The LatinNews Podcast LatinNews

On this week's LatinNews Podcast, we discuss the reach and main characteristics of the Tren de Aragua criminal group, from its beginnings in the Tocorón prison in Venezuela, to its spread through South America.
We speak to Chris Dalby, director of the World of Crime media company and publishing and expert on organized crime, about the reasons for the Tren de Aragua's startling growth, adaptability and violence. 
The Tren de Aragua currently control a broad criminal portfolio of  crimes including drug trafficking, illegal mining, extortion, migrant smuggling, trafficking of women for sexual exploitation and kidnapping, among others.

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we take a look at how Jamaica has turned its economy around to start enjoying strong growth, low unemployment, reductions in debt burdens and attracting investors. 
Marla Dukharan, a renowned economist and advisor on the Caribbean provides us with an impartial analysis of Jamaica's success story. And, while we can celebrate these advances, there are looming challenges for the island, in climate change and security, ahead. 

Murder rates in Brazil have fallen under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but surveys show that people believe violence to have increased in the country. There is little trust in the police and judicial system, 64,2 million live in households with food insecurity, there have been more than 4 million cases of dengue in the first four months of 2024 alone, so how can Lula reduce the massive inequalities in Brazilian society, combat organized crime run from prisons and address poverty? 
On The LatinNews Podcast this week we speak to Graham Denyer Willis, Professor of Global Politics and Society in the department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, how can Brazil address its historical condition to violence and poverty?

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we discuss the myriad of challenges facing a new government in Panama. Outgoing president Laurentino Cortizo is immensely unpopular and the victorious candidate in May's presidential elections will have to face up to growing public unrest due to corruption, the stuttering economy, climate change and its effects on the Panama Canal, mass migrations and the urgent need to find new resources for the country. 
 
We speak to Carlos Guevara-Mann, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Master of Science in International Affairs at Florida State University at the Republic of Panama, to provide us with an in-depth look at the challenges ahead for Panama. 

Speculation about a potential early election call in Belize has been dismissed by Prime Minister John Briceño. Тhе Рrіmе Міnіѕtеr’ѕ соmmеntѕ fоllоw thе Реорlе’ѕ Unіtеd Раrtу’ѕ (РUР) rесеnt vісtоrу іn munісіраl еlесtіоnѕ, in which thеу ѕесurеd а ѕіgnіfісаnt mајоrіtу over the United Democratic Party (UDP). Тhе РUР’ѕ ѕtrоng ѕhоwіng hаd lеd ѕоmе оbѕеrvеrѕ tо bеlіеvе thаt thе раrtу mіght саріtаlіzе оn іtѕ mоmеntum аnd ѕееk аn еаrlу mаndаtе frоm thе реорlе.
This week on The LatinNews Podcast, we speak to Victor Bulmer-Thomas, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of London and Honorary Professor with the Institute of the Americas at University College London about the challenges facing Belize in the immediate future. 
As Вrісеnо’ѕ ѕtаtеmеnts undеrѕсоrе а dіffеrеnt ѕtrаtеgу, ѕuggеѕting thаt thе government іntеndѕ tо fосuѕ оn dеlіvеrіng оn іtѕ рrоmіѕеѕ аnd ѕоlіdіfуіng іtѕ trасk rесоrd bеfоrе thе nехt gеnеrаl еlесtіоn there are pending issues, such as clarifying the location of a deep water port, the multidimensional poverty suffered by much of the population, border disputes with Guatemala, and where does Lord Aschroft of Chichester fit into 2025's elections? 

On The LatinNews Podcast we discuss the Environmental and Social History of Deforestation in the Amazon and the Latin American region. In a far-reaching episode, we take a look at the tenurial structure, technologies and political regimes in understanding rapid forest conversions, and the complex dynamics of forest resurgence now found throughout the tropical world. 
Our guest, Professor Susanna Hecht is a specialist on tropical development in Latin America, especially the Amazon Basin and Central America. Her research focuses on the political economies of development ranging from corporate frontiers of cattle and export commodity agriculture (like soy, oil palm) to populist land occupation. She also studies their comparative environmental and social impacts. She also explores alternatives to destructive development, and analyzes the forms of conservation in inhabited landscapes whether through indigenous technologies, non timber extractive products, niche markets, social movements and globalization, including the role of remittances and migratory networks in reshaping rural land uses. The impacts of emerging green markets and greenhouse gas offsets for smaller scale farmers also form part of her research concerns.