Considering that Honduras faces a murder rate four times higher than Mexico, Latin America’s poster child for violence, this may be an inopportune time to dismiss more than a quarter of the Honduran national police force. President Lobo has received some praise for this appointment. The police cannot be counted on to protect companies from crime or to enforce law and order, and crime and violence create costs for businesses (GCR 2015-2016). Source: Reuters. Prior to his appointment, Bonilla served as the police liaison to the Honduran military establishment, where he sought to improve police coordination with the military in order to fight rampant crime in the country. Companies are more likely to encounter corruption when importing than when exporting from Honduras (GETR 2014). A broad coalition of civil society organizations have called for the renewal of its mandate, which is also supported by the UN Special Rapporteur on Judicial Independence and the US Embassy. A few powerful business interests monopolize media ownership (FitW 2015). If such efforts further reduce the already-depleted capacity of the police to combat organized crime, the purpose of the mass discharge will prove self-defeating. Companies are strongly recommended to use a specialized due diligence tool on public procurement to mitigate corruption risks associated with public procurement in Honduras. In return for millions in bribes, Mayor Ardón received protection against punishment from the law. Click here to send InSight Crime your comments. But while Brazil has taken on a hugely ambitious (and to some degree, successful) project at police reform, Honduras is smaller, poorer, more politically troubled, and far more important as a transit country for the shipment of cocaine. However, the Honduran government cannot take this step while members of its own law enforcement are getting away with murder and the Honduran national police force is infected with chronic corruption. Honduras has ratified the UN Anti-Corruption Convention and is a member of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. During the visit, I … Click here to send InSight Crime your comments. Some speculate that the verdict was purposefully delivered on the same day as the case against Rosa Elena, in the hope that the verdict would slip from public attention. More importantly, the precarious state of Honduran politics and the judiciary since the 2009 coup will make reform of the police incredibly difficult. It should send the U.S. State Department a strong message that, although U.S. technical and financial assistance is appreciated, the United States needs to respect Honduran sovereignty. Honduras - Corruption From at least in or about 2004, up to and including in or about 2016, multiple drug-trafficking organizations in Honduras and … President Hernández has denied any links to drug traffickers. Starting the fight against corruption will be difficult, but necessary. Unfortunately, corruption is not a rare event in Honduras. The MACCIH has since investigated 12 high-profile corruption cases involving dozens of members of congress and a former first lady, along with many other influential members of the Honduran business elite. An organization called the Organization of American States (OAS) fights to diminish corruption in the Honduran government. Corrupt officers in the Honduras police force have reportedly moved far beyond taking bribes or tipping off criminal gangs; they have been accused of acting as killers and enforcers for the country’s criminal interests. El Chapo, a notorious Mexican drug lord, was also promised safety against the law through bribes. By cutting ties between politics, business, and the drug trade, Honduras can ensure that violence and poverty will decrease. During the first three months of 2014, the Unit for Registering and Monitoring Civil Associations revoked the licenses of over 10,000 NGOs for failure to submit reports of their finances and programs to the. Students block a road in Tegucigalpa during a protest against the government of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Bonilla has had his own issues with corruption and impunity, which should cast immediate doubt on the integrity of the purge. All sectors of the economy suffer from rampant corruption. The commission would be headed by three co-chairs—representing the Honduran people, the legislature, and the police force—who would oversee the hearings and present recommendations to the new police chief.