Noboa offers a holiday tax break; Port operators protest power cut; Security is tight for Metastasis trial; Heightened police protection for candidates

By executive decree, President Daniel Noboa has ordered the 15% IVA reduced to 8% during the four-day Cuenca holidays, November 1 to 4. The holidays, the longest on Ecuador’s calendar, combine All Souls Day with the observance of Cuenca’s independence from Spain.

The tax break applies to hotel and hostal accommodations, food and beverages, and transportation.

Port operators in Guayaquil are protesting a reduction in electricity being supplied to three terminals.

“This measure promotes the reactivation of the tourism sector, one of the pillars of Ecuador’s economy, facilitating the accessibility of citizens to tourism services. The Internal Revenue Service (SRI) will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the decree,” a statement from the president’s office said.

Port operators protest power cut
International shippers are complaining that a restriction on electricity at the country’s ports will reduce the number of ships that can be loaded and unloaded, negatively affecting international trade. On Monday, the National Electricity Corporation (CNEL) reduced power transfers to the ports by almost 30%. The port at Guayaquil is the most affected by the reduction.

“This restriction will have a dire effect on all of our operations,” the Association of Private Port Terminals said in a statement. The association said the limitation will have the greatest impact on refrigeration units at the Isla Trinitaria terminal.

Asotep leadership said they plan to meet with CNEL officials and possibly President Daniel Noboa to protest the power cut.

Security is tight for Metastasis trial
An hour-and-a-half delay at the start of a Metastasis corruption case hearing Monday in Quito is a sign of the heightened security surrounding the trial. Dozens of police personnel and dogs performed a sweep of the National Court of Justice building before proceedings began. All participants in the trial, including defendants, attorneys, judges and the press, were required to go through two screening procedures at the entrance to the court.

The hearing is a review of evidence against the 22 “collaborators in the criminal enterprise” centered around drug trafficker Leandro Norero, alias El Patron. Among evidence being reviewed is that against former president of the Judiciary Council Wilman Terán and former National Assemblyman Ronny Aleaga, who is a fugitive from justice.

Norero and his associates are believed to have paid millions of dollars in bribes to judges, attorneys, police officers, prison guards, in exchange of favors for criminal gang members. Evidence also suggests that Norero and some of his collaborators were involved in planning the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Police protection for presidential candidates
The National Police will provide 288 officers and 64 armored vehicles for the protection of the 16 presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the campaign for the February 2025 election. According to the police command and the national electoral council, personnel assigned to candidate protection duties have received specialized training in protecting dignitaries appearing in public.

As a result of the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, protection protocols have been developed to provide a higher degree of protection, according to the electoral council