July 22, 2022, were included in a minority report — supported mainly by the […]

Guayas, Pichincha and Azuay present the biggest problems, even though the ANT says that people should not wait more than a week to renew the license. The renewal of a driver’s license can be added to the list of procedures that are difficult to carry out in Ecuador. The wait for a turn to obtain […]

Bufeo or Inia geoffrensis and Tucuxi are the two species of river dolphins severely threatened in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

I think all expatriates have a small idea in the back of their minds that they will someday ‘return home.’ I know I held that belief for a long time. But for me it’s a little more complex because my wife is from Europe, not the US. So where would we go if we ever […]

Ipsos surveyed over 700 Ecuadorians to learn how they perceive the country’s economic situation. Only 8% of those surveyed believe it is positive.

This occurred after the resolution issued on an alleged breach of the National Development and Government Plan.

About 15.4% of Ecuadorians suffer from hunger, which is equivalent to 2.7 million people, according to a report prepared by the FAO.

In total, 31 officials from the Prosecutor’s Office have applied to enter the Victims and Witnesses Protection System in 2022. Some prosecutors have been in the program for two years.

The devastating floods in Pakistan have revived the debate on how climate change exacerbates weather events. And Ecuador is not exempt from tragedies, warns a new study. The monsoon rainy season this year in Pakistan caused more than more than 1,400 deaths and left 30% of the country under water. Although the monsoon season is […]

The Government Minister, Francisco Jiménez, clarified that “there is no agreement” to implement this proposal.  The dialogue table on security and justice will close without the expected agreements on the part of the three indigenous movements, which demand economic compensation from the State, and that the government not criminalize indigenous leaders for their participation in […]

The Central Bank lowered the growth forecast for Ecuador’s economy to 2.7% in 2022, as a result of the June protests. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Ecuador registered a recovery of 1.7% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the same period of 2021, according to the Central Bank. This shows that the […]

The relationship with Mexico is key in security and migration. The signing of a trade agreement with that country would facilitate Ecuador’s entry into the Pacific Alliance. The most recent chapter in the bilateral relationship with Mexico is of a commercial nature. But the relationship with that country is also relevant for Ecuador in migratory […]

Ecuador’s country risk indicator was 1,708 points on September 28, 2022. It is the third highest in South America, only behind Venezuela and Argentina. Ecuador ‘s country risk stood at 1,708 points on September 28, 2022, a higher score than that recorded during the national strike called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) in […]

I’m in the US for some medical appointments and I am staying with a friend in Denver. We were having a conversation about one of his neighbors and how she was treating people working on a new addition she is adding to her house. This woman inherited $3.2 million dollars when her mother died and […]

The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, will meet with the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, in Bogotá, with the Chilean, Gabriel Boric, in Santiago, and with the Peruvian, Pedro Castillo, in Lima. The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, begins a Latin American tour on October 3rd to bring […]

The reduction of the public accounts deficit has helped the Government to lower its borrowing needs, says the investment bank. The increase in the price of oil, higher tax collection and the slow execution of spending in the Budget during 2022 will allow Ecuador to stay away from issuing foreign debt bonds until 2024. According […]

At least 12 uniformed men, a sister of Germán Cáceres and another cadet are in the sights of the Prosecutor’s Office. After the discovery of the body of the lawyer María Belén Bernal, last Wednesday afternoon, the investigations continue. Now, the Prosecutor’s Office is working to clarify the circumstances of the crime and to identify […]

According to Fedexpor, that country is the ninth ranked market for Ecuador’s non-oil exports within the European Union. Non-oil trade between Ecuador and Portugal was favorable for the country in the first six months of this year by $54 million. Between January and July of this year $68 million was collected from exports and $16 […]

I’m riding out Hurricane Ian with my mother in Florida. Or at least we are getting ready for it. It’s Tuesday and it’s supposed to hit tomorrow. We seem to have lucked out, as it is going to hit on the West coast, and we are on the East coast. Nonetheless, we are being told […]

Four people died and two others are missing from the accident.  A boat sank off the Galapagos Islands on the afternoon of September 25, 2022. Four people have been confirmed dead; 2 people are missing. In addition, 31 people were rescued. The four who died were two Ecuadorians, a Colombian and an American-Israeli. The sinking of the cabotage vessel —for […]

The rights of indigenous peoples and nationalities are protected by the Constitution and other international treaties. In Ecuador, there are 14 nationalities and 18 indigenous peoples who live in three regions: Coast, Sierra and Amazon. It is estimated that there is a total of 1.1 million indigenous people in the country. Most are in the Sierra, where 68% live. They […]