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Although new tariffs on more than a third of Ecuador’s imported goods go into effect on Wednesday, some economists say that they may not last long. According to the government, the tariffs are needed to maintain a balance of payment with the country’s trading partners...
by Larry Schunk This is a hidden gem that serves a terrific lunch buffet for just $3.75. Alma Bendita means Blessed Soul and I find this place a blessing indeed! The address below gets you to the front door. From there, you have to proceed down the hall and up the...
Years ago, when she played a battered woman in a theater production in India, Deana Culp was struck by the significance of her role. “I was giving a voice to a woman living in dire circumstances who couldn’t speak for herself,” she said. “I was helping to spread her...
A United Nations committee for women’s rights is urging Ecuador to decriminalize abortion in cases of rape. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) says that the country’s policy is out of step with those of other countries and is a...
By Geoff Bendeck Reggaeton blaring, we zoomed along the coast of Esmeraldas, past a series of resort towns, white sand beaches spoiled only by concrete hotel towers. Our Ranchera, an Ecuadorean open-air bus, paused just long enough for schoolchildren to climb atop...
Following two days of meetings with President Rafael Correa and other government officials, business leaders say the government is listening and appears to be open to making changes to improve the business and investment climate in Ecuador. Business groups had...
More than 40 van drivers gathered yesterday in Cuenca’s historic district and at the regional headquarters of the national transit commission (CTE), demanding the right to transport passengers. Currently, vans are only allowed to carry tour customers accompanied by...
Could Ecuador's new electronic money system be a bust? Its critics say the first three days of its operation indicate just that. Although more than 200 businesses are enrolled in Ecuador’s new electronic money exchange system, the few that have implemented it say that...
In an “anti-imperialist” rally on Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro came out swinging against the United States. At one point wielding a sword, Maduro announced that some U.S. diplomats will have to hit the road, while tourists from the North American...
President Rafael Correa is the second most popular president or prime minister in the world, according to the International Political Communication Association. The Madrid-based group says Russia’s Vladimir Putin ranks first with public support of 87% among Russians...
Claiming that the number of U.S., Canadian and British foreign residents living in Cuenca exceeds 5,000, Ecuador’s foreign ministry says that some regulation of the influx may be necessary to mitigate the economic impact on the local population. The ministry says that...
Mayors and prefects from several cities and provinces, alongside representatives of multiple political parties and social organizations, gathered in Cuenca on Monday to form a new political front against the government of President Rafael Correa. One year after...
By Everett Rosenfeld In 2000, Ecuador moved to ditch its stumbling currency for the U.S. dollar. Now more than 15 years later, the South American country is revamping its monetary system again, this time adopting the use of digital currency. Ecuador's Sistema de...
The English-speaking residents of Cuenca have a magazine devoted to spreading the good news. The publisher of Zero: Living with Attitude, Sara Coppler, says that the publication will focus on “the positive” and be a vehicle for bringing the expat and local communities...
The United States and most Latin American nations voiced concerns over political tensions in Venezuela after the socialist government arrested the opposition mayor of Caracas in an alleged coup plot. Almost exactly one year after opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez was...
Cuenca’s International Art Bienal is reviewing its mission and says it needs to do a better job of engaging the public. Many local artists criticized the 2014 event for its focus on installation art and pointed to poor attendance as a reason to make changes. Cristóbal...
Editor’s note: To save time on their 90-day T3 passport visa stamps so they could monitor construction progress on their Cuenca condo, Chiyemi and Terry Doyle were recently forced into temporary exile from Ecuador. They cooled their heels in Peru and Colombia until...
The National Electoral Council (CNE) has again denied opponents of a constitutional amendment allowing indefinite reelection of public officials. If the amendment goes into effect, it is widely believed that President Rafael Correa will seek another term office. The...
The Facebook page Crudo Ecuador (Raw Ecuador), dedicated to political satire and one of the main reasons why president Rafael Correa initiated a social-media battle in the country, announced on Thursday that it is shutting down, including the associated website and...
Shrimp prices are sliding in Ecuador but producers say they are optimistic about long-term prospects. According to industry sources, the drop is due to a combination of factors: the overproduction of large sizes of shrimp, European buyers keeping an eye on the dollar...
