Update to: Cuenca turns on controversial traffic radar systems Published: Volume 7, Issue 19 The Mobility Company (EMOV) announced that it will put into operation new radar control devices “as a valid method to reduce traffic accidents” in 10 locations throughout the city. The announcement was made on Thursday, February 16, 2023, and by Friday morning EMOV […]
“A message sent from my new adventure. I couldn’t let your Birthday Day go by without sending you a message. Enjoy your day – Be Safe Go Well, Mabubu from beyond!! Enjoy the game tomorrow, I can still hear you shouting :)” This was the text message I received from my best friend Joe at […]
Two sides have differing opinions on legality and propriety of transfer of police officers assigned to the Attorney General’s Office. The controversy between the Government and the Attorney General’s Office continues. On Saturday, February 11, 2023, the Ministry of...
The newly elected mayor of Guayaquil says that there is less money in the city accounts then needed to pay past debts. He also warned that contractors and vendors should not believe people claiming to be operating on his behalf. The mayor-elect of Guayaquil, Aquiles Álvarez, is concerned about the financial situation of the Municipality, […]
The president called on the entire political leadership of the country to “build a great deal.” Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso ended the silence he’s been observing since the end of the elections held this past Sunday, and spoke on Monday night about the official data, which up to now reflects that none of the eight […]
The executive president of the National Chamber of Aquaculture, José Antonio Camposano, comments on the prospects of the shrimp sector for 2023. The shrimp sector is especially interested in the trade agreement that is being negotiated with South Korea, a country to which they currently pay a 20% tariff. The statistics of the Central Bank […]
A vaccination plan for poultry against avian influenza will begin in the provinces of Cotopaxi, Tungurahua and Pichincha. Vaccination against avian influenza (or HPAI) will begin in the next eight weeks, reported the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Bernardo Manzano. During an initial phase, more than two million birds will be immunized in the […]
Update to: Briones says ‘SRI will tighten control of personal income tax’ Published: Volume 6, Issue 52 The Internal Revenue Service (SRI) is following thru on its objective of making digital platform businesses in Ecuador pay taxes. In the case of Airbnb, it has just required the platforms ‘affiliates’ to hand over their tax information. […]
Update to: The Court of Justice of Guayas revokes habeas corpus to alias ‘JR’ Published: Volume 6, Issue 31 The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, announced that the Government will not allow the release of the leader Los Choneros, Junior Roldán Paredes, alias ‘JR.’ President Guillermo Lasso reacted to the order issued by a […]
An increase in the price of diesel fuel due to the new sanctions of the European Union against Russia will impact Ecuador, which imports 76% of the diesel it uses. The decision of the European Union (EU) to ban the import of Russian diesel has economic implications...
“The lunatics have taken over the asylum.” Richard A. Rowland, who was the head of Metro Pictures, first used this expression in 1919 when the famous silent-movie stars Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and director D.W. Griffith opened the movie company United Artists, to protect their work and control their careers. United Artists went […]
‘Gato’ wove a web of drug trafficking throughout Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Europe. Wilder Emilio Sánchez Farfán, alias ‘Gato,’ was arrested in Pasto, Colombia. Simultaneously, several related raids were carried out in Ecuador. Here, police raided several properties where ‘Gato’ resided from time to time. In one of these raids, in a property in Samborondón, […]
Cuenca has needed a second wastewater treatment plant since 2015. Although it has financing, the tender has been on hold for 19 months. The tender for a new wastewater treatment plant in Cuenca has been on hold for 19 months. This process began in June 2021, but the Telecommunications, Potable Water and Sewerage Company (Etapa), […]
Update to: “The radar contract in Cuenca should be cancelled due to the falsehood of the experience” Published: Volume 7, Issue 16 The mayor-elect, Cristian Zamora, announced that his first action when he takes office will be to terminate the contract that allows the placement of new radars in Cuenca. However, on the night of […]
After the unification of his prison sentences, former Vice President Jorge Glas is close to reaching definitive pre-release. As of last Friday, January 26th, former Vice President Jorge Glas has only one sentence to serve in the Ecuadorian justice system. Judge Melissa Muñoz gave way to the unification of his prior sentences, as requested by […]
Cristian Zamora won a close contest for the Mayor of Cuenca. The representative of the Democratic Left only secured 18.56% of the votes. The next mayor of Cuenca, Cristian Zamora, is 42 years old. He entered politics 18 years ago. He is an industrial engineer and has...
According to the Government, illegal mining is growing because it receives more and more money from drug trafficking, which is why it has been declared a threat to national security. There are illegal mining camps in 17 of the 24 provinces of the Coast, Sierra and in the Amazon of Ecuador, according to the Agency […]
The election results in nine cantons were extremely close. In Colimes for example, the winner took the mayor’s office with only four votes more than his opponent. Nine cantons in the country reported the closest results in the 2023 sectional elections, with less than...
Cuenca unemployment falls, while Quito has the largest number of people without work. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Cuenca unemployment—at 3.9 %—fell more than anywhere else in the country. This represents a decrease of 2.7 percentage points compared to the last quarter of 2021. Cuenca has the second the lowest number of unemployed citizens […]
Cuencanos are getting more and more aggressive in their driving, causing an increase in traffic accidents over the last three years. Offensive behaviors are common in Cuencanos when driving, a pattern that is aggravated by the vehicular chaos that the city endures....
Ecuadorians make up the second largest group trying to cross the Darién jungle to reach the United States. In a recent interview, Cristina Zugasti, representative of Doctors Without Borders in Panama, talked about the physical and emotional impact that migrants...
For those of you who have read my column for a few years or more (hard to believe I’ve been writing it for over 6 years), you know how I used to feel about all the anger and hatred spewed out in response to some of the things I wrote. The threats, the crazy comments […]
Update to: Lasso decrees reductions of VAT, ICE and ISD taxes Published: Volume 7, Issue 15 The Foreign Currency Outflow Tax (ISD) rate will drop from 4% to 3.75% as of February 1st, 2023. The rate will be down to 2% by the end of the year. The Foreign Currency Outflow Tax (ISD) rate dropped […]
Ecuador will have the second lowest inflation rate in South America in 2023, behind Bolivia, and the lowest rate in all of Latin America in 2024, according to the United Nations report. Ecuador will likely see inflation of 3.5% in 2023, according to the report World...
Update to: Air passenger traffic grows in Quito after the pandemic Published: Volume 7, Issue 16 Starting June 1st, the Colombian airline Avianca will operate a new international route in Ecuador: Quito-New York. The flights will operate five times a week. From Quito, the flights will depart on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. While, […]
The causes of violent deaths in Azuay are mainly associated with illegal mining. The province has four conflictive points in Ponce Enríquez, Sígsig, Pucará and the Molleturo parish (Cuenca).
The Guillermo Lasso administration is facing its fourth alleged corruption scandal and this one involves his brother-in-law. As a result of a series of leaks of recordings that involve former officials, servants and people close to the Lasso government, the State...
Mobility is one of the issues that most worries Cuencanos. The next mayor has the challenge of reducing traffic chaos and establishing an integrated transport system with the tram as the central axis. Mobility is one of the top priorities of the nine candidates for Mayor of Cuenca. All agree on the need to develop […]
In 2022, tax collection in Azuay increased by 21% compared to the previous year. It was also up 27% from 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Tax collection in Azuay increased by 21% in 2022, compared to what was collected in 2021. The province contributed $888.7 million, according to figures published by the Internal […]
Sedan-type vehicles are losing market share to SUVs offering more room and models.