The following articles are marked as unlocked and do not require an active membership.
To gain access to all weekly reports on Ecuador’s economics, politics, crime and more, consider becoming a member. Click here for more information.
Wow, what a week. I thought that I had seen it all with Donald Trump, but I was wrong. I knew he would not take being a “loser” very well, but I didn’t expect him to try to “burn down the house” on his way out. Nor did I expect to see so many...
Back in late August, Ecuadorian Vice President María Alejandra Muñoz, toured the Ubuntu community dining room located on Trinitaria Island, south of Guayaquil, which has delivered more than 12 thousand dishes and feeds 150 children a month. This Ubuntu kitchen will serve as a pilot plan for the rest of the community kitchens that...
The financing that Ecuador seeks to obtain with the ICBC Bank of China of up to $1.4 billion, through a financial operation (credit) tied to a commercial operation (sale of crude oil), would have a total cost of between 9.43%, 9.70% and 9.83%, depending on the amount of the credit and the volume of...
Well, today is election day in the United States. Because of editorial deadlines, I won’t know who has won before I have to turn this column in. In reality, because of all of the early voting, I (and you) probably won’t know for some time who won. Imagine, some states actually have rules that...
Ecuador will not rush to open its land borders with Colombia and Peru until a mechanism is found to guarantee health security measures in coordination with neighboring governments. “We depend on the decisions taken by neighboring countries, especially Peru, which has had a much longer duration of its pandemic and infections than ours,” said Government Minister María...
In our “Updates” feature, we follow up on some of our most read stories over the last few weeks. Our goal is to bring our readers up to speed on any news that adds to, changes, or increases the impact of previous topics we’ve covered. Update to: Ombudsman’s Office asks the Foreign Ministry to...
The physical space for the Vehicle Technical Review Center (CRTV) of the Santa Isabel canton is ready. The Municipality now has to install all the techincal equipment to get this new CRTV into action. Santa Isabel becomes one of the first cantons of Azuay with the physical space ready for the operation of a Vehicle Technical Review Center (CRTV).In the...
I spoke with my mother for a bit this week by WhatsApp video chat. It was nice, but certainly does not come close to seeing her in person, hugging her and seeing her laugh right next to me. Unfortunately, we both agreed that this would have to be the way of things for a...
The coronavirus pandemic has affected the economies of countries on all continents, and its aftermath will last thru the end of next year, according to two reports released last week from the World Bank and the Bank of Spain. The World Bank estimates that the region’s economy will contract by 7.9% in 2020 due...
From mid-March thru the end of September—during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic—410,000 formal jobs (i.e., contracted jobs) were lost in Ecuador. This was reported by Ecuador’s Minister of Labor, Andrés Isch, to the Economic Development Commission on September 30, 2020, which was meeting to evaluate the use of the Humanitarian Law...
It was reported last week that Juan Ribas Domenech (a one-time adviser to former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa),the former Chairman of the Board of Director of Seguros Sucre, changed his plea to guilty, in the money laundering and bribery scheme he has been charged in. In yet another case that puts a spotlight on...
Tracking the spread and outcome of the coronavirus in Ecuador: UPDATED FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 We’ve now entered the first week without nationalized restrictions in place under a state of emergency. This means that this week’s review will be the last numbers that we can be sure were relative to the prior months...
There was some tragic news over the weekend about an expat couple that passed away last week from carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s so sad in so many ways. Of course, for them, but also for their family in the US who were probably happy that they had continued to be safe during the COVID-19...
Back in 1962, Tame (Transportes Aéreos Militares Ecuatorianos) was launched in Ecuador as a military airline. Tame began commercial flights—including international flights to places such as Panama, Havana and Santiago de Chile—in the late 1960’s, operating under the administration of the Ecuadorian Air Force. Now, 58 years later, the terms of its sale will...
Last week, Ecuador’s National Court of Cassation—its highest appellate court—rejected all appeals relating to guilt for the 20 defendants* in the Bribery 2012-2016 case. What this means is that among other things, former Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa will be banned for life from running for public office in Ecuador. This was the third trial...
A negative RT-PCR test certificate is still requirement for passengers arriving in Ecuador through any of the entry points (air, land or sea). All persons must present to the Ministry of Health personnel an RT-PCR test with a negative result, issued no more than 10 days prior to arrival in the country. The National Emergency...
Tracking the spread and outcome of the coronavirus in Ecuador: UPDATED FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 Earlier this week, Ecuador’s Ministry de Salud Pública (MSP) announced that it would be publishing a new infographic model effective September 6, 2020. In its announcement it said, “the main change will be seen in the number of...
When I was a little kid, I used to watch 60 Minutes with my grandfather every week. He liked Andy Rooney, and since I worshiped my grandfather, I watched Rooney with him. I remember one episode specifically when he talked about inventions that were good, and those that were bad. He looked in his...
Ecuadorean women are using code words to seek help in situations of domestic violence as the country’s quarantine is creating conditions for increased abuse of women and children and has also forced the closure of many organizations that provide support. Some women have resorted to sending specific emojis in cell phone text messages or...
The culmination of the “state of exception” does not mean ending the restrictions that were instituted in Ecuador on March 16, 2020, to contain the spread of COVID-19. The regulations on vehicular traffic, the operation of transport in all modalities, the use of public space, the operation of bars and other places that generate...
Are you wondering if you’re eligible to vote in Ecuador next year? Well, if you’ve been a legal expatriate in Ecuador for 5 years or more—as of August 8, 2020—then you are eligible to vote in next year’s Presidential election here in Ecuador. That’s because “The Code of Democracy,” in Article 78, defines the...
In a controversial decision that is already being rejected by the mayors of two of Ecuador’s largest cities, the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) reported this week that it has approved a pilot plan for the voluntary return to classrooms in a single school in Guayaquil.According to the COE, the pilot will start September...
According to the latest population census carried out by the Ecuadorian Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), approximately 2.7 million people live in rental properties throughout Ecuador. And like in any other country, the relationship between owners and tenants becomes tense when there are defaults in payments or damage to infrastructure. That is why it...
Erin N. Markley and Ambassador Todd Chapman Erin is the Director of Public Relations and Culture for the US Department of State at the Consul in Guayaquil By Irene Gardner Todd C. Chapman, the U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador since January 2016, visited Cuenca on Wednesday, May 7, to attend the 2nd Annual Governor’s Expat Humanitarian...
- « Previous
- 1
- …
- 26
- 27
- 28