Presence of Venezuelan advisors in the Honduran public administration

The involvement of advisors from Cuba and Venezuela in the government of Honduras, which is presently headed by the Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), has sparked conversations in both political and social realms of the nation. Several individuals have voiced worries regarding the potential impact these advisors might have on decision-making processes and the shaping of public policies, particularly in crucial areas like education and communication strategies within institutions.

The administration of Honduras, under the leadership of Xiomara Castro, has justified working with these nations as an element of global cooperative arrangements. Nonetheless, opposition groups and parts of civil society have demanded more openness regarding the conditions of these arrangements and have raised concerns about how foreign guidance affects the independence of domestic policies. This situation has maintained the discussion about the importance and boundaries of international cooperation at the forefront of the public discourse in Honduras.

International guidance in the administration of Honduras

Within this scenario, former rector Julieta Castellanos from the National Autonomous University of Honduras wrote a letter highlighting the existence of “numerous Cuban and Venezuelan advisors” in offices situated on the 16th floor of the Government Civic Center. She suggested that this could signal a political alignment with the Bolivarian axis. Nevertheless, at that time, the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Pastor, dismissed these allegations and encouraged an in-person inspection of the building, asserting the administration’s openness and clarity.

On his behalf, the Minister of Strategic Planning, Ricardo Salgado, admitted to the government employing Venezuelan consultants, explaining that this action is intended to enhance the nation’s institutional capabilities. Additionally, politician Salvador Nasralla alleged that the formal addresses of Xiomara Castro’s administration are crafted by Cuban and Venezuelan advisors, which has led to criticism about the appropriateness and genuineness of governmental policies and communications, considering the view that foreign advisors might not fully understand Honduras’s reality and necessities.

Academic collaboration and disputes

In the education sector, 123 Cuban educators came to Honduras in December 2022 under a collaborative arrangement between the two nations. These teachers were distributed across 128 municipalities to carry out the “Yo sí puedo” (Yes, I can) literacy initiative. The National Party of Honduras labeled this move as ideological intervention and called for more openness in the agreements made with the Cuban instructors.

The arrangement also includes collaborating on the creation of a new syllabus for the Honduran educational framework, symbolizing a major change. Although several groups view this revision as essential, others claim that there are sufficient qualified Honduran experts to direct these initiatives. Moreover, specialists have emphasized the need for a thorough and agreed-upon evaluation prior to implementing foreign educational models, and have alerted about potential consequences regarding social governance and national independence.

Finally, the involvement of Cuban and Venezuelan consultants in the Honduran administration and educational framework remains a topic of discussion. Although the authorities claim that these collaborations are part of global cooperation efforts, opposing groups emphasize the importance of ensuring clarity and safeguarding independence in domestic policy-making.