At what point is a country considered in crisis? Is it when basic goods aren’t available? Is it when citizens must choose between “having a life” or waiting endless hours in “colas” (lines) to go shopping for the little that’s left?
Pope Francis and his trip to Mexico provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program discusses the pope’s fourth trip to Latin America, which will primarily focus on key stops throughout Mexico. The program reflects on the pope’s efforts to put the global refugee crisis and the need to ease migration restrictions in front of policymakers in the hemisphere.
After 15 years of strengthening relations, centred around combatting terrorism and fighting cocaine production, the government of President Juan Manuel Santos wants to go from being the recipient of military aid via Plan Colombia to the US being a partner in the Peace Colombia initiative.
Personal contacts and questionable contracts between the government and the Chinese company CAMC Engineering reveal both the problems with public procurement in Bolivia and how far Chinese companies have advanced in the country.
