Honduras Overview Country Overview Honduras shares borders with Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. To the north lies the Caribbean and to the south the Pacific Ocean. The interior of the country comprises a central mountain system, cut by rivers flowing into both the Caribbean and Pacific. The lowlands in the south form a plain along the Pacific coast. The large fertile valleys of the northern Caribbean lowlands are cultivated with banana plantations. Tegucigalpa, the capital, was originally founded as a mining camp in 1524. La Ceiba is a major banana port, looking to tourism as a future major industry. There are good hotels and beaches, and an international airport, one of the city’s major assets. Trujillo was once a thriving port but today offers old Spanish buildings, a fascinating pirate history and superb tropical beaches. Local dishes include curiles (seafood), tortillas, frijoles, enchiladas and mondongo. There are cinemas, nightclubs and some discotheques in the main cities. General Information Area: 112,492 sq km (43,433 sq miles). Population: 6,597,100 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 58.6 per sq km. Capital: Tegucigalpa. Population: 1,037,600 (official estimate 2000). GEOGRAPHY: Honduras shares borders in the southeast with Nicaragua, in the west with Guatemala, and in the southwest with El Salvador. To the north lies the Caribbean and to the south the Pacific Ocean. The interior of the country comprises a central mountain system running from east to west, cut by rivers flowing into both the Caribbean and Pacific. The lowlands in the south form a plain along the Pacific coast. The Gulf of Fonseca in the southwest contains many islands which have volcanic peaks. The large fertile valleys of the northern Caribbean lowlands are cultivated with banana plantations. However, large areas of land in Honduras are unsuitable for cultivation. The majority of the population lives in the western half of the country, while the second-largest concentration of people is in the Cortés area which extends northwards from Lake Yojoa towards the Caribbean. Government: Republic. Head of State and Government: President Ricardo Maduro Joest since 2002. Language: The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken by the West Indian settlers in the north and on the Bay Islands off the Caribbean coast. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Time: GMT - 6. Electricity: 110/120/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 504. Outgoing international code: 00. Mobile telephone Celtel is the main network provider (website: www.celtel.net). No GSM network exists at present. Fax Empresa Hondureña de Telecomunicaciones (HONDUTEL) offers a service. Internet ISPs include NetSys (website: www.netsys.hn). E-mail can be accessed in Internet cafes in major towns. Telegram Ordinary and letter telegrams (minimum 22 words) may be sent. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes between four and seven days. Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1400-1800. Press Daily newspapers are in Spanish, and include El Heraldo, La Prensa, La Tribuna and El Tiempo. The weekly Honduras This Week is published in English. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No No Australian Yes No No Canadian Yes No No USA Yes No No OtherEU Yes No No Japanese Yes No No PASSPORTS: Passport valid for six months from date of arrival required by all. Note: It is advisable to have a return ticket, but not obligatory. However, visitors may be asked to prove how they plan to leave the country. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals referred to in the chart above; (b) nationals of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela. (c) those in transit continuing their journey within 48 hours, except for those nationals who require special authorisation. Note: For certain nationalities, authorisation will have to be obtained from Honduras before a visa can be issued. Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: £10. Validity: Up to 90 days. A visa extension may be obtained in Honduras at the Immigration Authorities for both tourism and business. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section for details. Application requirements: (a) One passport-size photo. (b) Valid passport. (c) Completed application form. (d) Fee (payable by cash or company cheque). (e) A stamped addressed registered envelope, if applying by post. (f) In some cases, travellers may be asked to provide bank records, return ticket, travel schedule and proof of residence. (g) For business visas, company letters giving full details and confirming financial responsibility for the applicant. Working days required: One to two, unless approval is needed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honduras, which can take up to ten days. Money Currency: Lempira (La) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of La500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centavos. A real is one-eighth of a Lempira, and is used colloquially, though there is no such coin. Currency exchange: Sterling cannot normally be exchanged, except at branches of Lloyds Bank; visitors should therefore take US Dollars. Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of local or foreign currency, but it is advisable to declare US Dollars. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Lempira against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 23.74 24.94 26.57 27.13 $1.00= 16.29 16.40 16.80 17.04 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500 (some banks open until 1800). Some branches open Sat 0900-1200. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Honduras without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 450g of tobacco; 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use; gifts up to a total value of US$50. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Apr 14 Day of the Americas. Apr 17 Maundy Thursday. Apr 18 Good Friday. May 1 Labour Day. Sep 15 National Day. Oct 3 Morazán Day. Oct 12 Columbus Day. Oct 21 Armed Forces Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Apr 8 Maundy Thursday. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 14 Day of the Americas. May 1 Labour Day. Sep 15 National Day. Oct 3 Morazán Day. Oct 12 Columbus Day. Oct 21 Armed Forces Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever Yes 1 Cholera 2 No Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving from infected areas. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry into Honduras. However, cases of cholera were reported in 1996 and 1999 and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. 3: Typhoid may be a risk in rural areas. 4: Malaria risk, in the benign vivax form, exists throughout the year in 80 per cent of the municipalities, especially the rural areas. Transmission risk is low in the remainder, which includes the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised in rural areas and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and hepatitis A all occur. Dengue fever may also occur. Paragonimiasis (oriental lung fluke) has been reported. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Health insurance is recommended. There are hospitals in Tegucigalpa and all the large towns. Mosquito nets are recommended for coastal areas. Travel - International AIR: American Airlines operates daily flights to Honduras with a one-night stopover in Miami. Other airlines serving Honduras include Continental Airlines, Copa Airlines and Taca International Airlines. A sales tax of ten per cent is payable on international bookings for tickets issued in Honduras. Approximate flight times: From Tegucigalpa to London is 12 hours 30 minutes. (There are no direct flights to London; connections are generally via Miami, Houston or Los Angeles). From Tegucigalpa to New York is 8 hours. International airports: Tegucigalpa (TGU) (Toncontín) is 5km (3 miles) southeast of the city. Taxis and buses are available to the city. Airport facilities include bar, restaurant, duty-free shop, bank, car hire (Avis, Thrifty, Hertz and Budget), post office and first aid facilities. There are also international airports at San Pedro Sula (SAP) (Dr Ramón Villeda Morales), at La Ceiba (LCE) (Golosón) and at Roatán (RTB) (Dr Juan Manuel Galvez). Departure tax: US$25 is levied on all passengers aged 12 years of age and over. SEA: The principal ports on the Caribbean coastline are Puerto Cortés, Tela, La Ceiba and Trujillo. There is a ferry service between Port Isabel in Texas and Puerto Cortés. The principal ports on the Pacific coastline are Amapala and El Henecan. Ships operated by Harrison Line, Carol Line, Cie Generale Transatlantique, Hapag-Lloyd, The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company and vessels owned or chartered by the United Fruit Company and Standard Fruit Company sometimes have limited passenger accommodation. RAIL: There are no rail services between Honduras and neighbouring countries. ROAD: Road routes run from El Salvador and Nicaragua via the Pan-American Highway, and from Guatemala on the Western Highway. Visas must be obtained before the journey is undertaken. Border crossings can be fraught with long delays. Bus: The Ticabus company (website: www.ticabus.com) runs international services to all Central American capitals, but these comfortable coaches are often booked days in advance. Travel - Internal AIR: The three local airlines (Isleña Airlines, Sosa Airlines and Rollins Air) operate daily services which link Tegucigalpa and other principal towns. Isleña Airlines and Sosa Airlines run services to Utila, the cheapest Bay Island (off the Caribbean coast). Over 30 small airfields handle light aircraft and commercial aviation. Departure tax: There is an airport tax of two and a half per cent on domestic journeys for tickets issued in Honduras. SEA: Ferries operate between ports on the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. For details, contact local port authorities. There are sailings from La Ceiba and Puerto Cortés to the Bay Islands several times a week. Arrangements must be made with local boat owners. RAIL: There are only three railways, confined to the northern coastal region and mainly used for transport between banana plantations. Visitors can, however, take a trip from San Pedro Sula on a banana train, and from La Ceiba on a tourist train. ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There is a total of 14,600km (9052 miles) of roads of which 8364km (5228 miles) are all-weather, and 2543km (1586 miles) are paved. However, internal air transport is much more convenient for business visitors. An all-weather road exists from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula, Puerto Cortés, La Ceiba and towns along the Caribbean coast, as well as to the towns around the Gulf of Fonseca in the south. Bus: Local lines run regular services to most large towns, but the services are well used and booking in advance is essential. On the whole the services are very cheap. Taxi: Not metered, and run on a flat rate within cities. For other journeys, fares should be agreed before commencing journey. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport. Documentation: Both international and foreign driving licences are accepted. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Tegucigalpa to other major cities/towns in Honduras. Air Road Comayagua - 1.00 Siguatepeque - 2.30 San Pedro S. 0.25 3.30 Choluteca - 2.30 La Ceiba 0.35 5.00 Bay Islands 0.40 7.00* Sta Rosa de Copán 6.00 - Puerto Cortés - 4.00 Note: * Includes sea crossing of two hours. Accommodation HOTELS: Reasonable hotels are available in both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula (where the rates are lower, but standards equivalent to those in the capital are maintained). Elsewhere both rates and standards of comfort are somewhat lower. The Instituto Hondureño de Turismo (see Contact Addresses section) can supply lists of hotels with accommodation details. Grading: Hotels are split into three categories (upper, middle and lower) according to standard. Introduction Note: Honduras is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Much of the infrastructure has only been repaired on a provisional basis. Travellers are advised to visit the country with a major tour operator and to keep to the main tourist locations. Incidents of violent crime, including sexual assault and car hijacking have increased, and caution should be exercised. Road travel is best avoided at night. TEGUCIGALPA: The capital was originally founded as a mining camp in 1524. Unlike so many of Central America’s cities, Tegucigalpa has never been subjected to the disasters of earthquake or fire and so retains many traditional features. The city’s impressive parks, particularly Concordia, where models of Copan’s Mayan architecture were displayed was badly affected by the hurricane, and the United Nations Park provides a spectacular view of the city, although caution is advised due to an increase in violent crime in the park. Also recommended is a visit to neighbouring Comayagua, former capital of Honduras and now a colonial masterpiece of cobbled streets, tiny plazas and whitewashed houses. SAN PEDRO SULA: A fast-growing banana, sugar manufacturing and distribution centre for the entire north coast, today San Pedro Sula boasts a new airport, first-class hotels and several excellent restaurants. COPÁN: The ancient city of Copán is 171km (106 miles) from San Pedro Sula. The Copán Ruins Archaeological Park in western Honduras is the best remaining testament to the culture of the Mayan Indians. Among the best of the ruins are the magnificent Acropolis composed of courts and temples, the Great Plaza, a huge amphitheatre, and the Court of the Hieroglyphic Stairway. Near the Great Acropolis, recent archaeological work has brought to light invaluable excavations. The majority of the site’s original sculptures are on display at the Copán Sculpture Museum the four-storey centrepiece of which is the Rosalita temple, a full-scale replica of a temple recently excavated beneath the Acropolis. THE CARIBBEAN COAST: Two coastal towns are important to tourists and commercial visitors: La Ceiba and Trujillo. La Ceiba, which lies at the foot of the towering 1500m (5000ft) Pico Bonito, still a major banana port, now looks to tourism (and particularly eco-tourism) as a future major industry. There are good hotels and beaches, and an international airport – one of the city’s major assets. The nearby Pico Bonito National Park is a protected rainforest area where high rainfall and steep slopes combine to form numerous waterfalls and spectacular scenery. Trujillo was once a thriving port and the old capital of colonial Honduras. Trujillo is today home to many old Spanish buildings, a fascinating pirate history and superb tropical beaches. New resorts and subdivisions are now opening in the Trujillo area. BAY ISLANDS: Fifty kilometres (30 miles) off the Caribbean coast of Honduras lies the exotic archipelago of the Bay Islands. Consisting of three major islands (Roatan, Guanaja and Utila) and several smaller islands, the Bay Islands have a history that spans the ancient Mayan civilisation, early Spanish exploration, colonial buccaneers and the British Empire. Roatan and Guanaja are hilly, tropical islands, protected by a great coral reef that provides fine diving. Utila offers wide expanses of sandy beach and is ringed by tiny cays surrounded by palm trees. Sport & Activities Eco-tourism: The exciting, unspoilt landscape of Honduras and the multitude of flora and fauna that can be found there offer much interest to nature lovers. There are wildlife refuges and national parks all over the country. Cloud forests, mountains, dry forests, pine forests and huge rivers are among the natural features to be enjoyed. The coastal wetlands are home to monkeys and manatees, and visitors can take boat rides through the swamps to view these animals. Toucans and orchids are amongst the attractions of the cloud forests. The centre for activities focusing on eco-tourism is La Ceiba and, particularly, the nearby Pico Bonito National Park, which offers excellent opportunities for hiking through the rainforest. For birdwatching, the premier destination is Lake Yojoa in the west of the country. Wildlife enthusiasts can also take boat trips along the winding canals of the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, which provides a habitat for numerous animal species (including monkeys, alligators and manatees) and dozens of waterbirds. Watersports: There is excellent diving in the clear waters of the Bay Islands, teeming with coral and tropical fish. The gateway to these islands is La Ceiba which has gained an excellent reputation amongst the many diving destinations in the Caribbean. Some hotels include hire of equipment in their price. Safe swimming can be enjoyed on both seaboards, where beautiful sandy beaches are found. There is good fishing on both coasts and Lake Yojoa offers some of the best bass fishing in the world. Whitewater rafting is popular on the Río Cangrejal in Pico Bonito National Park and day trips can be arranged from La Ceiba. Other: Golf is an increasingly popular sport, with courses available in most major populated areas. Football is the most popular spectator sport. Social Profile Food & Drink: There is a wide variety of restaurants and bars in Tegucigalpa and the main cities. Typical dishes include curiles (seafood), tortillas, frijoles, enchiladas, tamales de elote (corn tamales), nacatamales, tapado, yuca con chicharron and mondongo. Typical tropical fruits include mangoes, papayas, pineapples, avocados and bananas. Nightlife: There are cinemas and discotheques in the main cities. Shopping: Local craftsmanship is excellent and inexpensive. Typical items include woodcarvings, cigars, leather goods, straw hats and bags, seed necklaces and baskets. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1800, Sat 0800-1700. Special Events: A great many religious celebrations and local festivals take place throughout the year in Honduras. For a full list, contact the Embassy of Honduras (see Contact Addresses). The following events are celebrated during 2003: Feb 2-3 Virgin of Suyapa Festival, Supaya. May 15-19 Fiesta de San Isidiro (carnival festivities), La Ceiba. Jun 7-13 Fiesta de San Antonio, Tela. Jun 22-23 Fiesta de San Juan Batista, Trujillo. Aug 23-24 Fiesta de Maiz (corn festival), Danli. Sep 15 Independence Day Celebrations, nationwide. Oct 3 Morazan Day, nationwide. Social Conventions: There are strong Spanish influences, but the majority of the population is mestizo, mainly leading an agricultural way of life with a low standard of living. Many rural communities can still be found living a relatively unchanged, traditional lifestyle. Social courtesies should be observed. It is customary for a guest at dinner or someone’s home to send flowers to the hostess, either before or afterwards. Conservative casual wear is widely acceptable with dress tending to be less conservative in coastal areas. Beachwear and shorts should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. Men are required to wear dinner jackets for formal social occasions. Hotels, restaurants and shops include a 12 per cent sales tax on all purchases. Tipping: Service is included in most restaurant bills. In hotels, cafeterias and restaurants ten per cent of the bill is customary where service is not included. Porters and cab drivers should be tipped when helping with the luggage (La0.50 to La1). Hotels, travel agencies and tour operators charge an extra four per cent for tourism services. Business Profile Economy: The economy of Honduras, which is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere, relies on agriculture and timber. The main agricultural products are bananas, beans, coffee, cotton, maize, rice, sorghum and sugar; there is also some dairy and beef farming, and a trade in shellfish. Apart from wood and wood products, light industries produce a variety of consumer goods. There is a small mining industry which produces lead, zinc and silver for export. The economy draws heavily on various forms of US-sponsored aid – both direct and multilateral (through the IMF, Inter-American Development Bank and others). Export earnings have been badly hit in recent years by low world prices and slack demand within the Central American Common Market, of which Honduras is a member. To compound its difficulties further, Honduras was badly affected by Hurricane Mitch in 1999, which caused an estimated US$3 billion worth of damage. In 2000, the economy contracted by about three per cent. The USA is the principal market for exports, followed by Germany, Belgium and the UK. Business: It is customary to address a professional person by his or her title, particularly on first meeting or during early acquaintance. Businesspeople are generally expected to dress smartly and some dining rooms require men to wear a jacket. There are very few local interpreter or translation services available. Though many businessmen throughout the country also speak English, correspondence should be in Spanish. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1700, Sat 0800-1100. Government offices: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1300-1630. Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Cámara de Comercio Hondureño-Americana, Sección Comercial, Hotel Honduras Maya, Apdo 1838, Tegucigalpa (tel: 232 7043; fax: 232 2031; website: www.amcham.hn2.com); or Cámara de Comercio e Industrias de Tegucigalpa, Bulevar de Centroamérica, Apdo 3444, Tegucigalpa (tel: 232 8110 or 232 4200; fax: 232 0159 or 232 0759). Climate The climate is tropical, with cooler, more temperate weather in the mountains. The north coast is very hot with rain throughout the year, and though the offshore breezes temper the climate, the sun is very strong. The dry season is from November to April and the wet season runs from May to October. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens; warmer clothes are recommended between November and February and in the mountains. Waterproofs are needed for the wet season. History and Government History: Mayan civilisation reached the region that is now western Honduras around the fifth century AD. The Mayas remained in control for the next 300 years after which several different ethnic groups moved into the area from Mexico and Colombia. Contact with Europeans began soon after Christopher Columbus landed on the Honduran coast in 1502. During the early 1520s, the region was subjugated by a variety of conquistador expeditions, each of which laid claim to a part of it. Cortés, who arrived in 1525 via Mexico, imposed some order on the squabbling groups but after his departure, the local conflicts resumed as before. Only after the discovery of gold and silver deposits in the 1540s was some order imposed on the region; large number of slaves from Africa were then imported to work the mines. Once the deposits were exhausted at the end of the 16th century, Honduras became a colonial backwater and remained so until the collapse of the Spanish empire in the Americas in the early-19th century. As Spanish power disintegrated in the wake of the Napoleonic wars, the Central American territories were in disagreement as to whether to join Mexico or establish their own federation of states. The latter course was chosen, with the acquiescence of Mexico. From a longer-term perspective, this development clearly eased the process whereby the USA came to dominate the whole central American region. During the early 20th century, Honduras was governed by a series of caudillos, notably President Carias who dominated the country during the 1930s and 1940s. Carias’ rule is widely viewed as a key period in Honduran political history: while the peaceful environment he created allowed substantial social and economic progress to take place, this was at the price of serious internal repression and kowtowing to powerful foreign interests. Something which neither Carias, nor any of his immediate predecessors or successors, were prepared to tackle was the question of land reform, an issue that was the basis of much Honduran politics in the latter part of the 20th century. From the late 1950s onwards, weak civilian governments prompted the army to assume a greater role, launching several coups in the process. This feature of Honduran politics became particularly important during the 1980s, when Honduras was the main base for the US-backed ‘Contra’ rebels fighting the Sandanista government in Nicaragua. Soon after the end of that war in 1989, national elections were held in Honduras. The two main parties, the Partido Nacional (PN) and the Partido Liberal (PL), fought a close contest for both the presidency, which was won by the PN candidate Rafael Leonardo Callejas, and the National Assembly, in which the PL won a small majority of seats. The 1990s, however, were dominated by the PL, which gained control of the presidency and legislature in 1994 and held on to them in 1997. But at the most recent polls in November 2001, the Nacional candidate Ricardo Maduro recovered the presidency for his party, while the Liberals also lost their majority in the national assembly. The government was faced with repeated outbreaks of civil and labour unrest throughout the late 1990s as it tried to bring austerity measures to tackle the country’s economic difficulties. There has also been persistent domestic and international pressure to address the numerous human rights abuses that have continued despite the return to civilian government (mostly recently the killing of large numbers of ‘street children’). Wary of antagonising the military, the government has moved carefully, although the soldiers are gradually coming to terms with its loss of political influence and by 1999 were prepared to submit to full control by the civilian government. Among those who had suffered the most at the hands of the military was the indigenous Indian population. In 1994, the government offered them a long-overdue package of rights and assistance: not unreasonably, it was rejected as inadequate and relations between the communities and the government remain poor. Honduran foreign policy during much of the 1990s was heavily influenced by economic matters, in particular the conclusion of free trade and other economic agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala. Honduras is also involved in a number of complex disputes over territorial waters in the Caribbean Sea, involving Nicaragua and Colombia. Government: Under the provisions of the 1982 constitution, modified in 1997, an executive President is elected by popular vote every four years. There are also four-yearly elections for the unicameral 128-seat National Assembly. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.